u/Character-Many2090

Hi everyone,

I’m considering pursuing my master’s at SMU Cox and would love to hear from current students or alumni, especially South Asian and other diverse students, about your experiences.

Before anyone comments: I’m not from India. I’m using “South Asian” in the broader sense and would love to hear perspectives from anyone in the South Asian community, regardless of nationality.

I’m particularly interested in:

1.How is the social scene among master’s students?

2.Is it easy to make genuine friends from different backgrounds, or do people mostly stay within their own circles?

3.As a South Asian or other non-white student, have you felt welcomed and included?

4.Have you ever felt isolated or treated differently because of your race or ethnicity?

5.Are there good opportunities to network, join organizations, and build meaningful friendships outside of class?

6.Overall, would you describe SMU Cox as an inclusive, collaborative, and friendly environment for master’s students?

I’d really appreciate honest experiences, the good, the bad, and everything in between. Thanks in advance!

I recently graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Technology. While I’m proud of earning my degree, I can’t help but feel disappointed and saddened by my overall college experience.

Socially, I often felt alienated and disconnected. It seemed like many social circles were dominated by particular cultural or ethnic groups, and I struggled to find a sense of belonging.

Looking back, I sometimes wonder whether I would have had a very different experience if I had attended a different university or been part of a different social environment.

Now that I’ve graduated, I’m considering whether it would make sense to pursue another bachelor’s degree, possibly a BBA, at SMU. Since many of my credits could transfer, part of me feels this could be an opportunity to have the college experience I feel I missed.

However, I’m also aware that this would require a significant investment of time and money.

Maybe a Master's instead of MBA?

For those who have been in a similar situation: Is pursuing a second bachelor’s degree primarily for a better university experience a wise decision? Or would I be better off focusing on graduate school, career development, networking, and building a social life outside of college?

I’d appreciate any honest advice or perspectives.

I came to the United States in 2022 as an international student to pursue my undergraduate degree, and I graduated in May 2026.

While I am grateful for the education and opportunities, I want to be honest: the social side of college was extremely difficult for me. I was dealing with personal challenges, focused heavily on academics, work, and survival, and I did not always have the emotional space to build a strong social life.

But even when I tried, I often struggled to find genuine friendships or a real sense of belonging. As an international student, I sometimes felt judged, dismissed, or treated differently because of where I came from, even more getting completely isolated from my own community. Over time, that loneliness affected my mental health more than I expected.

It’s like getting hate being a desi by the desi American wasn’t on my bucket list at all.

Now that I have graduated, I genuinely want to rebuild. I want to find healthier spaces, meet kind and open-minded people, and create a better social life here in Texas.

For anyone who has gone through something similar, how did you find community after college? Are there any groups, places, events, or ways to meet genuine people in Texas, especially around Dallas?

I would really appreciate any advice.

I came to the United States in 2022 as an international student to pursue my undergraduate degree, and I graduated in May 2026.

While I am grateful for the education and opportunities, I want to be honest: the social side of college was extremely difficult for me. I was dealing with personal challenges, focused heavily on academics, work, and survival, and I did not always have the emotional space to build a strong social life.

But even when I tried, I often struggled to find genuine friendships or a real sense of belonging. As an international student, I sometimes felt judged, dismissed, or treated differently because of where I came from, even more getting completely isolated from my own community. Over time, that loneliness affected my mental health more than I expected.

It’s like getting hate being a desi by the desi American wasn’t on my bucket list at all.

Now that I have graduated, I genuinely want to rebuild. I want to find healthier spaces, meet kind and open-minded people, and create a better social life here in Texas.

For anyone who has gone through something similar, how did you find community after college? Are there any groups, places, events, or ways to meet genuine people in Texas, especially around Dallas?

I would really appreciate any advice.