Is Texas State University Good? (Austin, Princeton: 2009, credit, doctorate)

[tstone]

I've got a family member who is easily UT or A&M material but decided on TX State because it was easy for her to get in there and blow through the education program in 3 1/2 years. She's knocking out 3.8 GPA's left and right with 18-21 hours in the fall/spring and 12-15 in the summers. She's set on being a teacher, and this appears to be the easiest/fastest way to get this done, save some room & board money, and then settle down in Central TX somewhere. Not what I would recommend my child to do, but more power to her.

[TexasTheKid]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

SWT is a good school for average kids to go to, but it doesn't offer much to the top-level students who are looking at UT and TAMU.

I doubt I've ever been considered an "average" kid, but my undergraduate was from Texas State. I worked hard and graduated *** laude, and I had no difficulty getting into the graduate program of my choice. I chose to go to Texas State too. I wasn't relegated there because I was academically average. I chose the school because I refused to live in College Station or Lubbock, and Austin's program (for my major) was on the verge of imploding and was rated second to San Marcos anyhow (for undergraduate). My goal was graduate school, and with that in mind, I chose the university with the best connected and most reknowned faculty in my field of choice in the state of Texas. I chose a public school in Texas because I didn't want to pay out-of-state or private school tuition. Simple as that.

Sure, some of Texas State University's program are rated below those of other universities, but the same holds true with UT and A&M. Hell, once you get out of Rice's engineering programs, even that university begins to rank near Texas State in a lot of fields of study. UT, more than any other school spoken of here, is largely a university riding on its past reputations. Their academic standards in most fields are sub-par to even that of Texas State. It's more difficult to get into than Texas State, but it's a heck of a lot easier to stay in it. But then again, that does depend on the field of study.

All that said, I'd be just as glad if a prospective employer were to shred my resume simply because of the name of my alma mater. Seriously, I wouldn't wish to work for any company with such a hubristic line of monochromatic thinking. Such a company clearly is incapable of thinking outside the box and performing independent research into the quality of an individual's education. Their corporate culture would likely be just as stifling and rigid.

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by TexasTheKid

I doubt I've ever been considered an "average" kid, but my undergraduate was from Texas State. I worked hard and graduated *** laude, and I had no difficulty getting into the graduate program of my choice. I chose to go to Texas State too. I wasn't relegated there because I was academically average. I chose the school because I refused to live in College Station or Lubbock, and Austin's program (for my major) was on the verge of imploding and was rated second to San Marcos anyhow (for undergraduate). My goal was graduate school, and with that in mind, I chose the university with the best connected and most reknowned faculty in my field of choice in the state of Texas. I chose a public school in Texas because I didn't want to pay out-of-state or private school tuition. Simple as that.

Sure, some of Texas State University's program are rated below those of other universities, but the same holds true with UT and A&M. Hell, once you get out of Rice's engineering programs, even that university begins to rank near Texas State in a lot of fields of study. UT, more than any other school spoken of here, is largely a university riding on its past reputations. Their academic standards in most fields are sub-par to even that of Texas State. It's more difficult to get into than Texas State, but it's a heck of a lot easier to stay in it. But then again, that does depend on the field of study.

All that said, I'd be just as glad if a prospective employer were to shred my resume simply because of the name of my alma mater. Seriously, I wouldn't wish to work for any company with such a hubristic line of monochromatic thinking. Such a company clearly is incapable of thinking outside the box and performing independent research into the quality of an individual's education. Their corporate culture would likely be just as stifling and rigid.

Do you know anything about any college? All of that which you stated is hogwash.

Rice is far from just an engineering school. Its liberal arts and sciences programs are the very best in the state. The MBA program is pretty good as well.

I can't fathom how UT is just "riding on its past reputation" when its past reputation was just that of any other state school. It's been on the rise because of the amount of money they invest into their programs and almost every program the university offers is in the top twenty five nationally.

For you to say that UT's academic standards in most fields are subpar to SWT is just inaccurate. The only areas where SWT is better is likely Geography and Teacher Education. UT's Education is no great shakes, but the rest of the university is far, far better than SWT by the standards of anyone except SWT alumni and students.

[TexasTheKid]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

Do you know anything about any college? All of that which you stated is hogwash.

Rice is far from just an engineering school. Its liberal arts and sciences programs are the very best in the state. The MBA program is pretty good as well.

I can't fathom how UT is just "riding on its past reputation" when its past reputation was just that of any other state school. It's been on the rise because of the amount of money they invest into their programs and almost every program the university offers is in the top twenty five nationally.

For you to say that UT's academic standards in most fields are subpar to SWT is just inaccurate. The only areas where SWT is better is likely Geography and Teacher Education. UT's Education is no great shakes, but the rest of the university is far, far better than SWT by the standards of anyone except SWT alumni and students.

