Quote:
Originally Posted by Munchkin03
Those schools are excellent examples of what I was saying...while they might be "good schools" for the people who thrive there, they still play second fiddle to the flagships.  |
As far as football, yes. As to academic programs - not always. The Texas State Geography Dept., for example - #1 in the country, along with the fantastic Musical Theatre Dept., etc. As an undergraduate you will get a much better educational experience in many disciplines which, let us say, UT has. For example, the UT drama graduate school is very well-regarded. However, that means as an undergraduate you will not get much actual experience at UT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYBP8qRIDas
All that said, the emphasis on getting to Division I has NOT IMHO been good for the overall educational programs, and I wouldn't currently recommend it.
As to the name change - when I attended Southwest Texas State University in the 80s, we had over 25,000 students. The real story behind the name change - the ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT did not want to have a directional name. They got ASG to support them, but the vast majority of alumni opposed the change. $250,000 in private funds were raised to pay for the change. I pointed out that if, as those who were for the change asserted, they were interested in advancing the academic reputation of the University, that money would be better spent on endowing a chair or bringing in excellent faculty, or even providing more scholarships. Alumni were told we would never be called TSU - which turns out to have been a lie. When I took my daughter to her dorm her freshman year, there on her dorm door was a bobcat paw with "TSU". Recently on the facebook page, they've referred to "TSU" - they have taken it down when I pointed out they were lying liars who tell lies. I am very torn. I received a top-flight education, but even my beloved English department has, to my way of thinking, gone down in quality. It pains me more than I can say - my parents went there, I was named for the 1962 homecoming queen who is my godmother, I have been able to share San Marcos and some of the best aspects of my college years with my daughter - but it is slipping away. Yes, they will be bigger, but will they better? No.