I was accepted at both Towson and UMD and chose Towson, 10 years ago. Granted, it was somewhat easier to get into both back then. My major was offered at both schools with equally competitive programs. I chose Towson because of its size (not too big, not small), and its location (UMD is in a pretty bad area, let's face it).

As far as the comment in the first blog about a large number of students from NY and NJ, that was probably the only detriment to going there.

You are abotu as wrong as any person can be on any subject and you have insulted some very intelligent hard working people who I am sure many have a higher intelligence and I.Q. than you yourself possess.My daughter is a 3.9 gpa student at Towson and was a straight A student at Seton Koeugh High School . She chose Towson over a number of schools where she was offered money to go to, and yes this includes the Uof M. You need to tender an apology to these fine students , for you know not of what you speak!

As a Towson graduate, I am frequently irritated with the disrespect the school is shown by people who favor College Park. During my time at Towson, all my classes averaged under 30 students. I never had a TA. My professors always had posted office hours and were always available to speak with them personally. They knew my name, which is more than I can say for what would happen at CP. I think it's a great school that is undervalued and underrated by the local populace.

Seems like you're guilty of over-simplification. Towson was "designed" as a teachers college. Historically it had a separate mission from College Park.

Also, just because a school is easier to get into than College Park doesn't mean it's a back-up. Certainly St. Mary's College is not simply a back-up to College Park.

Hidden in your hasty comments is an important point about diminishing access to the state university system for many Maryland residents. This diminishing access impacts the poor and minorities the most. It would be great if you returned to that point.

This sort of snobbery rears its ugly head all along the educational pathway. The overwhelming number of Americans live happy productive lives without attaining a degree from the Ivy Leagues, Duke, or the U of Md. quite a few even succeed without a college degree at all. It is far more important to success that the person be ambitious and hard working than the name of the institution on the diploma. Mr. Hancock needs to educate himself on the Spielberg principle. Towson offers a fine education to its students for a fraction of the cost of those higher priced degrees - so maybe they are the smart ones.

How about questioning the theme for his argument that states we need more college graduates now due to the economy ("In an economy where higher education is more important than ever"). Is the importance of having a higher education tied to the economy? So, when the economy is strong it is less important that a person have a college education? or, when the economy is strong our society needs less college educated workers?? The economy can have a timely impact on higher education, not the other way around. The only point of mentioning the economy in this article should be in support of lower tuition costs (or the freeze) so that more people can afford it. To paraphrase Jay, more people need (or should get) college degrees because the economy is bad, so we should charge more for a college education so that colleges can accommodate more students.

Both Hopkins and Harvard also began (largely) as commuter schools. Give Towson Sta er University a chance... they may yet catch up.

Until then though, can they show the maturity that recognizes their *current* status?

In 1977 I started at Towson; after a year I thought about transfering to College Park; was easily accpeted into College Park and found their admission standards easier than Towson; but decided to stay at Towson where I graduated in 1980. My son was initially accpeted at West Point (one of the toughest schools to get into in the US) and ended up going to Towson where he graduated in 2007 - when considering a back up school Towson was his first choice - over and above College Park. Towson never was and will never be a fall back, 2nd choice to College Park. Go Tigers!

In Forbes 2009 rankings of colleges and Universities they rank Towson University a good 20 spots higher than that of College Park. This is not opinion or subjectively based either. The study was conducted on student ratings or their professors on rate my professor, listing of alumni in who's who in America, average pay of alumni, graduation rates, amount of debt the school puts the students into, awards the faculty and students have won.
Maryland is harder to get into because it's a supply and demand type thing and more students in the area have been misinformed and think Maryland gives the better education. It doesn't.

When my younger son was looking at colleges we toured a selective private college in Pennsylvania. Our tour guide told us that she had started at University of Maryland, but left in frustration because of the huge size of her classes in general and in particular because one professor she needed to consult would never offer her an appointment at a time she was free. She also figured that it would take her 5 years to complete all the required courses for her major, given scheduling difficulties. That was the last straw for her.

Towson University is a great school!

The school is growing (over 20,000 students) but still keeps the smaller class sizes.

It's a great education and the on-campus life is there for many, that choose to take advantage of it- MANY clubs, organizations, and rapidly improving sports (and facilities).

Amen, MrRational, amen.

I'm amazed so many Towson grads could effectively type and string together a coherent sentence, let alone finding this blog on the interwebs!

Did you actually use the word interwebs? I guess that means your tech savvy and think less of those who don't have your skills with java script. Why don't you take a break from world of warcraft and go talk to girls or play sports.

everyone at once, OK? whoooooosh!