If you can afford Hopkins, I would think that would be the way to go. Also, if money is a concern, a kid could take the MARC up to Camden from Muirkirk (or doesn't the Penn Line run within spitting distance of where you live?) and the subway over to the campus -- so commuting could be a viable option in that case. Even with gas prices the way they are (The same applies to UMCP, as well)
Just my opinion, though.
At Hopkins, everyone must live on campus freshman year - no savings there. Otherwise, it's only about a 40-minute drive from my house.
Harvard isn't quite as toxic as we conservatives sometimes imagine. My son's high school sends kids to Harvard from time to time, and they seem to come out as messed up, or not-messed up, as they went in.
In many ways, it's enemy territory, behind the lines. But they're very upfront about it, and that's far better than a pseudo-Catholic school like Notre Dame. My son's a warrior. He relishes smiting the heathens. He might have a grand time at Harvard.
sitetest
If he's as smart as he appears to be, he'll go through there and emerge unscathed.
My children--I am very proud to say--are ALL conservative Republicans--and so are their mates. My--highly intelligent--son recently said: "I wouldn't even date someone who is not conservative."