We just visited JH for the first time. It is a beautiful campus! Question though - there were a lot of visible security officers which is a good thing. The area we drove through to get from 95 to the university was really a rough neighborhood. That element concerns me. Is the whole university surrounded by that type of area? Do students leave campus? Where do they “go out” when they want a break from studying? Are there college bars/hangouts?
(recent alumni)
I’m assuming you’re talking about Homewood (the main undergraduate campus). Campus and the immediately surrounding area is about as safe as a big city can be due to the constant security presence and high volume of students. This area is known as the “Hopkins bubble” As a student I could walk around that area at any time without feeling unsafe.
Outside of the Hopkins bubble students spend a good amount of time in Hampden and Mt. Vernon. Both neighborhoods are within a couple miles of campus and pretty safe - you can get to both neighborhoods using free public transportation or Hopkins’ bus and shuttle systems (which are only for Hopkins affiliates and free). Students also tend to go to the inner harbor which is one of the most urban-upscale areas in Baltimore.
In general, Baltimore can be a rough place but if you employ basic street smarts you should be able to explore the city and have a good time.