Cars Archives - HaveUHeard.com https://haveuheard.com Life is Complicated Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:39:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.1 https://haveuheard.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-cropped-mega-huh-512-1-32x32.png Cars Archives - HaveUHeard.com https://haveuheard.com 32 32 Hotels near University of Maryland https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/hotels-university-maryland/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/hotels-university-maryland/#respond Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:41:15 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=22844 Hotels...A Nice Place to Stay Though College Park is a [...]

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Hotels…A Nice Place to Stay

Though College Park is a college town, it is home to some lovely hotels that parents can book a stay at when visiting their students at UMD. When considering where to stay, there are a few things for parents to consider. Some may want to stay on or close to campus, or some may want to be a little further and take advantage of the great city of Washington D.C. that is a short drive or metro away from the university. Others may be interested in hotels with more specific amenities such as free breakfast, Starbucks in the lobby, or even pet-friendly hotels. Whatever you may be looking for, College Park and D.C. have plenty of options with rates that work for everyone!

Since you will be doing this for at least four years, I recommend staying at the same brand hotel each time so you can accrue reward points. These points can earn you free nights and breakfasts. Also, compare prices online. Oddly, you can find various prices for the same hotel on different sites. You can book directly through the different hotel brands listed below or book through a website like Reservations.com, Expedia, or Hotels.com.so you can accumulate points there as well.

haveuheard hotels

On or Close to Campus

If you are looking for convenience and looking to stay as close to campus as possible, there are six hotels that are less than a mile away from the University of Maryland campus!

  • The Hotel at the University of Maryland – This hotel is located directly across the main entrance of campus and includes various amenities such as three restaurants, a Mynd Spa and Salon, an indoor pool, and more. This hotel also offers a shuttle to locations on or around campus. 7777 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740 Phone: (301) 277-7777
  • College Park Marriott and Conference Center – Another hotel that is conveniently on the university campus, The Marriot is a hotel that offers various room types, large workspaces, a shuttle to get on or around campus, and a restaurant that houses a Starbucks. 3501 University Blvd E, Hyattsville, MD 20783 Phone: (301) 985-7300
  • The Cambria College Park – Right off of campus, The Cambria is another great hotel to stay at that has a nice restaurant and is located right next to a CVS Pharmacy and an OrangeTheory Fitness. 8321 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740 Phone: (301) 595-2600
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites College Park-University Area – 9020 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740 Phone: (301) 441-8110
  • Best Western Plus College Park – 8419 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740 Phone: (301) 220-0505
  • TownePlace Suites College Park – The closest pet-friendly hotel to campus, located only two miles away from UMD. 9620 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740. Phone: (301) 220-900

Hotels in Washington D.C.

When visiting your student at UMD, you may want to take advantage of the nine miles proximity to the city and stay in a hotel there! There are hundreds of hotels to choose from located in the metropolitan city of Washington D.C. To take on the 30-minute ride to or from D.C. to College Park, you can utilize the Metro, Uber’s, Taxis, and buses. You can also check out Woodspring Suites in Washington D.C.

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Economical to Extravagant Off-Campus Living https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/off-campus-living/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/off-campus-living/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:01:42 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=22951 The Next Step to Off-Campus Living College Park has ple [...]

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The Next Step to Off-Campus Living

College Park has plenty of options when it comes to living spaces. From apartments, houses, and townhouses, the choice is yours! Before you know it, it will be time to have a conversation about where your student may want to live next year. This conversation will be brought up in October or November of your students’ freshman year. Yes, this may seem early, but it is necessary planning if you want your choice of an apartment or house. Before you sign that lease in December or early on in the following year, it is important you check out all your options. Some students prefer certain buildings, cost of rent, locations, amenities, and policies, so knowing all about each location is imperative.

Apartments and Townhouses

Landmark Apartments– In my opinion, this would be my first choice in apartment buildings. Located right above the Target on College Avenue, directly across from campus, this apartment building is very common and has a great location. Yes, it is on the pricey side, but it is a prime location and its amenities are excellent including a Dunkin’ in the lobby, study lounges and individual study rooms, health and fitness center, tanning beds, an on-site parking garage, and many more helpful additions.

Terrapin Row– Terrapin Row or T-Row, is a lovely place to live and offers both apartments and townhouses. Located on Knox Road, this complex is a great area to live and especially close to the business school. Under T-Row, there are many food options, including Dunkin, The Spot Mini, Wings Over, SEOUL Spice, and more. They also have desirable amenities such as a volleyball court, swimming pool, study hubs, spray tanning, fitness center, and sauna, and plenty more attractive amenities.

