<p>I'm thinking of applying to Drexel for the Fall 2008 semester. For those of you who attend, do you think its a good school? Are there a lot of things to do? How is the science/medical department? Is the area its in safe, a good part of Philadelphia?</p>
<p>hey my friend goes there and he says he loves it and its a great school. good luck!</p>
<p>Engineering is top notch at Drexel and the science are good too. The school is best known for its unique co-op opportunities which lets you try a job in the field you are persuing while working on your job. I know someone who finished Drexel and works in Philadelphia with $70,000 as a starting salary. Proves to me its a decent school.</p>
<p>I could be completely wrong so hopefully someone can either back me up or prove me wrong, but a girl in my Physics class has already been accepted to Drexel and she was talking about the area. If I remember correctly she spoke negatively about it - that it wasn't in the best area of town. Hopefully if I'm wrong someone can give a better impression.</p>
<p>My husband and I graduated from Drexel, ahem, 20 years ago. Back then, the surrounding neighborhood to the north of campus was sketchy. Basically students didn't live north of Hamilton Ave. To the west, Drexel's campus is adjacent to Penn. To the east, there is 30th St. Station. It's an urban campus and about half the students are commuters (at least they were 20 years ago - perhaps it has changed since then). The Coop program is fantastic, but it also means that half the students are on assignment/working full time at any given time while the others are in classes. This made for a strange dynamic - my now husband and I were on opposite tracks. We met during his first Coop on campus, but after that his Coops were in different states. All of my Coops were in Philly. I was a Design and Merchandising major, DH was a Computer Science major. Drexel is known for Engineering. It is a tough program - as a joke many called it the, "Pre-Business program," because so many people either changed to the business program or dropped out. </p>
<p>DH and I both feel that we had a great education and were able to work in our fields in significant Coop experiences which made us very employable after graduation. We both went to graduate schools within 5 years of graduating -DH went to Johns Hopkins and I went to University of Wisconsin- Madison. Our education at Drexel was more than adequate preparation for pursuing those advanced degrees.</p>
<p>Yeah well Drexel is in Philly so if you've ever been there you'd know its not a really great city, at least in my opinion. However, there a lot of schools in the city that happen to be in bad environments.</p>
<p>I work in center city Philadelphia, my daughter goes to University of the Arts in center city Phila, her boyfriend just graduated from Drexel, we have friends whose kids go to Drexel and Penn and my daughter frequently visits friends at Penn and Drexel. I think I have a pretty good handle on what it's like to go to school in Phila and whether it is safe.</p>
<p>A general observation about safety. Any college campus, whether in a city or more rural, has the potential for crime. You have to use common sense wherever you go to school. Philadelphia is no more dangerous for college students than any other city. My daughter and her friends routinely travel throughout center city, including University City where Penn and Drexel are located, without any problems. They travel in groups after dark, know what areas to avoid and take cabs in the wee hours of the morning. The Penn and Drexel campuses themselves have also been built up extensively over the years. They are well lit, busy areas. The schools are always evaluating ways to address any security or safety issues. Most students feel safe going to school there. If you use common sense and street smarts, the odds are no greater that you will be the victim of crime in the Center City/University City area than anywhere else, including more rural colleges. (Don't be misled by sensationalist headlines or gross generalizations. Keep in mind that "Philadelphia" is not just "center city" where the schools are but is a very large sprawling city/county. There is no reason for students to ever find themselves in areas that are really the "badlands".)</p>
<p>The social and cultural advantages to going to school in Phila are enormous. The University City area has a ton of restaurants, coffee houses, shopping. There is also the World Cafe Live, one of the preeminent music venues on the east coast featuring both established performers and up and coming bands in a club type of atmosphere. Center City Phila offers many major venues for Broadway touring companies, other dramatic productions, ballet, opera, orchestral music, rock, pops, museums, the largest city park system in the world, restaurants, cafes, shopping, all at the doorsteps of students. On any given night, the streets are teeming with students and young professionals taking advantage of what the city has to offer. Philadelphia has become a dynamic and exciting place for students to be.</p>
<p>If you enjoy a city environment, center city Philadelphia has it all. It's a great place to work and play. If Drexel seems like a good match for you, don't let its location dissuade you from seriously considering it, treat its location as a plus!</p>