The University of Maryland - College Park

Pros: Good reputation, cheap if in state. Many clubs and ways to get involved.

Con #1) Absolutely disgusting area. Extremely dangerous. No good restaurants or places to shop. Outside of campus is swarming with crack dealers, bums and people with guns. There are many more people who actually live in the town of College Park walking around then there are students. Nothing close to a college town at all. 3 people got shot here this week. Enough said. Sometimes I throw up in my mouth a little bit when I look at how disgusting route 1 is.

Con #2) EXTREMELY expensive if you are out of state. Don't come here if you're from out of state. Maryland lacks on campus housing for non freshman and transfer students, and off campus housing can be extremely expensive. To live in a safe apartment it can be almost $1,000 dollars a month. If you want to live somewhere less safe, it is still probably almost $700 a month.

Con #3) Party scene SUCKS. Absolutely terrible. The environment here is not like other schools where you can go out almost any night and have a good time. There are NO big house parties. The first week there will be a a few, but after that, it's over. You will have to resort to attending the 3 ghetto bars College Park has to offer.

If you are looking for a college town, and a good party scene, or simply just trying to avoid getting shot, I advise you to go somewhere else. Penn State, JMU, ANYTHING!