College Park Towers– An older building in College Park, but still a good option for students. This is one of the cheapest off-campus apartments, so if you are looking to live in an apartment and want the lowest rent in a central location, this could be the place for you. These apartments do not come furnished, so make sure you bring furniture.

The Alloy– One of the newest apartment buildings in College Park, The Alloy is located a couple of blocks from campus on Baltimore Avenue. This is a pet-friendly apartment, so perfect for all pet owners. In addition to this, The Alloy has a pool, rec room, courtyard with a fire pit, and several other convenient amenities.

The Varsity– Located on Baltimore Avenue, a little past campus is The Varsity apartments. It is not the most convenient location in regards to Central College Park where a lot of restaurants and bars are located, but they have nice rooms that come fully furnished and all have their own private bathroom.

University View– Located right next to The Varsity on Baltimore Avenue, U-View is another good choice in apartment buildings. U-View offers fair rent prices and has amenities including a pool, shuttle bus service, fitness center, entertainment spaces, etc.

Houses

Many upperclassmen choose to live in houses. Whether it be a house that’s that is shared between some new friends or a Greek life house, these are great affordable options for students. If you are interested in living in a house with friends, off-campus houses are often listed on websites such as Zillow or the UMD OCH Database. If students are interested in a particular house, it is best to talk to the current landlord or residents in hopes of taking over the house the following year. Certain houses tend to get passed down between friends and sororities and fraternities, so make sure you talk to your upperclassman friends if you are interested in their house.

A great aspect of Greek-like at the University of Maryland is being able to live in Greek housing. UMD owns a good amount of sorority and fraternity houses. These houses are located on either Fraternity Row along Route One, or houses on the “Graham Cracker” down College Avenue and Knox Road. Living in a Greek house is once in a lifetime experience and comes with many amenities. Most houses have chefs that make lunch and dinner during the week, which is excellent for those students who don’t love to cook or don’t have the time. In addition to the proximity to campus, it is not likely your student will ever have the opportunity to be living with 40-60 of their closest friends again. My daughter currently lives in a sorority house off-campus and loves it and would not choose another living option.

One important thing that members of sororities and fraternities must know is when each member is given the opportunity to live in the house. Some chapters choose to give sophomore preference, while some give junior preference, so make sure you know your situation and plan living accordingly. It is also common that you can live in these houses for half of a year. In this case, your student will need to find rent for the semester that they are unable to live in the house. Most times, if this is the case, students are able to get a one-semester lease in New or Old Leonardtown. These are residence halls that are apartment-style, located within walking distance from the sorority and fraternity houses. If students want another option of one-semester living, the next best thing is to sublease an apartment, then move into the house the following semester.

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Favorite Apartment Rentals! https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/favorite-apartment-rentals/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/favorite-apartment-rentals/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:23:51 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=22955 Abundant Rentals - Renters Rejoice! Most students canno [...]

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Abundant Rentals – Renters Rejoice!

Most students cannot wait to move into rentals! Whether you are choosing to live in an apartment freshman year or as an upperclassman, there are plenty of great options. Below are some of the more popular apartment rentals and complexes students live near UMD. Some provide buses to campus (which can be important since parking on campus can be a nightmare), some have facilities that rival a fancy hotel (pools, hot tubs, volleyball courts, lounges), some provide reserved parking spots for a fee, some are gated and provide constant security, and all have various options from studios to 4 bedrooms.

There are many perks of living in an apartment, such as your own room, possibly your own bathroom, and a kitchen! When deciding which building to actually live in there are several factors you must consider. The location of the rentals is something important to think about. Some students prefer apartment buildings that are as close to campus as possible, while students who have cars have more leniency on how far their building is from campus. Price is also a very important factor. Prices vary depending on the type of room you are looking for and how many people and bathrooms are in the apartment. The rent for many complexes depends on how early in the year you sign a lease. Many will also help find a student to fill a vacant room if need be. Wi-Fi is generally included in rent, but utilities are not always included or are included up to a specific dollar amount with the overage split between the occupants. Be sure your student checks all included amenities before making a final decision.

