<p>What's Bethlehem like? Do students largely stay on campus or do they venture out?</p>
<p>Hi leadscheduler,</p>
<p>There have been a few discussions on this already. Go back a few pages in my thread (Ask A Lehigh Student) for some additional info. But I’m happy to tell you my perception of Bethlehem:</p>
<p>First of all, a good amount of Lehigh upperclassmen live off-campus, so there is a strong presence of Lehigh students in Bethlehem. But most students do not venture more than 1 or 2 blocks away from campus.</p>
<p>Bethlehem is divided by the Lehigh River. The North Side is wealthier, more residential, and home to city government and big business parks. It’s filled with great restaurants you can have your family take you to during visits. The South Side (where Lehigh is situated) was the old home of Bethlehem Steel. After Bethlehem Steel collapsed in the 1990s, the South Side fell into crime and poverty. But over the last 10 years, the area has definitely changed for the better.</p>
<p>The old steel plant is now a pavillion and music venue The Sands Casino has brought some jobs and businesses into the area. The main road through the South Side is built up with nice shops and restaurants - many of which are filled with Lehigh students. Of course there are rougher areas that you shouldn’t walk through. And you should use common sense when venturing out - walking in groups and avoiding wandering around in the middle of the night. Use common sense, and you’re in good shape.</p>
<p>Lehigh regularly offers shuttles to the Lehigh Valley Mall, too. So while there are plenty of things to do right on-campus, there’s a lot to do in Bethlehem, as well.</p>
<p>When I was at Lehigh over the summer in prep for my co-op this fall, I had to go off-campus quite often for food and other supplied. I think Bethlehem has a long way to go, but it is a lot better than it was a few years ago I’m always on guard, but I never feel afraid or unsafe when I’m out walking around.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>And, of course, Bethlehem is just part of the greater Lehigh Valley, an area of almost a million people. The neighboring larger city of Allentown to the west and the smaller city of Easton to the east plus the surrounding suburbs and the six or so other colleges in the region provide lots of opportunity to do things.</p>
<p>Bethlehem = not so great. Lehigh area = downright scary (although not quite as scary as parts of Allentown to the west, although the Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest areas are still pretty good). Personally, I’d be concerned about my kid’s safety if they were to attend Lehigh just because of the surrounding neighborhood.</p>
<p>The main road through South Side is built up because of the new casino–which has brought another undesirable aspect to that part of town.</p>
<p>I just want to respond to marbling’s post. My son is a third year student at Lehigh and has never felt unsafe and never had a problem, nor has any of his friends. He goes off campus very frequently, but follows common sense rules. Is it scenic in the area surrounding Lehigh, no - is it Burlington VT?- no. however, I do not agree that Lehigh parents should be unusually concerned about their student’s safety, anymore so than any other student attending a college in urban environment.</p>
<p>Let me add my two cents to other people’s posts.</p>
<p>pkrajsa, </p>
<p>You’re absolutely right. Considering the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area, the Lehigh Valley is an exciting place to be. We’re experiencing a lot of economic growth of various industries.</p>
<p>mumof2boyz,</p>
<p>Once again, completely correct. Common sense safety precautions - walk in groups, don’t walk around in the middle of the night - is all any Lehigh student needs. Just like your son, I have never felt unsafe walking off-campus during the summer.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>marbling, </p>
<p>Are you kidding me? You seriously think the area around Lehigh is “downright scary”? If you want to see scary, I suggest you visit the areas surrounding the colleges in University City in Philadelphia - or even the outlying areas around Lafayette in Easton.</p>
<p>Yes, there are bad places in the South Side, but the radius of two to three blocks away from campus is completely safe. The Sands casino isn’t even on the main road going through the South Side. The Sands is on Daly Ave, which turns into 3rd Street - I’m talking about the shops and living spaces on 4th Street. And frankly, the Sands has brought jobs and tourism into the South Side - something we needed - and something I bet a lot of cities would have wanted.</p>
