My daughter is trying to decide between Temple and UConn. She wants to study art at Tyler and Journalism at Klein (double major or major/minor). Will she be able to walk around campus at night? Will she be able to take advantage of all the city has to offer? Or will she feel like a prisoner in her dormatory after dark? What are your thoughts?
@JerseyMom2022, https://safety.temple.edu/sites/campussafety/files/file_downloads/ASAFSR2017_FINAL_CHARTS_508.pdf
I live about 15-20 minutes from Temple, and the surrounding neighborhood is rough. But Temple has increased its on campus safety with more police during the past few years. Neverthless, she will be able to take advantage of what Philly has to offer (Center City, South Street, Manyunk, etc.). No matter where you go, esp. in a major city, you have to be aware of your surroundings. Crime also happens in the “better” neighborhoods in Philly, too.
There is another thread on this, try and search for it.
How current is the info on the other thread? I found some old posts from a few years back.
I’m a current Temple student and the other safety threads are still relevant. As long as you use common sense Temple is safe. I have never felt unsafe.
@jnkam24 thank you. That’s good to hear. My daughter spent last summer in a pre-college program at Pratt, in Brooklyn (with minimal to non existent supervision) and was absolutely fine. We live only about 45 minutes from NYC and she is very used to going into the city with her friends. She also applied to the Bronx campus of Fordham University. She wants a city environment. I just don’t want her to feel like she is always looking over her shoulder.
I live in Center City Philadelphia & my son who is a high school senior attends events (concerts, sporting events) on Temple’s campus & feels safe riding the subway. While the neighborhoods surrounding Temple are rough, the campus itself is very safe. It’s easy to get to Center City via the subway. Years ago I took night classes at the law school (before my son was born) and was comfortable riding the subway home by myself. While any urban campus will have increased security concerns over a suburban campus Temple is relatively safe. Apparently safer than UPenn according this article: http://www.phillyvoice.com/how-safe-temple/
Being a Temple graduate, I think a lot of people take the safety on campus out of proportion. My friends and I never had any problems while on campus even into the early morning hours. Understand that this is an urban environment and temple has one of the largest university police forces in the state. When you get off campus, it gets very uncomfortable fast especially if you do not know the area. Temple also provides services to students to get from their offcampus housing to Temple (if they live within temple police boundaries) for late night study sessions and etc. There are some cases with any city or town where if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, then things can happen otherwise I have never felt extra worried at Temple after my first month at the school.
The campus is fine, 100%, because temple takes security very seriously - it’s probably safer than your random open campus with few security officers. Off campus, the blocks aren’t that safe to pretty rough but you can get security to walk with you. Once on the subway you’re fine just like in any city.