Here is a partial list of the most commonly rented apartments very close to campus:

College Park Towers– An older building in College Park, but still a good option for students. This is one of the cheapest off-campus apartments, so if you are looking to live in an apartment and want the lowest rent in a central location, this could be the place for you. These apartments do not come furnished, so make sure you bring furniture. They have studio rooms to 4 room apartments for rent and the starting price is $715/month.

Domain College Park: These apartments are located basically on-campus, right near the School of Architecture and Business school. This building offers both 1- and 2-bedroom rooms. Rent for 1-bedroom rooms starts at $1,738/month and 2-bedroom rooms start at $2787/month.

Landmark Apartments– Located right above the Target on College Avenue, directly across from campus, this apartment building is very popular among UMD students and has a great central location. This building has 1, 2, and 4-bedroom options for rent and the starting price is $1139/month.

Terrapin Row– Terrapin Row or T-Row, is a lovely place to live and offers both apartments and townhouses. Located on Knox Road, this complex is a great area to live and especially close to the business school. Under T-Row, there are many food options, including Dunkin, The Spot Mini, Wings Over, SEOUL Spice, and more. They also have desirable amenities such as a volleyball court, swimming pool, study hubs, spray tanning, fitness center, and sauna, and plenty more attractive amenities. They have a studio, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments and also have townhouses for rent as well. The starting price for T-Row is $1,185.

The Alloy– One of the newest apartment buildings in College Park, The Alloy is located a couple of blocks from campus on Baltimore Avenue. This is a pet-friendly apartment, so perfect for all pet owners. In addition to this, The Alloy has a pool, rec room, courtyard with a fire pit, and several other convenient amenities. They have 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments that start at $1,284/month.

The Courtyards: This is a group of apartment buildings on campus that are owned by the University of Maryland. They offer both 2 bedroom and 4-bedroom apartments. The starting price for these apartments is $746/month.

The Varsity– Located on Baltimore Avenue, a little past campus is The Varsity apartments. It is not the most convenient location in regards to central College Park where a lot of restaurants and bars are located, but they have nice rooms that come fully furnished and all have their own private bathroom. The rooms they offer are 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments and rates begin at $984/month.

University View– Located right next to The Varsity on Baltimore Avenue, U-View is another good choice in apartment buildings. U-View offers fair rent prices and has amenities including a pool, shuttle bus service, fitness center, entertainment spaces, etc. U-View has studio, 2 bedroom, and 4-bedroom apartments and the starting rate is $1,095/month.

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Fix it! Fix it Good! https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/fix-good-umd/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/fix-good-umd/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2020 19:06:33 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=22965 If it’s Broken, You Must Fix It Things break, it happen [...]

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If it’s Broken, You Must Fix It

Things break, it happens! Whether you get a flat tire, your bike breaks down, or you get an inevitable screen crack you are going to have to repair it. But if or when it does happen, it is best to be prepared. Considering it is very common to have either a car or bike on campus, knowing where to go in case they break down or need a quick fix-up is extremely important. If you ask some UMD students, you are likely to get several options of places to get your belongings fixed. It’s a hassle having to figure out which is the closest or quickest repair shop, so we have some suggestions for places your student can go both in College Park and the surrounding area.

Listed below are some of the repair shops that your UMD student can go to.

Bicycle Repairs

Auto Repair

Phone and Electronics Repairs

In addition to the common flat bike tire or issue with your car, phones and electronics can have issues or break just as much or maybe more depending on how clumsy your student is. There are two phone and electronics repair shops that are walking distance from dorms and for those that live in off-campus housing. This makes it very convenient and easy for students to get their electronics repaired and have them ready for class.

  • onCampus Repairs 7332 Baltimore Avenue Suite #210, 301-906-4320
  • U.Mobile Cell Phone Repair, 7404 Baltimore Avenue, 301-864-1002

Other places close to campus include:

As always, have your students ask their friends, sorority and fraternity friends, and roommates or suitemates for recommendations as well. Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

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Get on the Bus https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/bus-umd/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/bus-umd/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:22:51 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=23401 A Guide to UMD’s Bus System Getting to and from campus [...]

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A Guide to UMD’s Bus System

Getting to and from campus can be stressful and can take up a lot of time. Whether you are looking to get across campus or from your apartment building down the road, the Shuttle-UM has your back. Shuttle-UM is one of the nation’s largest university transit services and has a fleet of over 75 vehicles. All UMD students may ride any bus, making it a great option to get around College Park and beyond for those students who do not have a car on campus, and even those that do!

