What are the minimum requirements for admission?
There are no minimum requirements (such as a 3.0 undergraduate average) for admission; however, admission is competitive and does depend on the space available in the program. The number of students admitted each semester is usually less than ten. The graduate program committee looks at each component of each application individually and tries to judge what indication each component gives that the applicant can successfully complete the M.A. program. Since the M.A. program is an academic program, the committee is looking carefully for indications of academic competence. Professional experience in the communications field will also be considered positively during the evaluation process. Certainly, your personal statement should be carefully considered and truly indicative of why you wish to pursue the M.A. program.
The requirements vary among programs. All candidates must submit, with their application form and application fee, a statement of purpose, transcripts of academic work completed to date and at least two letters of recommendation. Many programs require a third letter of recommendation and the results of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE.) Your program may also require a writing sample, portfolio or audition, and most programs find a resume or curriculum vitae useful. See a listing of requirements for your program.
There are no absolute minimum requirements, but SMU considers GPA, grade pattern, standardized test scores, rigor of high school curriculum, counselor recommendation, extracurricular activities, essay, talents, life experiences and personal qualities. Typically, a student who has a strong academic record and has exhibited a variety of academic and personal interests gains the most from the SMU experience.
