<p>How does Maryland stack up in comparison to the other Big 10 schools (including Maryland and Rutgers, since they will be added the year I enter college)? Right now the schools I'm looking at are Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, and maybe Illinois. </p>
<p>Keep in mind I am from CT and want a school with strong sports, strong frat/party life, good academics that I can care about, solid alumni and a feeling of connection to the school after graduation. A nice campus/ nice college town is nice. I am going to try to be a Finance Major, and would like to work in NYC after graduation.</p>
<p>If anyone can tell we how these schools match up with what I'm looking for, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!</p>
<p>I can’t tell you how the schools match up, but I can tell you that Maryland has strong sports, frat/party life, great academics, solid alumni & a feeling of connection after graduation. I graduated over 20 years ago and am still a proud Terp. My brother, who graduated 25 years ago, is a Terp booster and attends nearly every football and basketball game. I’d say the alumni network is a strong plus. The campus is very attractive, the freshman dorms are pretty bad but manageable (especially for one year), and the town is not great. I say this as a county resident for 43 years. You’re not going to be impressed by the look of Route 1, but the campus itself is beautiful and as safe as you’d imagine a school of that size to be. My 18-year-old daughter routinely parks on campus at 1 AM and walks to her dorm, if that gives you an idea–but she’s smart about her surroundings. It’s an urban environment. Good luck with your decision!</p>