When planning on taking the bus, make sure you download the NextBus app. This app allows you to see all Shuttle-UM route updates, alerts, and accurate ETAs in real-time. NextBus also allows you to sign up for automatic text alerts, letting you track your preferred routes. If you’re planning on taking the bus, have your UMD ID ready because several routes require a university ID for entry. Some bus routes are evening service only and will show a green box with “PM” in the middle to indicate so.

The on-campus bus routes are named after colors rather than locations to set them apart. The orange, purple, blue, gold, and green buses run through campus daily and include stops at many popular areas on campus. The main stops that these busses take include Stamp Student Union, Regents Drive Garage, the Atlantic Building, Ritchie Coliseum, the M-Circle, and various dorms. In addition, for getting students place-to-place on campus, many bus routes pick you up at apartment buildings, the College Park Metro, and various towns that commuter students come from.

The apartments that Shuttle-UM pick up from include University View, The Enclave, and The Varsity. Another great part of UMD’s bus system is that they have a grocery shopping shuttle. This shuttle stops at several dorms, campus buildings, and common streets that students live on and take them to various grocery stores in the area. This can be a huge help for students when they do not have a car on campus and cannot get to grocery stores easily.

Whether you choose to bring a car or not, we definitely recommend taking advantage of the many bus options available for students. Parking and commuting to UMD can be a hassle, but with the use of the shuttle system, it can become stress-free.

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Getting There – All the Transportation Options https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/getting-there-transportation-umd/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/getting-there-transportation-umd/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2020 20:03:49 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=23411 Transportation to and from College Park The first time [...]

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Transportation to and from College Park

The first time you are dropping off your student at college is both an exciting and difficult time. Whether you are a drive away from College Park or need to get on a plane, there are several options for transportation in order to help your student move in. After the initial move in it is likely that you will not be going with them as frequently, so here are some ways to get your student to and from the University of Maryland.

One of the best aspects of going to school near the capital of the country is all of the airports available to utilize when traveling. When coming or going from the university, there are three international airports your student can choose to go to Baltimore International Airport (BWI), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), or Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Having three different airports that are all 25-50 minutes, allows all that are traveling to the university abundant options for flight times and prices. A typical price for flights to these airports, depending on where you live, can range from $70-$250. In addition to these advantages, having all three airports means that mostly every airline flies into at least one of these airports.

Getting to and from the airport is also very easy and accessible. Uber and taxis are always hanging around in the area due to all the people that come and go into these various cities. An Uber is the less expensive option of the two and ranges from $25-45, while a taxi will range from $40-$100. For those that are in states that have the option to train to school, students can take Amtrak and train into either the New Carrollton Station in Maryland or the Union Station in Washington D.C. Train prices vary from around $80-$189, but depending on where you live, it could be the best option for your student.

If you live in the state of Maryland or a distance that you believe is drivable, taking a car is always an option. In order to have your car on campus, you have to have over 30 credits or be a commuter. If you have a reason to be exempted from this rule as a freshman, there are forms students can fill out and apply for on-campus parking. If your student is over the 30 credit mark or is a Sophomore standing or higher, the student can keep their car on campus and pay for a residential permit at city hall for $10.

Once your student is settled in on campus, the UMD bus system has various routes that take students on and around campus. Shuttle-UM has over 75 vehicles and operates 31 routes. The apps that make traveling on the bus super easy are NextBus and goUMD.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

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Having a Car at College https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/car-college-umd/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/car-college-umd/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2020 20:25:51 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=23421 Can You Get By Without A Car? No car, yes you can! Yes, [...]

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Can You Get By Without A Car?

No car, yes you can! Yes, you can get by at the University of Maryland without having a car. One common issue at college campuses is that there are thousands of students but nowhere near enough parking spots for all students and faculty. In addition to the lack of parking spaces, it can be very frustrating trying to drive and park on campus, not to mention how often students receive parking tickets. While some students choose to bring their car, there are plenty of ways to get on or around campus without a car!

The University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) is the department that deals with both parking on campus and the UMD bus system, Shuttle-UM. If you do not have a car on campus, and even if you do, the bus system is something that all students should utilize! Shuttle-UM runs busses both on and around campus and is one of the nation’s largest university transit services. The fleet of over 75 vehicles takes students all over campus and common off-campus places such as grocery stores and various apartment buildings. You can learn more by reading our Get on the Bus blog.