<p>I’m also a junior at Lehigh, but I’m doing a co-op at a chemical plant in Philadelphia this semester. The plant is in a rough part of town - between Juniata Park and Port Richmond. Now that I have to commute through a tougher side of the city everyday for my engineering job, it has made me realize that the South Side is actually pretty nice.</p>
<p>It’s only when people have never truly seen a real working-class neighborhood that they unreasonably “fear” Lehigh. Before you put down my alma mater, go out into the real world and see it for what it is.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>^^shrug^^ See the crime map. You’re entitled to your opinion.</p>
<p>[CrimeMapping.com</a> - National Map](<a href=“http://www.crimemapping.com/map.aspx?aid=10d8cdba-f376-4ad7-b4d5-9ce32131f97f]CrimeMapping.com”>http://www.crimemapping.com/map.aspx?aid=10d8cdba-f376-4ad7-b4d5-9ce32131f97f)</p>
<p>(And no ‘unreasonable fear’ here, but that was funny.)</p>
<p>marbling - That’s nothing compared to Philadelphia or even New Haven, where Yale is. New Haven is in a very sketchy area and people get mugged all the time yet that has no effect on the students and their learning experience. You just have to be safe and smart. If you walk by yourself at 2 in the morning, yes something’s going to happen which is shown in the crime mapping website. Most of those “crimes” happened in the middle of the night.</p>
<p>marbling - I live in the Boston area which is widely considered a great college city - there are daily news stories of students being targeted, robbed, stumbling into the river and drowning and even being murdered. So no, Bethlehem is not unsafe compared to any other urban settings. I stress that the Lehigh Campus is EXTREMELY safe and comfortable. Would I walk around by myself at 2 am in South Bethlehem - no. </p>
<p>We can agree to disagree, but I am speaking from experience and I am not sure where you are coming from. I am a mother (fairly protective) and have lost zero sleep over this issue. I have lost sleep over the young woman at UNH who was just murdered in the sleepy little town of Durham NH though. Horrible things happen sometimes and they can happen anywhere!</p>
<p>Well said, mumof2boyz. Well said.</p>
<p>I think almost every college campus has some sort of criminal element to it. But that’s not to say that because of different crime stats at different universities, then that makes a university better or worse than any other institution. Some of this nation’s best colleges are situated near shady urban areas - likewise some of the lesser colleges in this country are in safer areas in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>For example, my sister stayed for two weeks at Johns Hopkins for a summer program. Now that she’s a senior, JHU is her first ED choice. Her dorm was almost off-campus, and my mom kept warning her how dangerous a city like Baltimore can be. She ended up loving it, despite the fact that crime is a fact of life around the JHU area. Hopkins is the best school in the country for biomedical engineering, and my sister isn’t at all discouraged by the very, very remote possibility she would ever come face-to-face with crime.</p>
<p>I think it starts at home. Parents need to teach their college-bound students that the possibility of being victimized at college (and in life in general) is real, but it shouldn’t be something they are constantly paranoid about. And they need to preach common sense practices: don’t wander around at 2am, don’t walk alone, know how to get help should something happen.</p>
<p>That’s all we’re trying to say.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>Mike, Good luck to your sister! My son applied to JH BME also and did not make the cut. Very small department - I recall they only accept 50 students into the program each year. He did not like Baltimore and in fact had to step over a homeless man during his tour…however, if he had gotten accepted to the number 1 BME program in the country - he would have gone. In the end, for him, environment surrounding the school took second place to the ability to graduate and get a great job or grad school placement due to the strength of the program.</p>
<p>I do know for others, environment is the most important qualifier, so it is an individual decision and if you are seriously uncomfortable in an urban environment, then Lehigh would not be the best choice. It would pretty unreasonable to stay on campus for the entire 4 years.</p>
<p>My daughter and I will be visiting Lehigh in a couple weeks. Any suggestions what part of town to stay in or even what hotel? Thanks!</p>
<p>Thanks mumof2boyz!</p>
<p>She knows it’s a reach, but she’s hoping her involvement there over the summer will help her. You’re right about the run down aspect, though. My mom couldn’t stop worrying whenever she was taken off campus for activites with her summer program group. </p>
