One of the hardest decisions that you make in your young-adult life is which college you should attend for the next four years. Lucky for you, I'm here to make your choice a whole lot easier. Here are (some of) the top reasons to attend the University of Maryland next fall.

1. It's prestigious

Wherever you go, you can find someone with Testudo’s face on their T-shirt. Everyone has heard of UMD. In addition to its popularity, the university is a top research institution in the country and ranked on countless "Best Schools" lists. Get this name on your diploma and your future employer will know you came from the best.

2. B1G School

BIG in more ways than one. The university is home to over 37,000 students, which makes for (AMAZING) sporting events. We may play against some of the best teams in the country, but we definitely have the best school spirit.

3. Football games

This speaks for itself. Fall is the best time of year at UMD and we spend our Saturdays with beer, burgers, and our Terps. The entire state of Maryland flocks to College Park for the plentiful game day activities. Parades and free t-shirts anyone??

4. Our colors

Since UMD is located in the *greatest state in the country*, we obviously had to incorporate the best flag for some serious Maryland pride. You can put all of your flag apparel to good use here.

5. Kermit went here

Yup, you read that right. UMD is the birth place of The Muppets. Jim Henson created his own, personalized major here and voila! The Muppets were born.

6. Tons of majors

UMD offers any class you could possibly imagine. With over 90 majors, there’s something for everybody here, #nerdstatus.

7. Major exercise

….. Sorry, I can’t explain this one. I’m out of breath from walking up Stamp Hill.

8. Stamp

And at the top of Stamp Hill is the Stamp Student Union! This is the hub of campus and has everything you need. Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Salad Works, and the school store… What more could you want?

9. UMD in the Fall

Speechless.

10. ... in the Winter

Breathtaking.

11. ... and the Spring

These pictures speak for themselves.

12. McKeldin Mall

This is the best place on campus. On a warm day, you’ll find people sun bathing in the grass, playing Frisbee with dogs, and you’ll definitely see someone asleep in a hammock. The Mall is the ultimate place to relax in between classes.

13. Testudo's nose

When all that you have going for you on that organic chemistry exam is the fact that you rubbed Testudo’s nose, you know you go to UMD. Rub his nose for a little luck or leave an offering during finals week for even better karma.

14. Resources available

Alright, we’re about to get a little nerdy here. UMD has literally anything you could ever ask for when it comes to getting through a class or preparing for the next step in life. Visit the Writing Center for help on your papers or the Career Center for career advising, mock interviews, or resume critiques. UMD truly breeds the best.

15. TerpZone

When you need to take a break from studying, TerpZone is the perfect place to go. Located in the basement of Stamp, they offer bowling, billiards, and other fun activities to keep students entertained.

16. Eppley Recreation Center

If you need more than bowling to keep you active, then Eppley is the place to go. Shake off your stress with a Zumba class or use the usual gym equipment. Eppley is every gym-rat’s dream.

17. Farm

Holy. Cuteness. The perfect place to stop in between classes to de-stress. Who else can say that they have cows on their campus?

18. Basketball

How *sweet* would it be to say you go to a school that plays in the Sweet Sixteen! See what I did there?

19. Teams/Clubs

Acapella, EDM Club, or Squirrel Watching anyone? With over 800 clubs and teams on campus there’s no way you won’t find your place here.

20. Squirrels

Speaking of squirrel watching, campus is swarmed with cute squirrels that greet you on your way to classes! But don’t get too close…

21. Location

Being right in between Baltimore and D.C. definitely has it perks when it comes to the job hunt. There are endless opportunities all around us. Perfect for weekend day trips, too!

22. Meet someone new every day

With over 30,000 students, there’s no way you won’t meet new people. When every day’s a new beginning, you’ll never get bored.

23. The Dairy

So remember the campus farm? Yeah, well we make fresh ice cream from those cows and it’s served in Stamp. If there’s one sole reason that you come here, do it for the ice cream.

24. Close to home but far away

You get the convenience of seeing mom and dad whenever, or the option to live the college life in the perfect college town. UMD may only be located an hour from home, but College Park feels like its own little world.