Another great part about UMD is the beautiful, walkable campus. While the university can be viewed as somewhat large, every place on campus is within walking distance and the picturesque views make it even better! In addition to the nice walks, there are so many great spots to take a seat and enjoy the campus. My favorite spot to walk by and take a seat is McKeldin Mall. This spot is the heart of campus and in my opinion the prettiest! With the various paths, it makes it easy to get anywhere on campus quickly.

Carpooling is another great option I would recommend! While it is not necessary to bring a car, there are many people who choose to, or live close enough, to pick and choose when they have their car on campus. It is likely you will have a friend or two who have their cars with them so offer to pitch in for some gas money and ride with them! Uber and Lyft are always reliable if you need a ride to a place or area that the busses don’t stop. There are constantly Uber and Lyft drivers in the area considering how often college students will use their services, making them a reliable source of transportation. Just remember to follow proper safety tips when using rideshare.

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Moving In – Move it Move it Move it https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/moving-umd/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/moving-umd/#respond Fri, 26 Jun 2020 17:57:41 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=23501 Get Your Hand Trucks Ready to Move! Once your student h [...]

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Get Your Hand Trucks Ready to Move!

Once your student has been given their move-in date and dorm or residence assignment, the process of handling what can be a stressful, labor-intensive, and often expensive moving process begins. Traditionally, female students tend to take a full-on decorating approach complete with wall décor, signs, picture frames, string lights, desk accessories, and many other decorative items. Male students do not quite go that full in and often just want a comfortable bed, maybe a poster or two, and perhaps a rug. It is quite humorous after each drop-off, whether it is for summer or fall, to see my friends’ postings on Facebook and Instagram and see the obvious difference between guys and girls completed dorm room.

This may be a sticker price shock moment. According to the National Retail Federation, back to college spending averaged $976.78 in 2019. This is big business with college checklists resembling the lists usually reserved for wedding registries and baby shower registries. If you go to the many college dorm checklists, you will be faced with a list filled with items you may have never considered. Some, like gaming systems, seems a bit far-fetched. You are not looking to entertain your students for the next four years; just to set up a comfortable room where they can study, relax, and feel a bit of that home feeling they left behind. To prevent unnecessary expenses, let’s get into the moving tips.

Break It Down

These tips can be applied to both female and male students to help make moving easier.

If you have a student living in a dorm, the beds are not necessarily the most comfortable. You will want to get a mattress protector pad, mattress cover and for the best comfort, a memory foam mattress topper. You will find these at TargetWalmartBed Bath & Beyond, and many department stores. This can be considered a short-term item as many students who move into apartments their second year will probably have a full or queen size mattress. If your student is moving into Greek housing, many have Twin XL beds so, in theory, it could be used again; however, be prepared for your daughter wanting to pick out something completely new with her new roommate.

You will need a minimum of two sets of sheets plus pillowcases. No one is saying that they need the top thread count but certainly try to get a set that will not pill after one wash. They will want to wash their sheets once a week minimally (we hope) so two should be sufficient. Additionally, many girls love extra pillows and a throw blanket to decorate the room further and for extra comfort. To finish off with bedding, be sure to bring either a comforter or a duvet cover. My daughter prefers a comforter considering duvets sometimes slip around.

A large floor rug. Adding a rug to the small freshmen dorm rooms makes a huge difference. A nice surface rug makes the room appear bigger and more comfortable. UMD lists common rugs sized for the room and sells rugs on their OCM website. One thing I did for my daughter that made her dorm room homier was adding curtains. Adding some simple curtains to the window in the middle of the dorm room gave the room a more welcoming vibe and was a simple, cute, touch. Another tip is to make your own curtains from fabric. You can get fabric in a pattern or color that goes along with the other decorations in the room, this way you can match the color scheme while saving extra money.

Get a mini-fridge. This is an item you can split with your student’s roommate or decide which one of them will bring it. Having a fridge in the room makes it easy to have some quick snacks and drinks on hand at all times. If your college student is planning on having a television in their room, you will need a coaxial cable. Extension cords are also a much-needed item. We would recommend using one that is both double and triple-pronged. Seems there are never enough outlets when you are moving to a new place.

If your student is like mine, there just is not enough closet and drawer space to accommodate all of her clothes, shoes, dry goods, toiletries, medicines, and so on. That is where the under-the-bed plastic drawer system comes in handy. The problem you may face is availability. Either bring them with you if your vehicle space allows or order ahead of time. Another way to have extra storage space around the dorm room is to have a small ottoman that doubles as storage and extra seating.

