<p>I have heard rumors that at JHU there are rough/poor neighborhoods and dangerous people. Is that true? Do I need to watch my back?</p>
<p>visit the campus</p>
<p>You should always watch your back...</p>
<p>The campus is very safe. The city is safe and getting safer. And lets remember that it is a city, so there are obviously going to be "gangsters" just like there are all over the US cities.</p>
<p>"Don't, Don't, Don't believe the hype!"</p>
<p>Hopkins is in a nice area of the city, which you will see if you have the chance to visit. Bordered on the west by a park and established family (working/middle class) neigborhood; on the north by a high end and beautiful residential neighborhood; on the east by a street of shops, etc. and on the south begins to head into the heart of the city.</p>
<p>I personally don't consider any of the immediate surroundings to be a rough area, at all. But as others have said, it is a city and it is always wise to be street smart. As well, danger occurs in rural and suburban areas as well. There is no immunity.</p>
<p>After visiting campus, I came to the following conclusions:</p>
<ol>
<li>JHU is very committed to security, and the campus felt very safe.</li>
<li>The area surrounding campus could be better, but the areas of town that you really don't want to go do not border the Homewood campus (the medical campus is another story).</li>
<li>The probability of being physically harmed is extremely low, and turning down Hopkins' offer of admission because of this concern is irrational.</li>
</ol>
<p>Do't worry, as my main man fitdy cent would say, the only g-a-n-g-s-t-a you gotta worry bout is me. GGGGGGGGG-uuuuunnnniiiiiiiiiitttttttt. And dear lord, I hope people realize this post was facetious.</p>
<p>You will never need to worry about crime in nearby neighborhoods spilling over onto the Homewood Campus. Security is to tight.</p>
<p>But you don't want to go more than a few blocks off campus without a buddy.</p>
<p>So I guess what you guys are saying is that the campus is safe, but the surrounding area is not the ideal place to hang out. So in fact, I am confined to just the campus. </p>
<p>(I'm trying to live a long life so I need to avoid all assassination attempts)</p>
<p>Even the surrounding area around campus (Charles Village) is pretty safe - a lot of upperclassmen live there. It's once you start to get further away that Hopkins Security doesn't patrol and it's not wise to go there in the middle of the night by yourself.</p>
<p>I think the general message is - it's a city: don't be stupid. </p>
<p>Obviously there are areas of Baltimore that aren't the nicest: that's why we're home to The Wire and whatever other shows (Homicide: Life on the Street?) that are supposedly based on the city. But realistically, Baltimore is truly "a city of neighborhoods." Once you figure out which ones are good and which aren't, you're really pretty okay.</p>
<p>Plus, as has been said, Hopkins security patrols within a 1+ mile radius of campus...that's pretty much anywhere you'd need to go to see friends who live off campus, or any retail establishments in the area. The beginning of every year spurs the security office to plot the addresses of EVERY undergraduate and graduate student on a big map - and then they plan their patrols to cover everyone. </p>
<p>Honestly, I've maybe felt unsafe twice in my 4 years here. Both of them were when I was stupidly walking alone late at night down by 27th Street & Charles (most students live between 30th and 34th Streets). In general, common sense is paramount.</p>
<p>But even when you ARE being stupid or brazen, there's only a minor chance anything will happen to you. Many a time, I've walked near Waverly/Greenmount...which is an area to the east of campus that is notoriously "dangerous." But honestly, when it's light out/there are people around - it's a very vibrant area, and people are really nice. You really don't have to be afraid of Baltimore.</p>
<p>I hope to work on my basketball skills there to get into the NBA. They have some good ballers. Carmelo Anthony is from that area. He is a hard nose thug. (Have you seen him sucker-punch that dude?)</p>
<p>Have you seen his commercial? He is walking in Baltimore, there are gun shots, and a police chopper above him and then he passes by some bums in the ghetto and smiles. Then he runs out to the NBA arena.</p>
<p>Afterwards he says that the only way people can survive in Baltimore is through crime, rapping or basketball. Sounds like a tough place.</p>
<p>Obviously, growing up in Baltimore's central city and going to the Baltimore City public schools is a pretty trying experience. (Hence the coverage on this season of The Wire and the reason why JHU gives successful BCPSS graduates a full tuition scholarship - they've earned it). </p>
<p>But for the most part, going to an elite private school in a "park-like atmosphere" is very different experientially than growing up in central Baltimore City. So the analogy is a bit hazy at best. </p>
<p>The murder thing is admittedly a bit scary - but again, most of those are gang or drug related, not random acts of violence, especially not against JHU students.</p>
<p>Rustic is in the class of Georgetown. All he gets are snobby politicians.</p>
<p>Baltimore BLOWS enough said.</p>
<p>Not only is Charles Village (adjacent to campus) pretty safe, so is Hampden (on the opposite side) as well as funky beyond belief. Then, further to the north, there are Homeland, Roland Park, and Guilford, which are some of the most beautiful residential neighborhoods anywhere in the country (especially Homeland). And further afield, Baltimore has more fascinating neighborhoods such as Fell's Point, Little Italy, Canton, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, and on and on. </p>
<p>On the other hand, it's not a city you can wander around at will in. It's got miles of absolute squalor that will take your breath away. So you should really know your way around before taking a tour.</p>
<p>I am so glad I got deferred/rejected from hopkins. Its not worth the risk man. btw I heard there were two murders of jhu students 2005?</p>
<p>sigh if jhu was located elsewhere...they will definetly get a higher yield rate =/</p>