We were supposed to go to an info session and tour this week, but have a conflict. dd is trying to wrap up as many apps as she can before she starts back up with school (hs senior) in a few weeks. She’ll apply to Widener as she likes what she has read online. However, I’m worried about the surrounding area and safety. Anyone with insight? We do live in PA, about an hour away, but I have not been to Chester in decades.
Chester is very rough, but I’ve heard the campus is safe.
We stayed at a chain motel in Chester to faclitate picking someone up from the airport in the wee hours of the following day… I was also struck by the degraded streets, the construction, the disrepair and lack of infrasteucture.
My family lives several towns over and were alarmed we were staying there.
I think if Widener was a perfect match and gave a fat scholarship, you might consider it. But otherwise, no, it’s not a terribly safe area. It has many of the same problems as Temple, but with none of the size to insulate against that. I would think it worth the trip to drive through and see if that changes her mind at all.
I may have stayed at that same chain hotel across from the campus (I don’t recall the chain) and yes, I was not happy with the surroundings. Quite nervous walking from the parking lot to the front door as there were “sketchy” people hanging around, yelling, verbally accosting me, etc. I’d do some real research.
^and just to add, my daughter went to Yale in big scary New Haven and I never ever felt unsafe in the Yale surroundings, even the New Haven green where there are plenty of homeless people. So it’s not that I’m just a sheltered suburbanite (though I am 
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I visited for an info session with my HS junior and senior. We were extremely impressed with the school. I had not been there since the early 90s. My son then went back for a day to shadow and meet with the an Engineering Professor.
Widener was a top 3 choice for my son. He ultimately decided on a larger school. I would have been ok if he chose Widener, but, I won’t lie, the area did give us pause.
thanks all - these responses were really helpful!