Temple University?

[CPT Tripss]

PP's concern is misdirected. St. Joe's campus and the neighborhood frequented by its students is, objectively, more dangerous than Temple.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think I showed in my earlier post that I actually like Temple, a lot. But, if your son is serious about computer science, look at Carnegie Mellon, although that's at the other side of Pennsylvania. I don't know anything about their financial aid, though.

 

[Mkrop]

PP's concern is misdirected. St. Joe's campus and the neighborhood frequented by its students is, objectively, more dangerous than Temple.

I would strongly disagree. Went on a tour there over the summer, and I was down in that area twice last week and totally felt safe.

But to each their own....

 

[jcc0621]

I grew up and still live in Philly. Temple has an outstanding reputation. I have several friends who graduated from there. The campus is great. There is an Engineering and Science Public High School nreaby that they partner with. The neighborhood surrounding it isn't the greatest, but as other have said the campus is safe. If he lives on campus he will be fine.

Great access both by bus and subway to Center City and all the places the college kids want to hang out when they aren't on campus.

There is lots of building and improvement going on in and around the campus area.

 

[jcc0621]

PP's concern is misdirected. St. Joe's campus and the neighborhood frequented by its students is, objectively, more dangerous than Temple.

Agreed. If you look at crime stats, West, St. Joe's area is inherently more dangerous that North, Temple area.

 

[eliza61]

Agreed. If you look at crime stats, West, St. Joe's area is inherently more dangerous that North, Temple area.

+1.
My son toured St. Joes and decided against it. the only way he would go is if he stayed at my MIL who lives in West Philly.

North Philly suffers from the same "stereotype" as Harlem NY. People hear the name and all of a sudden think it's a crime infested dean of drugs, murder and mayhem.

You tell people Columbia university is in Morningside heights area in upper manhattan and that sounds so great. You tell the same folks Columbia University is in lower Harlem and all of sudden they are clutching their pocketbooks.

I can't imagine feeling any less safe on broad street than on City line ave.

Op you're son will be perfectly ok. as others have said, simply teach him basic city safety skills and he'll be fine.

 

[arminnie]

Temple is a very good school. I am not personally familiar with the campus - never lived closer than the New Hope/Doylestown area.

I graduated from Tulane in New Orleans - another city with major crime issues. It wasn't a real issue a zillion years ago when I was in school but the city (and the world) is different today.

But I have been on several Tulane boards where I have had access to a lot of inside information. I'm pretty familiar with any crime that has involved students in the past couple of decades.

Yes there is crime, but it is pretty much avoidable. Most schools in urban areas do have to be aware of the surroundings - but because the schools are more aware they often are safer than some rural/small town schools.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Agreed. If you look at crime stats, West, St. Joe's area is inherently more dangerous that North, Temple area.

I hear ya. But why look at statistics and facts when warm fuzzy feelings for alma mater are there?

 

[Mkrop]

I hear ya. But why look at statistics and facts when warm fuzzy feelings for alma mater are there?

Please provide a link to these crime stats....I dont recall seeing one. And I hope it is broken down by the sections of the city, not just west and north. Because yes there are parts of West Philly I dont want to hang out in but I would not say that about Overbrook, Wynnefield sections.

And yes the Hawk Will Never Die.

And I would not be commenting on this thread at all if I had not been to both locations and recently. I actually was quite impressed with how safer the SJU campus is than when I went in the early 90s, and then when I was there in about 2005. They have bought up tons of property in the area, from Overbrook to Wynnefield. They bought the old Episcopal property and they bought the Cardinal's house.

I just mentioned this thread to DH. He lol. We are very familiar with both areas, he does sales in both areas and knows them quite well. He did not go to SJU, has no warm fuzzy feelings, he actually went to PCPS (or whatever is it called these days....in the true WEST Philly). We both worked in Wynnefield and we were just there and ate in the area bc of cross country meets at the Belmont Plateau. He agreed and said our kids would never go to Temple. Oh and his brother went to Temple.

And I dont understand eliza why your DS could live in West Philly with MIL but not at SJU? Where (approx) are we talking about?

