University of Maryland
College Park, Md.
Distance from home: 950 miles NE
Four-year public research university

Admission difficulty: Slackers need not apply

Size: A mere 25,000 undergrads

Tuition: $22,500/year for out-of-state students

Kind of student who goes there: Smart Marylanders who couldn’t afford the Ivy League; New Jersey girls in Ugg boots; tree-huggers; Long Island’s not-so-finest; hipsters who pay a lot to look homeless; heat-fleeing Floridians; socially active Jews; life-long Terp fans; tomorrow’s Democratic congressional candidates

Known for producing: Entrepreneurs; wealthy engineers; politicians; puppeteer Jim Henson; journalism stain Jayson Blair; really delicious ice cream

Pros: Maryland gets all four seasons; the university rises in rankings almost every year; variety of top-notch academics; quick Metro ride to Washington, D.C.; you can study abroad on six continents; did I mention really delicious ice cream?

Cons: Crime-heavy surrounding community; budget cuts; city lacks good food, fun social spots, general merriment; the "College Park cuddler" (just Google it)

Social scene: "Turtle," a bar whose debauchery needs only one name; Frat Row; Washington, D.C. nightlife; jam sessions at the radio station; live shows in Baltimore; sporting events

Athletics: Wildly inconsistent teams; football and basketball define campus life; superb field hockey team; raucous, and occasionally hostile, fans; stellar tailgates

Campus and city: Most of the campus looks colonial (Seriously, you’ll want to carry a musket); College Park, well, if the tantalizing scents of stale beer, urine and cheap food don’t tickle the senses, there’s always Washington, D.C.

Plus: Lots of green space; two gyms

Minus: The beach is three hours away, and it’s no Clearwater

Reviewed by: Steven Overly, University of Maryland at College Park Class of 2010