Baltimore is an AWESOME place to live. I know a few alumni of UMD and they would highly recomend it. :) Good luck!

Baltimore is a fascinating and sometimes scary combination of the good and the truly appalling. Just be careful where you go. UMD, meanwhile, is one of the worst universities in the nation. The good college in Baltimore is called Johns Hopkins.

Baltimore city is a great place to live. Diverse population, good nightlife, etc… just do your research and choose a decent neighborhood.
Which UM campus are you considering in the Baltimore metro area? UMBC or UMAB? There is also the main campus (UMCP) in College Park.. but that’s not in Baltimore? Almost all the UM professional schools are downtown. The law school in the city is extremely competitive. Check into their history – the medical and dental schools downtown are also outstanding – though not the bargain they used to be.

As far as UMAB, which is actually downtown, I’ve heard it is not that good of a school. I go to UMBC, and while its not Johns Hopkins, its only a five minute drive from the city and I highly reccommend it.