 

[WDWJDS]

Please provide a link to these crime stats....I dont recall seeing one. And I hope it is broken down by the sections of the city, not just west and north. Because yes there are parts of West Philly I dont want to hang out in but I would not say that about Overbrook, Wynnefield sections. And yes the Hawk Will Never Die. And I would not be commenting on this thread at all if I had not been to both locations and recently. I actually was quite impressed with how safer the SJU campus is than when I went in the early 90s, and then when I was there in about 2005. They have bought up tons of property in the area, from Overbrook to Wynnefield. They bought the old Episcopal property and they bought the Cardinal's house. I just mentioned this thread to DH. He lol. We are very familiar with both areas, he does sales in both areas and knows them quite well. He did not go to SJU, has no warm fuzzy feelings, he actually went to PCPS (or whatever is it called these days....in the true WEST Philly). We both worked in Wynnefield and we were just there and ate in the area bc of cross country meets at the Belmont Plateau. He agreed and said our kids would never go to Temple. Oh and his brother went to Temple. And I dont understand eliza why your DS could live in West Philly with MIL but not at SJU? Where (approx) are we talking about?

You know, I was going to say the same thing. I have over 30 years experience with both areas. I lived off of City Line Ave and took class and danced at Temple for years and years. I work ten minutes from Temple and my D had vocal lessons five minutes from SJU every week last year. I grew up in the hood and I still don't like the Temple area. SJU area is the Taj Mahal compared to the Temple area (to me that is).

 

[Mkrop]

You know, I was going to say the same thing. I have over 30 years experience with both areas. I lived off of City Line Ave and took class and danced at Temple for years and years. I work ten minutes from Temple and my D had vocal lessons five minutes from SJU every week last year. I grew up in the hood and I still don't like the Temple area. SJU area is the Taj Mahal compared to the Temple area (to me that is).

Well thanks for that.

But I came back here to say to the OP, good luck in your search, we are just beginning and it is not fun.

With that said, all I did was to come here to give you my opinion on what I knew about Temple, from being local, from being up there recently, from having lots of people I know choose Temple or not choose Temple. And to me when people say as long as they dont leave campus they will be fine, well that raises red flags for me. I would not want my kid in that type of college.

I am not trying to sell you on SJU, you didnt even ask about that and some how it derailed into my defending the area of SJU, which is not even an area where you and your child are looking, so I am sorry for that.


Hopefully you can get a well balanced opinion on the Temple area or maybe it would be best for you to venture down yourself and see. I also know the NE PA area pretty well and I think Temple will be a bit of culture shock. It is totally and urban setting unless you are in the Art School which is offsite and not in Philly, DH's goddaugther went to Temple a couple of years ago although I think she had to commute to take some core courses, she told me she dreaded it, preferred staying at the suburban satellite. . I do not know where the Computer courses would be held.

SO once again good luck in your search. I hope he enjoys and is safe wherever he chooses to go to school

 

[spima3]

Well thanks for that.

But I came back here to say to the OP, good luck in your search, we are just beginning and it is not fun.
With that said, all I did was to come here to give you my opinion on what I knew about Temple, from being local, from being up there recently, from having lots of people I know choose Temple or not choose Temple. And to me when people say as long as they dont leave campus they will be fine, well that raises red flags for me. I would not want my kid in that type of college.
I am not trying to sell you on SJU, you didnt even ask about that and some how it derailed into my defending the area of SJU, which is not even an area where you and your child are looking, so I am sorry for that.
Hopefully you can get a well balanced opinion on the Temple area or maybe it would be best for you to venture down yourself and see. I also know the NE PA area pretty well and I think Temple will be a bit of culture shock. It is totally and urban setting unless you are in the Art School which is offsite and not in Philly, DH's goddaugther went to Temple a couple of years ago although I think she had to commute to take some core courses, she told me she dreaded it, preferred staying at the suburban satellite. . I do not know where the Computer courses would be held.

SO once again good luck in your search. I hope he enjoys and is safe wherever he chooses to go to school

All opinions are welcome, and I have heard quite a few like yours as well. My BIL is from Philly and didn't think Temple would be good as DS is not street smart.

But then many have commented on the school itself and how much they liked it.

