2025: when Penn's neighborhood is more desirable than Princeton's?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My apologies for the slightly hyperbolic title. This is certainly not about Penn or Princeton in particular (though for the record I do continue to hate the latter ;))</p>

<p>As America witnesses a massive return of the upper and middle class to urban areas, and the urban poor are forced out of their rental dwellings as they are converted into condos, coffeeshops, and swanky townhouses...where are they headed?</p>

<p>The soon-to-be-abandoned suburbs.</p>

<p>cf: Is</a> America's suburban dream collapsing into a nightmare? - CNN.com</p>

<p>Of course I have no doubt that the neighborhood of Princeton is going to stay fabulous for centuries to come. Princeton is an outlier if there ever was one.</p>

<p>However, as the urban areas continue their boom well into the 21st century, it is not inconceivable to imagine a future in which urban schools traditionally surrounded by less-than-desirable environs (Penn, UChicago, Yale etc) see their immediate locations transform into a major selling point of the university.</p>

<p>Yay cities! And good riddance to the suburbs.</p>

2

<p>That's just a theory. There's just as much speculation out there that it WON'T happen.</p>

<p>The thing is - families like big houses, grassy yards, good schools, and greater perceived safety. People aren't going to give these things up if they don't have to. </p>

<p>So while some of the upper class will move into cities, a greater percentage will likely remain in the suburbs.</p>

<p>(The lower class will likely stay isolated within certain "slum" areas of the cities.)</p>