I'm thinking about going to Temple and so I'm following your blog to get a student perspective. And from what I can see non-city people are the ones afraid of TU's surroundings. I was raised in Brooklyn and I'm not as afraid. Though stories of Philly seems worse than Brooklyn ones.
Yeah if you’re used to the city then Temple really isn’t that bad. Philly is less populated than NYC and its boroughs so there’s not that many people walking around and tourists are few (in north philly anyway). That’s probably the biggest difference really.
I also feel like NYC benefits a lot from being in lots of movies/TV shows which give it a really positive image. Crime happens in both cities, it’s just how much of that crime is focused on. I know someone who goes to NYU and honestly in one semester it seemed like more NYU students were mugged than Temple students. It’s just that NYU/Manhattan has a great reputation so most students applying there don’t even pay attention to possible safety concerns you know? Cities all have the same types of problems it’s just how much of it actually ends up on the public news.
Now, I want to make it clear that yes Temple used to have safety concerns (as did Drexel, Upenn, etc.) but they have really gotten past that and they’re getting better every year. It’s unfortunate that this generation’s parents still have last generation’s stories which means a lot of students are still hearing “scary” stories. I have tons of family members who have gone through Temple (even during it’s “unsafe” days) and no one has ever been hurt. The stories I have heard of people getting hurt are usually kids being in the wrong area at the wrong time of day.