Actually, Texas State's geography program is one of the best in the nation, not just the state. In that regard, it's vastly superior to UT. And look, I appreciate your pedantic adherence to the belief that Texas State is merely an average school for average people, but you're simply wrong. It's comical, but you're wrong. The diploma doesn't carry the same cache as one from UT or Rice, but who gives a crap? Isn't the point of school to develop the best possible education in the field of your choice? The university fills a developmental role, and in many regards, Texas State is leaps and bounds ahead of UT. Once you can get past and accept the fact the university changed its name, we may be able to begin an honest dialogue on the subject. However, I don't know how wise it is to even continue this discussion until you can accept that one tiny thing first.

But I will continue (I'm masochistic like that): I suppose by using the word most, I committed a symantic misstep. I meant many. I apologize for my hyperbole. (Clearly that must indicate I don't know anything about college.) Again, it's program specific. And one more point: UT's past reputation is not "just that of any other state school." Since its inception, UT was intended to be the state's flagship public university. That's why the university has commanded the bulk of public university financing from the state. That's why it was located in the state's capital. But, wealthy and successful alumni from other public universities have contributed plenty to place several of those other schools on more even playing fields. UT has slipped in the past few decades due to this and numerous other factors including 1) UT is the top choice for the beneficiaries of that ridiculous top 10% law causing the student population to swell to almost unmanageable levels while also allowing mediocre minds into the ranks and 2) The state funding is now being distributed more judiciously among the other state schools.

But think what you want. Whatever.

[centexguy]

I live in the Austin area and have a kid who just graduated from high school. We're in a good school district where a lot of the kids are going to college, and Texas State is clearly the second choice for most of the kids from the school. Texas State is a good undergraduate school, especially if you major in music or want to be a teacher, and I'm sure has other good undergraduate programs. But Texas State has no medical school, has no law school, has a small endowment for a school it's size, and it is easier to get into than a lot of the other schools in the state. It's not that big of a research school and doesn't have much of an engineering department. I'm not saying you shouldn't go to Texas State, you just need to do your research and see what school is best for you.

[hoffdano]

I do not doubt you can get a good education at Texas State. But it is not the same caliber of school overall as UT, A&M, Rice, SMU, or TCU.

Reputation, like it or not, matters. That influences how your resume is perceived and also drives which employers choose to recruit those campuses.

My college sophomore son's friends that chose Texas State did so because they didn't make the top 10% cut, didn't get accepted to A&M, and didn't want to go to UTSA to transfer to UT later. These kids, it turns out, went to Texas State over other schools, because it was more "fun."

For a business degree UT>A&M>Rice>SMU or TCU

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I do not doubt you can get a good education at Texas State. But it is not the same caliber of school overall as UT, A&M, Rice, SMU, or TCU.

Reputation, like it or not, matters. That influences how your resume is perceived and also drives which employers choose to recruit those campuses.

My college sophomore son's friends that chose Texas State did so because they didn't make the top 10% cut, didn't get accepted to A&M, and didn't want to go to UTSA to transfer to UT later. These kids, it turns out, went to Texas State over other schools, because it was more "fun."

For a business degree UT>A&M>Rice>SMU or TCU

I'm pretty sure SMU is ranked above TAMU for MBA, but I could be wrong.

SMU also has the second-best law school in Texas behind UT.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

I'm pretty sure SMU is ranked above TAMU for MBA, but I could be wrong.

SMU also has the second-best law school in Texas behind UT.

Business Week ranks SMU>UT for MBA (Top 30). A&M is not in their top 30.

Business Week's 2008 undergraduate rankings show:

UT>SMU>A&M>TCU>Baylor in the top 50

http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interac...rgrad_bschool/

[houstonman8271]

All I can say is if you want a good variety of Biology majors, choose TAMU or UT Austin. I know that TAMU is good and know several successful graduates from there. For a pre-professional 'standard' BS in Biology, BU, University of Houston-Central and/or Rice are excellent. Keep in mind, the standard BS in Bio from both UH and Rice are not walks in the park, they require 2 semesters of Calculus and Physics, PLUS 1 other advanced MATH course plus a Capstone coursework or minor. If you are prepared to do this, go ahead, but UH and Rice majors tend to have an advantage in getting into professional schools because of their academic rigor. I know for a fact that Biology majors at TAMU and UT don't always require the upper level math classes...but generally, they are still very good and students are at an advantage to pick from several life sciences majors......I hope this helps.

[artsyguy]

You are wrong as usual. UT at Austin is past its prime and is riding on the coattails of the accounting department.

Originally Posted by theloneranger

Do you know anything about any college? All of that which you stated is hogwash.

Rice is far from just an engineering school. Its liberal arts and sciences programs are the very best in the state. The MBA program is pretty good as well.

I can't fathom how UT is just "riding on its past reputation" when its past reputation was just that of any other state school. It's been on the rise because of the amount of money they invest into their programs and almost every program the university offers is in the top twenty five nationally.

For you to say that UT's academic standards in most fields are subpar to SWT is just inaccurate. The only areas where SWT is better is likely Geography and Teacher Education. UT's Education is no great shakes, but the rest of the university is far, far better than SWT by the standards of anyone except SWT alumni and students.