<p>How many hours do you spend studying a day or a week? How is the courseload? Do you actually have free time?</p>
<p>Also, is the campus safe?</p>
<p>“Also, is the campus safe”</p>
<p>haha im guessing ur asking this since you’ve read some of the endless ***** HafsaRox has written? Dont be fooled by haters :D</p>
<p>Short answer: No, it isn’t safe. Philadelphia is among the most dangerous cities in the country and Penn is located in West Philadelphia, the worst and most run-down part of the city. There are sketchy people hanging out on campus all the time like they own it, occasional gun-shot sounds, tons of garbage, a very bad smell, and in general surroundings that are quickly decaying. It’s all-around one of the most depressing places in the world. This is not a city one recommends others to visit. Ever.</p>
<p>That said, there are other things to Penn besides its campus and location.</p>
<p>^ Keep in mind that this is but one view from an exceedingly negative poster (as her numerous Penn- and Philly-bashing threads and posts make abundantly clear), and that literally tens of thousands of Penn students and alumni have very positive feelings about Penn’s campus and Philadelphia.</p>
<p>But, there’s always one in every crowd. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>^ Nope. Just an alum. And one of the many thousands who have very positive feelings about Penn’s campus and Philly. :)</p>
<p>Seriously, though, if you feel that negatively about Penn’s campus and Philly, you really should think about transferring as soon as possible. You’d open up a space for someone who appreciates the campus and Philly, and you might find yourself in a more positive frame of mind. Unless, of course, you’re just generally negative no matter where you happen to be.</p>
<p>OP, Penn has a lot of police and campus security that patrol on bicycle. They actually patrol as far west as 43rd St. (campus ends on 40th) That said, there has been four incidents near/on campus I’ve heard of in the three years I’ve been there - robbery with a gun (non-shooting) at the movie theater on 40th street and walnut, a shooting between two thugs- the bullet went astray and killed a vet around 42nd and sansom, a disturbed man who stabbed a dental student (reason unknown) in front of the Penn bookstore- he recovered, and a shooting between thugs (at least one dead, not sure) on 40th near locust (this was considered the closest to home). The dental student is the only Penn victim I have known of. I’ve never seen anything happen first-hand.</p>
<p>This sounds sounds scary. However, I’m sure such incidents happen in New Haven or New York north of Columbia as well. I think if you live on campus, there is absolutely no danger. In addition, muggings are rare and most crimes are (1) between two criminals and (2) west of campus. The impression is that criminals are unlikely to come and cause problems near campus- where there is a 24/7 police/security presence. I fear that these anecdotes might paint a gruesome picture, but I have to emphasize the low statistical probability of being a victim of any crime (except for maybe bicycle/bicycle parts theft- which is prevalent throughout the city).</p>
<p>It’s a city, there will be crime. You’re fooling yourself if you think bad things will never happen. That said, the Penn police are great. They help protect the whole area up to 43rd to make it safe for Penn students AND non Penn students. I remember my parents saying that everyone was really impressed with the woman with Penn police who spoke about safety at Penn previews. I feel they have really followed through, I always feel safe on campus even though I do know there have been incidents while I’ve been here. The officers are really friendly too. If they see you are walking alone at night they will come up to greet you so that makes me feel very safe.</p>
<p>I’m a current Penn freshman, and although I’ve sympathized with some of HafsaRox’s disillusionments with an over-hyped NSO and an occasionally uncomfortable social transition (which is to be expected), I do have to say that there are a TON of Penn police everywhere, and I feel very safe within reasonable walking distance of Penn’s campus. If you walk to the heart of the city at 3 in the morning by yourself, you might have a problem, but there’s honestly no reason to do that. From both what I’ve heard and experienced, the quality of life/ safety of Penn are absolutely no reason to deter anyone from applying here.</p>
<p>Thanks! This helped a lot :)</p>
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<p>I’ll agree about the sketchy people hanging out on parts of campus, specifically on the benches across from the Upper Quad Gate. I understand that Penn is a public campus, and therefore anybody has the right to sit there, but it’s just a weird location to loiter. They don’t bother anyone (they don’t even beg for change - after all, they’re not hobos, just non-students), it’s just a bit weird. I don’t feel unsafe or anything.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard a gunshot sound, and Penn’s campus is pretty clean. There’s no bad smell. And Penn’s campus and its surroundings are not decaying. Go visit Drexel’s campus - now that is depressing.</p>