<p>Post #19: I was in Ithaca within the last 18 months-just as I wrote in my above post, which you chose to ignore so you could make a false statement that I was relying on impressions from 30 or 40 years ago, when my impressions have been formed continuously over that time frame including within the last 18 months. Please try to read my posts more carefully as I do not like being intentionally taken out of context.
And yes, you did lump all of those locations together in your post #3 above.
Misquoting yourself and others by deliberately taking posts out of context just challenges your own credibility.</p>
<p>ColdWind -- </p>
<p>Please rest assured that I read through your posts comprehensively and phrased my rejoinder in kind.</p>
<p>You did not express the length of time that you were in Ithaca 18 months ago, and judging from your negative impressions, I imagine that your perception of the place is still colored by the significant amount of time you spent in the area 30 or 40 years ago.</p>
<p>And, if you would bother to asses to the grammatical context of my initial assertion, I was not lumping West Philly, New Haven, Central Sq. Cambridge, and Evanston all into the same category of "seediness". On the contrast, I was simply contrasting each one individually with Ithaca, and suggesting that Ithaca is less "seedy" than each of these places. </p>
<p>Certainly West Philly and Evanston would be placed into different categories, but the fact remains that I have encountered many more panhadlers and shady characters in these four locales than in Ithaca.</p>
<p>But the more important question is this -- who should you trust more? A couple of adults who haven't lived in Ithaca ever, or a bunch of current students and recent alums who have all vouched for what a great college town Ithaca is?</p>
<p>Come to think of it, I'm also curious as to your use of the term "rough and tumble". What do you mean by it, and in what way is Ithaca "rough and tumble".</p>
<p>Certainly you don't mean to suggest that Ithaca has a higher rate of property or violent crime than Evanston, New Haven, West Philly, or Central Square?</p>
<p>Look: Perhaps I am being a bit overzealous here, but overprotective parents need to realize that Ithaca is a very good location for their children to spend four years. Between campus life and events going on Ithaca, there is always something to do, and the City of Ithaca is just the right size to be manageable for an 18 or 19 year old. Safety isn't a concern in the least, especially relative to the other areas are counted off in my first post.</p>
<p>If the biggest complaints about Ithaca is that there is a pocket neighborhood south of the Commons that is a bit rough, and that the housing stock in Collegetown isn't kept absolutely pristine, I don't think there is much to complain about. Besides, for many, the rustic nature of Ithaca's housing stock is part of its charm.</p>
<p>In this instance, a good resource for all schools & locations being discussed in this thread can be found in "The Big Book of Colleges '08" by College Prow ler.</p>
<p>I agree,college pro wle r books are definitely a good source of information for colleges that you're interested in.</p>
<p>Cortland wasn't much better. I passed through that town, going and coming. It's similar to Ithaca, but not quite as 60s and 70s, as someone else on this thread put it. I haven't seen this many poor white people since I drove around Salt Lake City, a few years ago. It was like a stereotypical black ghetto except everybody was white. Salt Lake City, not Ithaca.</p>
<p>Ithaca made me uncomfortable. Some real hardscrabble looking white people, with a couple of strange hippie types mixed in. One tall guy with a beard and odd clothing walked by my SUV mumbling to himself. He was walking in the middle of the street. </p>
<p>Where are the upscale suburbs near Ithaca? I was desperate to find that kind of an area so I could feel comfortable and get something to eat. </p>
<p>I have to admit to liking the little town of Oberlin about 10 times better than Ithaca. It seemed a lot safer for my daughter too. That's not a shot at Cornell, just the town of Ithaca. We were very impressed with Cornell. But all I could think about when I visited the town was no wonder the suicide rate is supposed to be high here.</p>
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It was like a stereotypical black ghetto except everybody was white.
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<p>As I was saying before, you have never seen a white ghetto if Ithaca and the Cortland have been the worse you have seen. Let me know if you would like to take a tour through Schenectady one of these days.</p>
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One tall guy with a beard and odd clothing walked by my SUV mumbling to himself.
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Where are the upscale suburbs near Ithaca? I was desperate to find that kind of an area so I could feel comfortable and get something to eat.
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<p>Hilarious. </p>
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no wonder the suicide rate is supposed to be high here.
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<p>Not so hilarious and patently untrue. Cornell has a lower suicide than the national average.</p>
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But all I could think about when I visited the town was no wonder the suicide rate is supposed to be high here.