Can You Bring It?

Before getting carried away and buying everything in sight when dorm shopping, be sure to check over the list of items to bring or not to bring posted on the UMD website. And make sure you check out our intern’s Shopping Guide for New Students. Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

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Parking at UMD https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/parking-umd/ https://haveuheard.com/posts-umd/parking-umd/#respond Fri, 26 Jun 2020 18:44:06 +0000 https://haveuheard.com/?post_type=posts-umd&p=23514 Getting That Last Parking Spot! When getting ready to g [...]

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Getting That Last Parking Spot!

When getting ready to go to UMD in the fall, an important topic to bring up is whether or not they will bring their car to school. It is important to think it through and consider where they will keep it if they do decide to have their car on campus. Yes, it will make runs to the grocery store and mall easier, but parking can sometimes be a huge hassle on and around campus. The University of Maryland has several parking instructions and regulations that students should make sure to look at, considering how common it is to get a ticket when driving at UMD.

The first thing to consider when thinking about bringing a car too school is whether you are even eligible to do so. All students with 30 credits or more and commuter students are eligible for registering for on-campus parking. For many freshmen, this means that they will not be able to bring their car to school yet. UMD transportation services do allow students to apply for a freshman exception. Freshman students looking to park on campus must apply for an exception stating your reasoning on why you should be allowed to park on campus. This exception will be reviewed by the Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) personnel and if they find that you qualify for the exception, they will assign you with a parking spot in a lot based on your resident hall location and lot availability.

For students that are eligible and looking to purchase a student parking permit, they can do so using their student login information through the DOTS parking portal website. Students have the option to purchase semester permits or annual permits. Each permit varies in price; The semester permits ranging from $325- $390 and the annual permit at $650. In addition to these permits, students have the option to purchase a bundle pack. Bundle packs are targeted at commuter students who may need to drive to campus occasionally. The buddle pack contains 10 one-day permits for Lots 4 or 6 and $75. These permits can be purchased at the DOTS office in Regents Drive Garage.

Register Please

UMD students may register for parking based on class standing, lot availability, and location of their residence hall. Assignments are determined by the availability of spaces in the lot. Based on where you live, determines the available lots you can register for. For those students that are commuters, the lot that they can register for is determined by credit hours earned. For students that do not live on campus, they have the option of purchasing an overnight storage permit. This is for students who reside in apartments and housing complexes immediately adjacent to campus who wish to park overnight or store their vehicles on campus 24/7. The lot that these students will be assigned to is Lot 5, 11, 17, or 19. If the lot that your student wishes to register for is full, they have the ability to join a waitlist for their preferred lot. Students can register for a waitlist through the parking management system. DOTS monitor lot capacity and availability and will contact students via email when parking is available in their desired lot. Joining the waitlist is free and open to any student regardless of parking status.

Visitors have many options when parking at UMD. There are street locations, surface lots, and in four of the five-campus garages. Visitor parking is enforced seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to midnight unless otherwise noted on the meter. During these hours guests must pay $3 per hour, with no daily rate. You can pay for these spaces by pay stations, credit card meters, and the Parkmobile app. If you only need to park for 15 minutes or less at a pay station you may park for free. You must still visit the pay station to enter your space number, but you will not be charged.

Remind your students to be diligent about proper parking because parking tickets are extremely common at UMD. Got a ticket? Students can appeal or pay for tickets on the UMD Parking Services website. Unpaid parking fines will hold up class registration, the release of grades, possibly even a graduation. Paying those fines in a timely manner is no joke. When receiving a parking citation, you have the option to pay the citation or appeal the citation. Either must be done within 15 calendar days from the citation issue date. A $30 late fee will be applied to citations that are neither appealed nor paid within the 15 days. When paying the citation, students can choose to pay online, by mail, or in-person to DOTS.

Fellow Parents, when you visit there are options and rules regarding parking for us too. Visitors may find parking at the in street locations, surface lots, and four of the five-campus garages. The visitor parking map shows where you can find parking. There are designated visitor spots for guests with disabilities. Parking is enforced 7 days a week except for university-observed holidays. Rates are $3 per hour. Make sure you download the Parkmobile app. Event parking differs a bit too. UMD  football game day parking has its own rules as does UMD basketball game day parking. If we have thoroughly confused you, we apologize, but we did start by saying parking tends to be a problem. Our advice; get a bicycle.

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