<p>Hi guys, I am thinking about applying to Yale EA, and I am wondering if anyone has an experience with the New Haven atmosphere. Though my chances of being accepted at Yale is no greater than any other CCer, I would like to try if it is worth my time.</p>
<p>So I heard parts of New Haven is really sketchy. Just how sketchy is it? Does it affect the Yale students? I was told the campus itself is very safe, and that there are many police officers on campus to ensure that (which didn't sound very reassuring to me). But if I had the chance to go there I wouldn't want to stay on campus all the time. So if anyone has any knowledge on the subject please share it. Thanks in advance! =)</p>
<p>I can't imagine any part of the New England being that sketchy personally... but then again, I'm a bit jaded. Imagine being lost on Compton, circa 1996, in a convertible top down. </p>
<p>New Haven isn't a good city overall, but it is not Newark (NJ) either. It's decent, though it's not a positive/attractive aspect. It's the university that matters, but New Haven overall doesn't commit crimes on university students because it knows the government (the big yale alumni, ex. Clinton, Bush, etc. etc.) would come and destroy them. So it's safe, and a decent city.</p>
<p>i honestly love new haven and think its a great city for young adults. awesome restaurants, great bars, theater, museums, etc. like any city, you just have to be smart. the area around yale is completely fine.</p>
<p>^ The area around Yale isn't <em>completely</em> fine. Downtown New Haven, immediately east and south of the Yale campus, has cleaned up considerably, though parts of it are questionable at night. The area immediately to the northwest of the Yale campus, along Dixwell Avenue, is one of the poorest and toughest parts of New Haven, and the area to the west of campus along Whalley Avenue can also be pretty sketchy after dark. There's another very low-income, high-crime neighborhood, Fairhaven, about half a mile east of campus. Most Yale undergrads have little reason to visit these areas, however. If you stay on-campus and frequent the usual student hangout spots along Broadway, Chapel St., State St., and Orange St., and make an occasion visit to the old Italian neighborhood on Wooster St., you won't have any problems and you'll think New Haven is <em>completely</em> fine. I lived in university-owned graduate student housing a little off the beaten path and had my car broken into and looted twice, and knew a neighbor who was held up at knifepoint a block away from home. But they don't put undergrads in those places.</p>
<p>I've lived, run and worked at and around Yale for many years. As stated, like most cities, it has it's good points and bad. Around Yale, most areas are fine and some students go through all 4 years wondering what any fuss was about. BUT you have to know, criminals target students, especially naive ones. A cop that worked there told me every year some students will be jogging at 2am or walk home alone blocks from campus and get mugged or scared by an attempt. If you don't know a neighborhood well, don't go out at night alone. Many students he told me carried a lot of money (which surprised me) which isn't a good idea.
The streets around Yale are full of great places to eat, see shows, plays and just hang out....but you have to be smart. A lot of students getthings stolen inside their dorms also...just because a student is at Yale, doesn't mean he wont steal. People do things for many reasons and this police officer hears "how could that happen here?" every year.
I like New Haven and probably see it differently than an outsider, but I wouldn't let the city hinder you applying. Actually Trinity in Hartford is much worse.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the info! =) Is New Haven significantly sketchier than other top college towns? Or at all? I don't know how they compare relatively.</p>
<p>i wouldnt say significantly sketchier than other college towns- it has its bad parts like any other city- no worse than areas of nyc, boston chicago, LA, miami etc</p>
<p>I think we all learned earlier this year from Chapel Hill, NC, that even bucolic, charming college towns pose their risks. As long as you keep your eyes open and don't act like an idiot (i.e. walking home late at night alone and drunk), you'll most likely be fine. Otherwise, I advise people who are so hung up on it to stay home with the blinds closed and get an on-line degree.</p>
<p>College students aren't exactly exposed to all of the kinds of crime that you might see reported by police depts. Certainly violent random crime is an issue, as is mugging and sexual attacks. However, not having cars or nice stuff does mitigate some of the risk of burglary, identity theft etc. I would be more wary of places where a laptop would get stolen than places where cars get stolen.</p>