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<p>Seriously?!?! That is one of the most ignorant statements I've read in the past week. Do some research on Cornell...you'll find our suicide rate is below the national average. Since I consider myself a well-respected poster on this forum...I'm going to withhold the other choice words I'm mumbling to myself right now. I just can't believe it..good lord. </p>
<p>You apparently did not drive through Cayuga Heights...a very affluent and beautiful area of Ithaca.</p>
<p>I don't think Ithaca, urban though it may be, really has 'sub-urbs.' There is a tad of a suburban experience on the outskirts though. </p>
<p>A few miles to the north of North Campus is Pyramid Mall -- your basic surburban shopping experience. Sears, Target, Borders (or B&N?), mall stores complete with food court. Surrounding strips include a Applebee's (or similar chain restaurant), a Friendly's and some other fast food. Also some motels that are pretty decent.</p>
<p>East of campus is (duh) East Hill Mall. Best Western, Burger King, Collegetown Bagels etc. Grocery store. Perfectly safe and well lit. </p>
<p>West and South of Ithaca proper is another shopping area with big box stores and recognizable chain type restaurants -- sort of down in the valley south of the lake. </p>
<p>What I love about Ithaca itself though are several small, unique eateries. Places your student will take you and you feel as if you've <em>discovered</em> something really special. I personally really like the Boat Yard and Carriage House. Carriage House is right <em>in</em> Collegetown (lower Collegetown? dunno if I could give directions or really find it again on my own). </p>
<p>You can be stuffy and insist you can only stay and only eat at the Statler--no argument, it's wonderful if expensive -- or you can get out and explore the little remnant of the 60s that exists in this pocket of New York "bypassed by progress and blessed by the Lord" as some would say!</p>
<p>-- beginning my third year as a Cornell parent and hoping that S2 will want to go to Cornell so we don't have to say goodbye so soon.</p>
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You apparently did not drive through Cayuga Heights...a very affluent and beautiful area of Ithaca.
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<p>Or Fall Creek or Belle-Sherman or Forest Home...</p>
<p>The funny thing is that most people would consider all of Ithaca an upscale suburb. Organic co-ops, coffee houses, and independent movie houses galore.</p>
<p>Sounds like she didn't find The Heights or any of the wineries.</p>
<p>The Heights is the best dining I've had outside of the South of France.</p>
<p>Well if I go into an engineering field I think I'd care more about clubs and sports, competitions, job than really the nightlife so that doesn't matter. But what are the people at Cornell like? Do they have fun a lot? Any of those sketchy parties? Are they hardworking when they need to be? I think this matters at least as much as "it's in the middle of nowhere..." Can I talk to them online ie. aim group/ facebook? The Ccers seem cool</p>
<p>This thread had me wondering about how the crime rate in Ithaca actually does compare with Evanston, Cambridge, and New Haven. So I looked around and found the following website (which claims to use FBI crime statistics):</p>
<p>Crime</a> Rate Comparisons</p>
<p>According to this website, Ithaca has less violent crime than the other cities and has the same level of property crime as Evanston and Cambridge. (New Haven has higher property crime rates than the other cities.)</p>
<p>As a Cornell parent, I have come to really like Ithaca. Each time we visit and walk through different parts of the campus and the city, I am more overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the area. Also, I like that there is such a high concentration of liberals and ex-hippies (it reminds me of Cambridge in the late 60's, which is where I grew up). My son (a sophomore) loves living in Ithaca and loves Cornell.</p>
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Ithaca has less violent crime than the other cities and has the same level of property crime as Evanston and Cambridge.
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<p>Now who is more rough 'n tumble, ColdWind?</p>
<p>Ithaca is still a dump. I agree with the OP. And it's a seedy dump, at that. "A rose is a rose is a rose".
P.S. Evanston township, Illinois has lower property crime than does Ithaca, New York.</p>
<p>Like many small college towns, Ithaca has also received accolades for having a high overall quality of life. In 2004, Cities Ranked and Rated named Ithaca the best "emerging city" to live in the United States. In 2006, the Internet realty website "Relocate America" named Ithaca the fourth best city in the country to relocate to.[23] In July 2006, Ithaca was listed as one of the "12 Hippest Hometowns for Vegetarians" by VegNews Magazine and chosen by Mother Earth News as one of the "12 Great Places You've Never Heard Of."[24]</p>
<p>Obviously some people like it!</p>
<p>To settle this difference of opinion all one needs to do is to visit Evanston township in Illinois & visit Ithaca, New York. Case closed. Your sources confirm that Ithaca is little more than a hippie haven, and a seedy one at that. I still agree with the OP. And I have actually been to both locations many times. Ithaca is a dump.</p>
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Ithaca is still a dump. I agree with the OP. And it's a seedy dump, at that. "A rose is a rose is a rose".
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<p>How absolutely rude and condescending. Grow up. You're more than twice the age of most people on this board.</p>
<p>And if you can't tell the difference, then welcome to Ithaca. Please reread the original post--which was not posted by me. P.S. Ithaca is a dump.
P.S. I have not described Ithaca anywhere near as harshly as did the OP--with whom I happen to agree, because I have actually been to both places. Ithaca does have beautiful surrounding areas, however, and two wonderful schools.
P.P.S. Nice try at fudging the FBI stats. Try "Evanston Township".</p>
<p>All teasing aside, CayugaRed makes a very good point when addressing the age issue. For an 18 to 25 year old student, a gritty, earthy, hippie friendly environment may be exactly the right type of surroundings. It is a bit shocking to arrive in Ithaca from outside the rust belt.
But to lump two of the most upscale & expensive real estate markets in the country--Evanston, Ill. & Cambridge, Mass.--with other less attractive locations & to refer to them all as "seedy" is not even close to being fair or reasonable.
And Cornell University is gorgeous, as well as one of the best schools in the world. Nothing in this teasing bout was meant in any way to disparage Cornell University or its students--for whom I have a great deal of respect.</p>
<p>What about UC Berkeley?... That is one place one will see more homless than anywhere, but the university and campus... great!!! I guess we really should not judge a book by its cover.</p>