Best way to get to College Park from Harford Co.? (Edgewood: transfer to, school)

[GinnyFavers]

We are living in Forest Hill, MD, in Harford County, right off the intersection of Rt. 1 and Hwy 24.

I am contemplating applying for graduate school at the U of MD, College Park. That is the only location that offers my program.

I'm thinking through options for getting there every day. I've heard that I-95 to there will take me up to two hours each way in traffic, or more if there's a wreck. The train from Edgewood, MD is an option, but I would have to switch in D.C. at Union Station to the Metro, and then from there who knows -- it seems like a really big place?

I guess I'm thoroughly overwhelmed by all the options, but also noticing that none of them seem that good.

Would like to hear anyone's suggestions on routes.

~Amanda

[barante]

Sorry, I-95 is your only realistic choice. You can train it but it will kill you.

[wigs817]

The commute will kill you too, unless you're traveling in the middle of the day or late evening, in which case it will only raise your blood pressure but not kill you.

[NJ2MDdude]

MARC Edgewood to Penn Station; transfer to Light Rail; from Penn Station to Camden Station; transfer to MARC Camden Line; from Camden Station to College Park Metro; transfer to Univ of MD Shuttle bus to the Student Union.

NOTE: Not all Camden Line trains stop at College Park. In this situation, take MARC Camden Line to Greenbelt; transfer to Greenbelt Metro; from Greenbelt to College Park.

[barante]

Dude -- What is your guesstimate for time spent in that scenario?

[GinnyFavers]

Why do you think Harford County doesn't offer more direct transportation to that area? Is the growth here that recent, that it took them by surprise, or was it a concious attempt to try and keep out growth?

[NJ2MDdude]

Originally Posted by barante

Dude -- What is your guesstimate for time spent in that scenario?

It's an option. It's not for me to decide whether it's unreasonable. Imo, there are no good commuting options.

[wigs817]

Originally Posted by GinnyFavers

Why do you think Harford County doesn't offer more direct transportation to that area? Is the growth here that recent, that it took them by surprise, or was it a concious attempt to try and keep out growth?

I'd say that 'they' (whomever that refers to) probably assume that most people that move to Harford County, move there to raise kiddos and are most likely as far in the education as they will go. And it's not like it's a short distance from Harford County to UMD that is just poorly connected, they're pretty far from each other.

[Newk]

Any online programs available?

[GinnyFavers]

OK thanks, everyone. No, there are no online programs that would let me attend for free by having a Graduate Assistantship -- which was the only way I was going to go.

I think I will just work my way up through the library system here without the MLIS. Maybe someday I'll spring for an online program.

When my husband moved us here, I had no idea how ISOLATED Harford County was going to be. At least there's two places to get sushi now... when we moved here there were none.