<p>I recently got into Hopkins and some other schools - right now I'm leaning towards Hopkins, but my father is wary about it because he heard the school is in a bad area. Is this at all true? I'm going to visit at SOHOP in a few weeks, but I'm not sure how much I'll be able to tell from a cursory glance, so I would like to hear the opinion of someone who actually lives at the school. Thank you!</p>
<p>The campus is safe but you would be advised not to go more than a few blocks east or west of campus.</p>
<p>It’s not the <em>safest</em> area; people are generally advised to stay within, like, a five-block radius of campus. Within two-three blocks, as well as on campus, there are security guards everywhere. Outside of that radius, you’ll be OK as long as you’re not walking late at night and by yourself. There’s nowhere to really go after that either unless you’re taking a trip somewhere; most of the housing is close, as are all the stores and restaurants. You can also use taxis, the JHMI (free bus), and the Blue Jay Shuttle to get rides if you’re stranded somewhere.</p>
<p>As others have noted, Hopkins’ campus is safe. As one ventures away, that’s not as much the case. Baltimore is not a safe city. Regrettably, there have been problems, as well, in the not-too-distant past, with local government and law enforcement. Efforts have been made to clean up folks’ act, but I remain leery.</p>
<p>All that being said, it’s likely that my younger son will attend this coming fall. Life entails some risk. Hopkins is a fantastic school. A little caution and common sense will go a long way toward making it a safe experience, as well.</p>
<p>Harvard and MIT have one of the highest crime against student rate in the nation, Yale is in the second leading city for crime in Ct. Columbia has one of the highest property crimes (lap tops) against students in the nation. With that being said JHU is not in the best location but the issue should be Public Safety. When you go to SOHOP you and your father should attend the safety lecture and determine the staffs competence. And remember the saying “Nothing good happens after 2am” so stay on campus you will be fine. </p>
<p>I notice that although MIT appears, neither Hopkins nor Harvard appear on lists of the most dangerous college campuses. As well, Harvard’s campus is much more integrated with the city of Cambridge. Hopkins’ campus is a suburban oasis surrounded by the city.</p>
<p>But you have merely reiterated what I said, which is that Hopkins’ CAMPUS is safe. Hopkins’ campus security is second to none. I wish Baltimore city would contract out law enforcement in the rest of the city to Hopkins’ security. Baltimore is not a safe city. Law enforcement in Baltimore city has been troubled; there are many criminals, many of them associated with drugs. </p>
<p>And that really was the gist of the question - Is Hopkins in a bad area. NOT, is Hopkins a bad area, itself?</p>
<p>And the answer is, yes, undoubtedly, Hopkins is in a bad area. Baltimore is more dangerous than most cities. As others have pointed out, if one sticks close to campus, one’s safety is enhanced. If one wanders not too many blocks away in the wrong direction, it isn’t as safe as wandering through much of Cambridge, MA.</p>
<p>I’m not so sure Cambridge itself is that safe either. I worked near Harvard and I think Harvard square is, but cambridge definitely has some rough areas which have spilled onto campus itself. Similar things can be said for Hopkins as well. I think most top privates have issues (save for Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, Rice, and Stanford). Duke, Penn, Columbia definitely fall into the former category</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/08/17/rape-reported-harvard-campus/0dHXBnZMK5VDzdbmUCN8KN/story.html”>http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/08/17/rape-reported-harvard-campus/0dHXBnZMK5VDzdbmUCN8KN/story.html</a></p>
<p>If you look at the crime rates for Cambridge and for Baltimore, you will find some things like this:</p>
<p>Murders per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 0.9
Baltimore: 34.9</p>
<p>Rapes per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 18.7
Baltimore: 50.4</p>
<p>Robberies per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 126.2
Baltimore: 576.4</p>
<p>Assaults per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 257.1
Baltimore: 743.6</p>
<p>Burglaries per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 469.2
Baltimore: 1242.3</p>
<p>Thefts per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 2320.0
Baltimore: 2781.4</p>
<p>Auto thefts per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 100.0
Baltimore: 636.6</p>
<p>Arsons per 100,000 - 2012
Cambridge: 7.5
Baltimore: 38.7</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Cambridge-Massachusetts.html”>http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Cambridge-Massachusetts.html</a>
<a href=“http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Baltimore-Maryland.html”>http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Baltimore-Maryland.html</a></p>
<p>Cambridge is an okay city with some iffy areas. Baltimore is an iffy city with some okay areas.</p>
<p>Just thought I’d give some input from someone who attended a school that’s also situated in a city with a lot of “bad areas”
I attended Emory University in Atlanta and even though it sits in one of the generally safer areas of Atlanta, students received frequent emails regarding crime (albeit usually petty things but occasional major crimes). But if Johns Hopkins’ security (which, from what I’ve read, is pretty freaking good) is anything like Emory’s (JHU’s is probably better) then I’m sure you’ll be fine, as long as you don’t stray by yourself at night.</p>
<p>I was a little concerned at first too because my brother will be attending in the fall but I’m pretty confident in JHU’s desire to keep their students safe.</p>
<p>The area around hopkins is safe. Occasionally someone gets robbed when walking a few blocks away from the campus at night, but overall you don’t need to be worried. I’m a Junior and the only problem I’ve ever had was someone stealing a package from my apartment’s mail room (off campus). Just like any other city, you have to be street smart. Don’t take shortcuts through alleys in the middle of the night by yourself, don’t stray far from campus by yourself at night, and don’t take your wallet out of your pocket in the middle of the street.</p>