<p>This question is geared towards Yale students. I know new haven isn't the best city so how safe would you say Yale is?</p>
<p>My brother’s son just graduated Yale and had no problems, but New Haven is a pit.</p>
<p>I was there for 1/2 day, and my car got broken into.</p>
<p>If you get in, it is hard to pass up Yale, but I would say that if you are smart enough to get into Yale, I would seriously consider my other options.</p>
<p>Four years is a long time.</p>
<p>I suspect that Yale is going to start falling in the rankings because its location, in my opinion, is undesirable.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts! I still love Yale though… :)</p>
<p>florida: The area around New Haven has improved greatly – even though it has its blemishes. When I was there in the late 80s, the crack wars were on full blast and crime was quite high in the deeper recesses of New Haven. Some of that crept to campus too. But as for affecting Yale’s rankings? Not a bit. I don’t think it fell out of 1 or 2 all my four years there. </p>
<p>Misspiggy: I address this concern at practically every info session I give. I have two daughters and feel I’ve taught them to be safe and aware – that they live in a real world and not a fantasy land. I wouldn’t hesitate 2 seconds to send them to Yale if they were so lucky as to be accepted.</p>
<p>Contrary to what floridadad says, New Haven is actually NOT a pit. The area around Yale is incredibly safe. There’s certainly economically depressed areas, but there’s also tons of beautiful public parks, amazing old houses, and gorgeous, upscale neighborhoods where professors live. I’ve visited several professors’ homes in New Haven itself that are absolutely beautiful, and in neighborhoods where you could walk around with a $20 bill hanging out of your pocket at 2 AM and not get hurt. (This isn’t the case in some neighborhoods - but New Haven is a CITY, like any other city.) There’s a beautiful nature area at both East Rock and West Rock where you can go hiking & canoeing - just a 15/20 minute walk away.</p>
<p>If you’re comfortable living in a diverse, lively city, you’ll be comfortable living in New Haven. Anybody who says New Haven is a “pit” really knows nothing about the city. It has its issues, but it really is a very nice place to live. People just can’t let go of their stereotypes - a drug dealer was shot in the basement of a Harvard dorm a few years back, and I didn’t hear anybody making a big fuss about how unsafe Cambridge was. Nothing like that has happened around Yale for years and years.</p>
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<p>Why now instead of the past few decades? It’s not like New Haven was ever as nice and as (relatively) safe as NYC, SF, Seattle or other major cities. The actual Yale campus is extremely beautiful and campus security as well as having some common sense will keep you safe. </p>
<p>And to assume that a school’s ranking will fall all of a sudden because of its location-- even though it’s been in that New Haven for ages-- instead of reasons like a drop in academic and research standards is ludicrous.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! This made me feel a lot better. I’m glad to hear new haven is not a “pit”.</p>
<p>I was there 30 years ago, when New Haven was much more of a pit than it is now, and I never felt unsafe. I don’t think my wife did either. My son is there now, and has had no issues. I will say that because it’s an urban setting, you may be a victim of property crime if you don’t take reasonable precautions. Thus, if you don’t lock up your bike, it will very likely be stolen. But the likelihood of being mugged is extremely low unless you do something very unwise. Which most students never do, because there’s so much going on on campus.</p>
<p>Plus, one person’s description of a “pit” may be because one actually sees homeless people or has to engage face to face with some poor people occasionally or has to deal with some of the dinginess that most of the human population must contend with. I grew up in a large urban city and felt “street wise” so there was nothing I saw at Yale that I hadn’t seen since middle school. I didn’t mind one second that Yalies are made aware of the world “out there” – I loved my tutoring of area kids and other community service projects I did in New Haven.</p>
<p>I’m not quite a student yet, but I didn’t feel unsafe when I visited for the first time during Bulldog Days. New Haven isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be, especially the area immediately surrounding campus. But it’s still a city, and you have to use some common sense when going out. I guess it would seem like a pit if you’re used to a sterile suburban town or something.</p>
<p>I first visited New Haven for my husband’s reunion when my daughter, class of 2015, was a baby. After seeing the place, I told him that there was no way that I would allow her to follow in his footsteps.</p>
<p>Fast forward to the present, and I am not really that upset about it. It does not seem as blighted to me as it did in the early 90s. Sure, it seems worse than other cities I have seen that are of its moderate size, but my impression is that it is certainly no worse than many larger cities. I can think of some other top schools in larger cities whose environments would concern me a lot more.</p>
<p>The streets around the campus are fine in the daytime. We have parked in public lots there and walked around without feeling unsafe. During the school year, there are many people milling about.</p>
<p>I think I would be concerned if my daughter were to walk around by herself after dark, but I would have this concern almost anywhere. I hope that she walks with friends or avails herself of the safety transportation.</p>
<p>Rather than being satisfied with people’s impressions, I bet you could find crime statistics for this and other areas you are considering.</p>
<p>My sister (age 15) is at Yale right now (Ivy Scholars thing) and she says the area around the school is pretty sketchy. But, campus is safe and she’s smart enough to know what to avoid. </p>
<p>My advice: Don’t even consider passing on an opportunity to be at Yale because you fear New Haven. Presumably, having been accepted to something at Yale, you are smart enough to steer clear of the sketchy places.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s input! I have street smarts, like pretty much every one else so I would be fine…if only I can get in.</p>
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<p>I have parked various cars on the streets of New Haven, by day and by night, many times, and it has never been broken into.</p>
<p>I have either been very lucky or I drive really junky cars.</p>
<p>I ditto vicariousparent’s experience!</p>