It's no surprise that the majority of students that go to the University of Maryland are from, well, Maryland. In fact, the university's population is 76% in state and 24% out of state. This may seem overwhelming at first glance, but you may find people from your area you never knew before coming here, or decide to move to Maryland after graduation because you love it so much, your call. However, if you're one of those brave souls to defy the odds and become included in that 24%, there are a few things you're going to need to know.
1) Everyone in Maryland identifies by county
HOCO, MOCO, Frederick, you'll hear them all eventually. People here always refer to themselves as being from a certain county, instead of their respective hometown or nearby city. This is something that is pretty unique to Maryland as most people would normally state their hometown after being asked: "where are you from?" It can be a little confusing at first, but soon enough you'll be a pro at Maryland geography.
2) This is NOT the South
Even though Maryland is technically below the Mason-Dixon line, the line that separated the North from the South in the 1700s, NEVER EVER call this place the South. People here will most likely be offended by that, which will definitely leave you in an awkward position. Best to just consider it "northeast" and leave it at that.
3) The DMV does not stand for Department of Motor Vehicles
It stands for Delaware, Maryland, Virginia. These people are very proud of where they come from so DMV represent!!
4) The Maryland flag is EVERYWHERE
Whether you like it or not, the Maryland flag is plastered all across the state, not to mention its flagship university. Maryland pride is huge. The red, black, white, and yellow polyester flag with its intricate designs is the trademark of the state. Better learn to love it!
5) Don't be afraid of eating the crabs
Marylanders were born and raised to eat crabs. They LOVE them. Crabs are traditionally eaten here by taking off the shell and then enjoying the meat inside. If you're like me, you will have absolutely no clue what the process is or how to get the meat out. Hopefully, you'll have some friendly Marylanders that can show you the ropes. Just don't eat the yellow mustard!!!!
6) You cannot escape Old Bay
This seasoning is inescapable. If you're out of state, you may use it occasionally on crab cakes here and there, maybe even sparingly toss it on some other seafood. In Maryland, no matter what the food is, Old Bay goes with it. Plain and simple. Anything from fries, chips, popcorn, pasta, pumpkin seeds, soup, etc apparently goes great with Old Bay in Maryland.
7) "Siced", "Hip", and "Bop"
So umm... what exactly do these mean? These are two of the most popular slang words used in Maryland. Don't get me wrong, there are a bunch of others, but these are the most commonly used. "Siced" means to be excited, "hip" means to know something, and "bop" means far away. These are only three of the many words you'll be encountering, but hopefully they'll give you a little bit of an edge.
8) Basketball and Lacrosse
It's no secret that the University of Maryland's football team is not the best in the country. While this is slightly disheartening, be thankful that our basketball and lacrosse teams are usually pretty good. Basketball games in the Xfinity Center are some of the coolest sporting events to go to. Whether it's the flash mob, free t-shirts at Christmas, or the gold rush, basketball games are always a good time. Lacrosse is absolute insanity. There are 25 National Titles between the women's and the me's teams. Need I say more?
9) High School.
Whatever the reason was that made you choose Maryland instead of a school in your home state, be prepared for high school friendships. College is scary at first and meeting new people is exciting but nerve racking. Definitely be aware that although your new Maryland friend is amazing and you two are really close, he or she probably has about 50 people from his or her graduating class here that know them a whole lot better than you do.
Regardless of where you're from, if you chose the University of Maryland, you made the right choice. Adapting as an out of stater may be hard at first, but soon enough you'll be acting, talking, and thinking just like an in stater.