Towson University (TU)

Located just eight miles outside of Baltimore, Towson University is the second-largest school in Maryland’s public university system, offering its nearly 20,000 students more than sixty undergraduate majors. The “proximity to Baltimore and D.C. are great for job opportunities,” and students find “many internships” there too. Since the school offers “a never-ending fountain of free resources,” they also have access to tutoring, skills classes, “essay proofreading, [and] laptop repairs” on campus. This support extends beyond the classroom, too: “There are a lot of resources at our disposal if we ever need help academically, physically, or emotionally.” This is the result of initiative the school takes in “catering to the students’ needs.” As another student says, “The campus is constantly striving to improve.”

The majority of students agree that faculty are “well-educated and know how to further explain concepts.” Professors ensure that when students sit down in class, it “isn’t just boring slides,” and it “often involves different forms of technology.” If a student can’t grasp a concept, teachers usually “are willing to go the extra mile until it is understood.” And while Towson may be sizable, “there are enough professors here [such] that learning is as personalized as it would be on a smaller campus.” That means small class sizes in which “you can get to know your professors and classmates”; group work that “allows you to replicate the skills that you have been learning in class”; and teachers who “relate the material to the real world and show how we will use the material in real-life situations.”

“Diverse and inclusive” Towson consists of “mostly in-state and commuting students.” But the school is large, which means there’s quite a range in the student body. And students find “having people from all over is very eye-opening and is a very valuable experience.” But rest assured that there is still “a sense of community even though it is a large campus.” Here, “being yourself is highly encouraged.” Students find they “can meet people anywhere on campus and make friends, receive help on homework, or just make casual conversation.” One student says, “It's always easy to see old friends and meet new people at the same time.” Overall, people here “are open to any and every other person on campus” and most “are really energetic and share a lot of school pride.”

Towson offers “plenty of … ways to get involved on campus, both academically and socially.” These can range from quirky events like “petting goats [or] Carnival-like games at the library” to things you might expect like “talent shows, dance shows, football games, [and] plays.” For those who live on campus, “there are a ton of really unique floor events and building events,” like “DIYs … and game nights.” But whether they live on campus or not, students tend to “fill their days with class, and the gym is very popular in the evening.” When Friday rolls around, “some students will spend their weekend relaxing as well as completing some homework,” whereas others will head to the bars and “the abundance of restaurants in Uptown Towson.” Other pastimes in town include going to the Towson Mall, which “is right up the street from campus [and] is also a popular hangout spot.” Those looking for more outdoorsy things to do can rest easy. The school’s location provides “both natural outdoor beauty and city life,” and “in the springtime and … the fall there’s lots to do outside on campus.”