Is the University of Memphis safe ? (Knoxville, Chattanooga: apartment complexes, crime rate, how much)

[TNRyan23]

My wife and I are both attending a community college in Nashville. We wanted to attend UT-Knoxville but cannot afford the tuition. TSU is run really, really bad and sits in a rough neighborhood.

We'd prefer a large school and was thinking about U.M.

I have limited experience with Memphis and my wife has never been.

We have a 7 year old son.

Is U.M. a safe location ? Are the dorms and college apartments safe ?

Is there alot of crime that goes on around the school ? Is it in the news alot around Memphis ?

Any information you folks can provide would be appreciated !

[bjh]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/memph...e-memphis.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/memph...y-memphis.html

[Pearlbob]

Unfortunately there is a lot of crime directly south of UM. The area gets pretty rough, very fast. However, to the west, east, and north are extremely nice neighborhoods.

If you have a 7 year old kid, I would never recommend living in an apartment around a bunch of loud, drunk, obnoxious college kids. Let alone a dorm! (I don't even understand that, actually. How would youlive in a dorm?)

And yes, crime is all over the news and it gets blown out of proportion. However, Memphis DOES have about the highest crime rate in the nation. It's just not everywhere like some people think.

Also, Memphis city schools are terrible and you would not want to put a child in them. Especially those that would feed into the area around UM. Most people in your situation live in the suburbs and commute in. Frankly - most students, period, do that - married, kids, or not.

[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Unfortunately there is a lot of crime directly south of UM. The area gets pretty rough, very fast. However, to the west, east, and north are extremely nice neighborhoods.

If you have a 7 year old kid, I would never recommend living in an apartment around a bunch of loud, drunk, obnoxious college kids. Let alone a dorm! (I don't even understand that, actually. How would youlive in a dorm?)

And yes, crime is all over the news and it gets blown out of proportion. However, Memphis DOES have about the highest crime rate in the nation. It's just not everywhere like some people think.

Also, Memphis city schools are terrible and you would not want to put a child in them. Especially those that would feed into the area around UM. Most people in your situation live in the suburbs and commute in. Frankly - most students, period, do that - married, kids, or not.

Thank you for the reply and you're right, I never even thought about Memphis City Schools...

I guess we'll lean between MTSU and UT-Chattanooga.

As for the dorm thing, Most schools I'm seeing are building apartment complexes on campus for graduate students and married students with children. They are different from dorms. I'm guessing graduate students and students with families are alot less likley to party and get drunk, ect, ect.

I guess it's just alot cheaper then trying to find a place, esp. since electricity, water, and cable are all included in the rent.

Thanks again, Pearlbob

[bjh]

U of M does have campus housing in townhouse style apts for married students or students with kids. I don't know how much they cost, but i imagine that your right about the cost being lower.

Don't give up on the U of M so easily. It is a good school in a beautiful city. Come and see it.

The things you read on this forum make Memphis sound like war zone, but that is simply not so for most middle class people. I live within the I240 loop in an established neighborhood and I like it very much. So far so good, I have not experienced any crime.

Crime does exist, but it exists everywhere in the world. I walk about a mile out to my car on campus about 2-3 nights a week and have had no problems. The campus is well-lit. You can call a service to shuttle you to your car in a golf cart if you want/need that. I have never felt the necessity, but it is there for those who need it for whatever reason. Just call.

Good luck in your search, no matter what you decide.

[TNRyan23]

I lived in Memphis for 6 months back in 2002 when we were sent down there to do work.

I remembered the crime was horrible but Pearlbob mentioned something I'm ashamed to say I wasn't thinking about. There is NO WAY I'd put my son in a Memphis City School.

Not a chance.

I appreciate your reply though.

[Southlander]

Why not Tennessee Tech? It's a very safe campus and town.

[kbg]

Without a doubt go to Middle Tenn State, I used to visit a couple friends there which has since graduated, I always felt like it was a very friendly laid-back school on and off campus.

[Smtchll]

If you have no problem sending your child to a private school, then Memphis won't be a problem at all. That area of Memphis has a large number of private schools. There's even a Campus School run by the University of Memphis for grades 1-6. I have only heard good things about it. I'm not really sure if it's considered a private school, but it's definately not a Memphis city public school.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

I lived in Memphis for 6 months back in 2002 when we were sent down there to do work.

I remembered the crime was horrible but Pearlbob mentioned something I'm ashamed to say I wasn't thinking about. There is NO WAY I'd put my son in a Memphis City School.

Not a chance.

I appreciate your reply though.

That's nothing to be ashamed of. That's reality. It's also the reason why this city is riddled with private schools.