The Washington, DC metropolitan region provides our students and faculty with a wealth of living and recreational options. Many students live in suburban Maryland, whereas others opt for DC itself. It is impossible to describe the diversity of living opportunities here, but suffice it to say that there are communities for just about every taste in the area—funky, traditional, buzzing with nightlife, peaceful…it’s all here. Having a car can make life easier in ways, but some students prefer to avoid the area’s infamous traffic by taking advantage of the excellent public transportation system (including free University shuttles with wide ranging routes in Maryland).

One of the most noteworthy aspects of our region is the diversity of its residents. The remarkable racial and ethnic diversity creates a cultural richness that is hard to find elsewhere. Among other things, this provides DC area residents with wonderful dining options—from Salvadoran to Ethiopian to Korean to Southern comfort food to regional Chesapeake cuisine and more. Culturally themed street fairs are common in DC in the warmer months, and many embassies open their doors for cultural events. The DC area is rich in virtually all dimensions of diversity. For example, census data suggests that there is an unusually high concentration of same-sex couples in the metropolitan area. This diversity of diversities in the DC area is mirrored in the student body itself at the University of Maryland, and the University supports a wide range of diversity-related organizations through its Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy program.

The DC area is also remarkable for the range of recreational options available, including a great number of opportunities for those on a tight budget. The area has a large and vibrant arts scene, with many options for lovers of theater, dance, music, poetry, and the visual arts. DC is home to many national treasures that offer free recreational opportunities for students, including the Smithsonian museums, National Gallery, US Botanic Garden, US National Arboretum, National Zoo, and the many memorials. Nature lovers do not have to go far from the city to enjoy the great outdoors, with ample venues for hiking, kayaking, camping, and fishing. Sports aficionados have many opportunities to get a fix of college or professional sports. DC is one of only a handful of US cities to host five major league teams the Redskins (football), the Wizards (basketball), the Nationals (baseball), the Capitals (hockey), and DC United (soccer).

The University of Maryland itself offers students an array of cultural and sporting activities. The University's Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center hosts an extensive program of theatrical, musical, and dance productions by nationally renowned performers (discounted tickets for students). Thanks to its location near the nation’s capital, the university regularly hosts events involving prominent national political and cultural figures. Maryland's sports teams in football, men's and women's basketball, soccer and lacrosse are very popular. The Campus Recreation Center houses outstanding facilities for competitive and recreational sports, including world-class swimming facilities.

Our location in DC also provides professional benefits, given our proximity to the American Psychological Association, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, the headquarters of many national associations, and other top universities such as Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, and Howard University. The annual convention of the American Psychological Association is held in DC every three years, which makes attending the event as simple as hopping on the Metro.

Below are a number of links you may find useful for learning more about living in the DC area:

The Off-Campus Housing Office at the University of Maryland provides information about local communities and offers access to rental listings.

The Office of Graduate Student Life offers a wealth of information relevant to our graduate students, including an online “Student Life Handbook” with sections on social life, family life, academics, and basic needs.