Neighborhood Around Temple University (Philadelphia, Penn: crime, houses, dorms) - Pennsylvania (PA) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

katnip kid · 08-06-2011, 12:53 AM

I'm very glad to see this topic has come back to life. I am an adult student at Bucks County Community College. I'm considering attending Temple after finishing at Bucks. I'd have to take the commuter train to Temple from Doylestown. How safe is the Temple train stop and walk to and through the campus at night? I am able to drive, but have trouble seeing at night, and this problem gets worse as I get older. As for driving in rain or snow, forget it, most esp. at night. I really have trouble driving at night. Driving into the city is not a wise thing to plan on doing. Fortunately, Bucks has a program where I can be enrolled at Bucks and also at Temple at the same time. Classes taken at Bucks are the same as if taken at Temple. Not all classes, but many. Also, there is an off-campus Temple location near the mall in Montgomery County which is not difficult for me to reach during the day at least. I can take many courses there as well.

Several posters are/were students at Temple. How are adult students accepted at Temple? I don't mean socially, I mean in regards to us being in class. I suppose I shouldn't care, but I am curious. Are there older adult students present or will I be the only one? I am guessing with the downturn in the economy and with folks re-training and such that older students are probably more common these days. I just turned 50 this past week. I look and feel about 40.

I would appreciate your comments.

JHG722 · 08-06-2011, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katnip kid

I'm very glad to see this topic has come back to life. I am an adult student at Bucks County Community College. I'm considering attending Temple after finishing at Bucks. I'd have to take the commuter train to Temple from Doylestown. How safe is the Temple train stop and walk to and through the campus at night? I am able to drive, but have trouble seeing at night, and this problem gets worse as I get older. As for driving in rain or snow, forget it, most esp. at night. I really have trouble driving at night. Driving into the city is not a wise thing to plan on doing. Fortunately, Bucks has a program where I can be enrolled at Bucks and also at Temple at the same time. Classes taken at Bucks are the same as if taken at Temple. Not all classes, but many. Also, there is an off-campus Temple location near the mall in Montgomery County which is not difficult for me to reach during the day at least. I can take many courses there as well.

Several posters are/were students at Temple. How are adult students accepted at Temple? I don't mean socially, I mean in regards to us being in class. I suppose I shouldn't care, but I am curious. Are there older adult students present or will I be the only one? I am guessing with the downturn in the economy and with folks re-training and such that older students are probably more common these days. I just turned 50 this past week. I look and feel about 40.

I would appreciate your comments.

Seriously, it's fine. I've been doing it for a few years now and I'm a non-menacing suburban white guy. It's really completely safe.
As far as adult students go, they're very common at Temple. I've had them in pretty much every class including some smaller classes. Had a guy in his 60s in my major class. Had a woman in her 30s in my stats class who left home after graduating high school to play in a band in Seattle and came back home when she clearly didn't make it big. Had a late 30s early 40s guy in my bible class who played football at Cornell, but left to become a police officer. We also had a pretty famous adult student a few years ago: Tex Cobb among tomorrow's Temple grads | Philadelphia Daily News | 01/24/2008

Dub King · 08-06-2011, 07:39 AM

If you go to Temple you will have to behave in a city-smart manner. The neighborhood surrounding Temple is terrible, so have no illusions, shady characters are within walking distance of campus. That said, campus itself is very nice, totally renovated, with a great movie theater and shops. Broad st. itself is improving rapidly and soon enough the whole stretch right up to Temple should be gentrified, but not this year or next year. By the time you graduate? Perhaps.

JHG722 · 08-06-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dub King

If you go to Temple you will have to behave in a city-smart manner. The neighborhood surrounding Temple is terrible, so have no illusions, shady characters are within walking distance of campus.

You need to have some semblance of street smarts/common sense, but you're making it out to be much worse than it is.

loose cannon · 08-06-2011, 11:11 AM

I've been through those North Philly Temple hoods many times. It would be good for some of these Lehizzle Valley wannabees to venture into these areas, so they can see some real ghetto. You have to be like me. Walk fast with a clenched fist and a mean face. Then you'll be fine. Here in the Lehizzle Valley specifically in downtown Allentown this is what I do and nobody messes with me. I carry myself the same way in Philly and NYC. One time a drunk homeless man asked me for directions on a friday night at 9pm just above Girard Avenue. I do not live there obviosuly but I put on a good act and quickly assisted him. The gentleman shook my hand and said, "thanks dawg." He did ask me for $1, and I gave in. I did not have to, but he seemed cool. He made his way pushing a shopping cart with garbage bag in side towards North Broad, and I proceeded to friend's house.

JHG722 · 08-06-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loose cannon

I've been through those North Philly Temple hoods many times. It would be good for some of these Lehizzle Valley wannabees to venture into these areas, so they can see some real ghetto. You have to be like me. Walk fast with a clenched fist and a mean face. Then you'll be fine. Here in the Lehizzle Valley specifically in downtown Allentown this is what I do and nobody messes with me. I carry myself the same way in Philly and NYC. One time a drunk homeless man asked me for directions on a friday night at 9pm just above Girard Avenue. I do not live there obviosuly but I put on a good act and quickly assisted him. The gentleman shook my hand and said, "thanks dawg." He did ask me for $1, and I gave in. I did not have to, but he seemed cool. He made his way pushing a shopping cart with garbage bag in side towards North Broad, and I proceeded to friend's house.

katnip kid · 08-06-2011, 05:57 PM

A big thank you to all for the info, esp. to JHG for the encouragement! I have only seen the area surrounding Temple U (the campus itself looked fine) from the train when I take the train into the train station and the convention center. It looked run down and rough, so being an older white suburban guy who is decidely NOT big and rough and tough I was a bit worried. Temple isn't my only option. It is by far the most easily accomodated option given my circumstances. Earning credits and a degree are very accessible.

Dub King · 08-06-2011, 06:11 PM

I don't think you will have any problems. I am a decidedly not big older white guy and I have never been afraid of 'the hood' per se, I've never had problems. I can honestly say that, in 5 years here nothing 'bad' has happened except having my bike stolen. Look, shady characters are on the streets, like in any city. Watch your stuff, you'll be fine. Walking around looking like a tough guy, like that weird post suggested, totally doesn't work. Minding your own business does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by katnip kid

A big thank you to all for the info, esp. to JHG for the encouragement! I have only seen the Temple area from the train when I take the train into the train station and the convention center. It looked run down and rough, so being an older white suburban guy who is decidely NOT big and rough and tough I was a bit worried. Temple isn't my only option. It is by far the most easily accomodated option given my circumstances. Earning credits and a degree are very accessible.

1208 · 08-06-2011, 06:13 PM

it is like a DMZ without the 'D'

jsupak · 08-06-2011, 07:52 PM

It is not safe at all. I work the Night Shift Monday-Friday at my parent's cleaners in Center City and I get scared of being attacked. I always carry a pocket knife with me when I walk to my car because I'm scared of getting assaulted. Recently there has been many flash mobs and one was one block away from where I work so I get scared. Police frequent areas near Temple but it is not a safe area to live in and I don't understand why you would want to live in an area like that. I have to move to Center City in a few years and I'm scared. I suggest moving to the suburbs near the city. I live in New Jersey and it is a very safe area.