While some might see Maryland as a state to drive through, many others associate it with the benefits of a great education. Plenty of acclaimed colleges draw students from around the world to the land of delicious crabs and "The Wire." Aspiring doctors choose Johns Hopkins over many other universities, and smaller Baltimore-area schools manage to get the more artistic crowd. As one of the few affordable cities left on the eastern seaboard that's leaning more towards the underground art culture, Baltimore attracts those with bright ideas and creative insights. And because of this, plenty of college-bound teens who might consider scraping by in New York are wondering what it'd feel like to pay the same rent and live in a gigantic warehouse.

However, first-time college students in Maryland need to think about home security for more than a few reasons. While Baltimore might be the home of John Waters and plenty of exciting bands, it's also a city with high mugging rates and a large number of breaking and entering crimes each year. While those who watched "The Corner" or "The Wire" might not have the most accurate picture of what it will be like to live off-campus, it's still worth remembering that many parts of Baltimore are still a bit rough. This means that the right research can go a long way towards choosing the proper neighborhood to live in, and sometimes the difference between something close to campus and something further away is worth paying a bit more. Students with cars should also consider thinking not just about their own home security, but about where they will be able to park their vehicles on-campus, and if there is a safe spot near a house or apartment for those spots where garages aren't existent.

Those college students who are choosing to live on-campus also need to think about home security, and not just when dealing with crazy roommates and their kleptomaniac boyfriend and girlfriends. Walking home late from the library alone is not a good idea, even on campus, and it always makes more sense to call student security and ask for an escort. Likewise, students worried about home security shouldn't invite random people into the dormitories, or sign in strangers. This is a surefire way to end up in trouble for something that you didn't actually do. Always be sure that dorm room doors are locked, because forgetting to secure a residence, even if it's a temporary one in a building shared with many peers, can result in being the victim of theft. With so many college students stealing from one another on-campus, it makes sense to take the extra steps needed to know that strangers won't just be waltzing and out of dorm rooms.

Fortunately, getting settled in Maryland and starting school doesn't need to be an overwhelming experience. By thinking about home security as another to-do item on the checklist of becoming a responsible college student, it's a whole lot easier to get with the program when it comes to safety.