<p>She has much more realistic options like U of Delaware and BU lined up. She’s the valedictorian of her class, and she’s always wanted to be a doctor, so she’ll be fine wherever she goes. And she also applied to Lehigh for BioE, so next year might be very interesting!</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>Hey tlang330,</p>
<p>I’ve never had to stay in a hotel in Bethlehem since I only live 1.5 hours from campus, but I do know of a couple options.</p>
<p>In the South Side, there’s a Comfort Suites only 3 or 4 blocks from campus. It’s probably the only realistic option in the South Side. And it’s in an area of the South Side that has been recently restored and redone, so it should be safe, too.</p>
<p>In the North Side, you’ve got the Hotel Bethlehem. It may be a little too swanky and expensive. I think there’s also a Hyatt in the North Side, as well.</p>
<p>The bulk of the hotels are right outside Lehigh Valley International along Airport Road. These are also safe options, but they’re about 15-20 minutes away from campus. Hopefully someone with some additional Lehigh travelling experience will chime in.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>tlang330, I always stay at either the Hyatt or Hotel Bethlehem - be sure to ask for the Lehigh 15% discount at HB as the manager is a Lehigh grad -they don’t give it to you unless you specifically ask. Both are in the historic area of Bethlehem with wonderful shops and restaurants all and easy walk from either hotel. The area is just over the bridge from Lehigh, so a short drive. We have also stayed at the airport hotels as well -there are three huge ones on the highway, there just isn’t a nice pedestrian area around them, just highway.</p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestions. HB sounds like it will be a nice option.</p>
<p>I would also suggest Hotel Bethlehem. Mama Nina’s is right across the street, and is BYO with delicious food (try to stop at one garlic roll). Also walk into the residential section just east of there to see the restored old mansions. On our initial trip to visit Lehigh, and having a sense that Bethlehem was just a tired old industrial city, spending an afternoon and evening walking the downtown and seeing the neighborhoods changed our perception and cinched Lehigh for us and our son.</p>
<p>“Are you kidding me? You seriously think the area around Lehigh is “downright scary”? If you want to see scary, I suggest you visit the areas surrounding the colleges in University City in Philadelphia - or even the outlying areas around Lafayette in Easton.”</p>
<p>LehighChemE – I agree with your assessment of the relative danger of Bethlehem. I spent a fair amount of time there when my daughter was a student at Lafayette, and I was just down last week on the way to see another daughter so took the opportunity to have dinner at the Brew Works.</p>
<p>I question the accuracy of your statement about the “outlying areas around Lafayette” however. Lafayette is located in a very nice historic neighborhood on a hill overlooking downtown. My wife and I have frequently strolled around the neighborhoods bordering Lafayette at night after sporting events and theatrical/musical performances. Perfectly safe area, as is downtown Easton if you emply common sense. </p>
<p>Your statement would have been correct if you’d said “outlying neighborhoods west and south of downtown Easton” but there is absolutely no reason for students to go there unless they are involved in group community service projects (for which the college provides transportation).</p>
<p>hudsonvalley51,</p>
<p>I’ve been in the Easton area myself for the Rivalry. When I said “outlying areas around Lafayette”, I’m talking about Easton as a whole. Is Easton devoid of crime? Do Lafayette students never experience crime? Of course, not. That was my point.</p>
<p>I’ll grant you that the areas around Lafayette are nothing compared to the rougher sides of University City in Philadelphia or in other urban college areas. It was probably unfair to lump Lafayette with those schools.</p>
<p>I think of it like this. The nice areas you’re talking about off-campus of Lafayette are probably just like the redeveloped areas two or three blocks off-campus from Lehigh. And similarly, downtown Easton is probably like the areas that are maybe four or five blocks away from Lehigh in South Side Bethlehem.</p>
<p>My original purpose was just to make marbling aware that going to Lehigh does not automatically paint you as a crime victim so long as you use common sense - not to offend Lafayette folks. We can save that for Lehigh-Lafayette week.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>