We went there for a visit, and I am a bit concerned about campus/area safety. Thanks!
The areas around GT are pretty sketchy, but GTPD does an absolutely excellent job and their jurisdiction extend a few miles off campus as well. Students receive alerts when a crime has been committed and thankfully almost all crimes are labeled as being off the campus.
My DS is at GT and my DH works nearby. I think as long as you are aware of your surroundings and don’t go out at night by yourself it’s fine. We would not have sent DS there if DH felt it wasn’t safe.
OP, since you have visited the campus, I am not sure what you find sketchy about the campus which is fairly confined. As for the surrounding area of the campus, being in a big city, one has to be cautious while traveling during the odd hours. It is not as if the surroundings are run-down as there are plenty of thriving businesses and other facilities nearby.
My D2 is a Freshman there and has had no issues in adjusting there from the semi-urban (no crime) area we live in PA. She takes the MARTA often to go for outings or to the Atlanta airport. The GTech campus area is no different from those of say Pitt (downtown Pittsburgh) or Harvard/MIT (Cambridge), the other city campuses I am very familiar with.
I have been told by people familiar with the area that they would be hesitant to send their child there because of the area around the campus. That is why I asked my question.
I thought the campus itself was ok, but wasn’t sure about the surrounding area.
In general, people from the Atlanta suburbs are uninformed about the city. I don’t know if that is what is going on with the advice you are receiving, but that is my experience. The campus is in the City. Campuses have vulnerable students for criminals to prey on. Crime is going to happen.The GT police are very proactive in educating the students about staying safe. Also, GT police are a precinct of the City of Atlanta police, not just campus security like at many schools. Check out this web site to see recent crime on and around GT campus: https://www.crimereports.com/
I have now visited 3 times, and I did not find anything particularly sketchy. Maybe being from NY has clouded my perception?
My daughter is a freshman this year. She had not had any issues. We feel very comfortable with her there. There are going to be issues on any college campus…a friend’s daughter was robbed at gunpoint at UGA. Students just need to be aware of their surroundings and there are plenty of security measures in place.
Thanks, everyone. It does sound like campus safety shouldn’t be a bigger issue than at any other school my child has applied to.
I didn’t feel unsafe when I visited there, but there were some iffy areas nearby. I wouldn’t have thought too much about it if several people hadn’t expressed concern.