Considering philly for school (Philadelphia, Ambler: crime, neighborhoods, best schools) - City-Data Forum

Daniel_T · 10-09-2007, 08:04 PM

I am considering Temple University for school but everyone I have been talking too who has lived in Philadelphia is telling me to steer clear. I've been told that much of Philly is old and dirty and that the crime is out of control. It looks like such a beautiful city but I have seen some photos on the internet that show some real nasty grit and decay. What is philly really like?

Daniel_T

newmarlig · 10-09-2007, 09:15 PM

It's too bad that people are telling you not to come here. This is a great city. Temple is an excellent school. If you live on campus you will be fine. (Either that, or if you can afford it, or can get a roommate (or 2), live in center city. You can take the subway to school.

irishkenzo · 10-10-2007, 04:04 AM

The crime is out of control but only in some parts and some neighborhoods are in bad shape but the city as a whole is great.

DecisionTime · 10-10-2007, 09:51 AM

I went to Temple, but didn't live on campus. It is like any big city school - be smart and you'll be fine. School was great, but not as much campus life as other schools with more students living on campus.

PhillyPhan · 10-10-2007, 04:44 PM

temple is one of the best schools in pa. the medical dep. is incredible. northeast philly and west philly are the worst parts of town, but center city is like a mini manhattan. temple is just above center city so things to do on the weekend should not be a problem.

Mrs.Bewitched · 10-10-2007, 05:36 PM

I went to Temple, and at first went to the Temple in North Philly...but then I did what I could to make sure that my classes were taken at the Temple campus in Ambler...which was a further drive, but I couldn't STAND being at the North Philly campus.

Yes, the neighborhood was crappy, and the drive to get to Temple...you will go through nasty parts. Back then, I had an old college car without AC so I had the windows down...until I started getting close to Temple. Then i rolled them up and sweated until I parked.

Many of the people that went to Temple were....well, inner city Philly people (I was born and raised in Philly, so I am one too...). Loud, ignorant...couldn't stand them.

When I could get there. The traffic was awful. Bumper to Bumper on I-95, front and back, even the alternative routes. And to pay for parking....

Like I said, once I discovered all of it, I went to the classes on the Temple Ambler campus.

deeni · 10-13-2007, 07:00 AM

I was not allowed to go to Temple due to overprotective parents and the fact that the school was in a bad neighborhood. However, my brother was allowed to go. He never experienced any problems with the crime. There is a train that runs near the school but you have to walk quite a bit to get to campus. I do not know how safe that is to do.

(BTW, A previous poster said Northeast Philly was one of the worst parts of Philly but I lived there almost my entire life and although it was getting "rough" in some spots, NE Philly is one of the safer places to live. North Philly and West Philly are not so great.)

thesixth · 10-15-2007, 01:10 PM

Temple U has some very fine programs and can offer a good education at a more reasonable cost than some other colleges. It is a large, urban school, so whoever plans to go there, should like those characteristics of the school...cause they ain't changing!
If a large city and a large school is fine with you...then visit campus and make your own, informed decision on whether to attend!