I know that the area around Temple is not the best, so I was wondering how accessible the rest of the city is. Is it easy and relatively cheap to get to/from center city and other parts of Philadelphia? Also, how often do students (especially freshman) typically leave campus and venture into the city?
the subway stops on campus. u can easily get to center city from there and there is a RR stop 2 blocks(if that) east of campus. my son does not venture off much but i think other kids do.
Hi, @Frenckt - my D is a freshman. She has gone off campus quite a bit - volunteered north of campus (in the morning), done clinicals at Temple Hospital, visited friends at Drexel, gotten coffee in Center City, is taking a night class at the Ambler Campus this semester, goes running down to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (in the morning), gone to a pop-up park in Center City, shopping, out to dinner, did the Halloween "Terror Behind the Walls’ at the Eastern State Penitentiary, takes MegaBus home which requires going down to the 30th St. Station - and other off campus activities. She has done a lot off campus - the public transportation is very good and affordable. I think the timing of trips is important - areas that aren’t good at night are fine during the day - as well as planning the route so you know where you’re going.
@windowmomto2 I have read the subway is not safe after dark. Does your D take the subway at night?
my son takes subway during day. however, from what i understand, if you take teh subway to center city after dark, taht should be ok most evenings. i would not recomend doing so at 2AM. i think kids travel in groups on the weekend using the subway and it’s ok. i would not take subway north after night due to area but that may be a nervous mom talking. also, when my kid got back to philly around 9:30 pm one Sunday to the 30th street station, we were concerned about it being deserted making necc transfer between 2 trains in center city(there is a tunnel he’d have to go through) so he took regional rail to Temple instead. he got back after 10pm and it was a bit creepy walking from RR station to Temple. it was a foggy night so that did not help. it is about a 2 block walk between rr station and campus and there were police who could see him most of the way but he was still creeped out a bit and will likely use taxi next time. i would think that may be a more travelled route m-th evenings though.
@WindowMomto2
You mentioned that your D travels to Temple Hospital. Is this for her major? My son is starting at Temple in the fall as a nursing major, and I was wondering how he would get to the hospital. Any insight would be appreciated.
@mdw1207 - my daughter has definitely taken the subway at night, but not to go north of Temple, only south, and always with a friend. To clarify ‘at night’ - she’s been back to Temple mainly by 11 and a couple of times by midnight, so not really late. If students stick to this timeframe, there shouldn’t be a safety issue.
@snolte - Yes, the travel to Temple Hospital was for her nursing major. When the nursing students go to the hospital, they meet there and use the subway together. This will be organized in their class. I was a little concerned about that, too, but it was very organized. He’ll have time in the class (Nursing 101?) to ask questions. He’ll have to get subway tokens. My daughter said it is just a sea of ‘cherry’ scrubs! Very safe and no problems. It’s a good question. On one of our several visits to Temple, my husband and daughter rode the subway, during the day. Husband said, “It’s just people, going to work, living their lives.” The nursing students can also take the shuttle to the hospital, but it will probably take longer, because it’s on a loop schedule.