DS really liked the campus at Cornell in Ithaca, NY, which is very different from Temple, and even though DS has the stats for Cornell, the odds of getting in are still very slim.

So we have to consider Temple as it is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. We go next Sat, and we will get a better idea if it's worth attending.

Ultimately, it will be up to him and IF he can see himself there.

 

[WDWJDS]

All opinions are welcome, and I have heard quite a few like yours as well. My BIL is from Philly and didn't think Temple would be good as DS is not street smart.

But then many have commented on the school itself and how much they liked it.

DS really liked the campus at Cornell in Ithaca, NY, which is very different from Temple, and even though DS has the stats for Cornell, the odds of getting in are still very slim.

So we have to consider Temple as it is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. We go next Sat, and we will get a better idea if it's worth attending.

Ultimately, it will be up to him and IF he can see himself there.

I am so sorry, I only commented on the neighborhoods and not the school itself.

I have many, many friends from all walks of life who absolutely loves it there! Many of their programs are well regarded and their applicant pool comes from many different states around the country. I also am friends with several teachers there and a Dean - I have never heard of them saying anything bad about the school.

 

[pookybean]

Props to you for hanging in there and finishing!! Can I ask what you went for?

Thank you! It was a long hard road, 5 years part time from start to finish. I now have my BA in Social Work.


I read through the other responses and still just wanted to say that Temple really is a great school. I don't think I have any warm fuzzy alumni feelings because honestly I only chose it because of the location. It easily could have been any other school. I live in the northeast section of the city but have always (and still do) worked in north Philadelphia, within very close proximity to the school. Please do not discount Temple based on fear or safety concerns. My son is 19 now, he is there a few times a week at night for dance practice. He has been fine. I was on campus last weekend around 10pm with my daughters to get some cookies (when youre there go to the Insomnia cookie truck on Montgomery Ave...amazing!) there are students about, there are the emergency call signals and security everywhere. And although your son may lack street smarts it is likely that many of the friends he makes there will not and he will learn quickly.

I don't know much about St Joes, UPenn (well I did hear their social work program was for sweet little rich kids....lol) or Drexel but I think the life experiences he will have at temple will far outweigh the minute safety concerns you have at this time. When you guys go to make your decision please think of that too. A well rounded individual will go a lot further than someone who is just book smart.

 

[allison443]

Anyone have kids who go here?

DS actually qualifies for the full tuition scholarship, and I like that it is a manageable drive for us. If he wanted to come home for breaks or holidays, it would be easy for him to do. We go next month for an open house. He plans on taking computer engineering/electrical engineering. Maybe computer science. He hasn't decided yet.

He has heard the stories about the safety of the campus and the rough neighborhood where it is located, yet, I have talked to a few people and they know kids who are there and love the school.


So anyone have experiences with Temple? Good or bad? He is going to need at least a full tuition in order to attend college. Temple is one of the few we have found. TIA

Is there an automatic full tuition scholarship at Temple for certain grades/scores? We have not seen too many schools that do that anymore.

We visited Temple with my oldest dd a few years ago (actually combined it with a visit to St. Joe's, lol). During the tour they worked hard to dispel the unsafe image. My dd ended up choosing another school (Delaware). However, we do know people that attended Temple and they never had a problem.
Good luck to your son! It is a stressful but exciting time!

 

[WDWJDS]

Is there an automatic full tuition scholarship at Temple for certain grades/scores? We have not seen too many schools that do that anymore.

Yup, there are. Temple instituted them several years ago. It was a big deal when they did.

And yes, those Insomnia Cookies are sinful (also available at several store in the city. And they deliver until 3am for those staying over, with the munchies!)

 

[spima3]

Is there an automatic full tuition scholarship at Temple for certain grades/scores? We have not seen too many schools that do that anymore.

No, there aren't, and when you are also trying to find one with the required major it can get even harder.

Temple's is a 3.75 GPA, and a 32 ACT or 1400 (CR & M).

At least he has 2 affordable options at this point and I am thrilled.

 

[Jewel1310]

My daughter attended Temple and just graduated in May. When we first visited the school I thought I was crazy to "allow" my daughter to attend there. She had strong feelings about it and has had a wonderful experience. She had good class opportunities, lived off campus 2 of the 4 years (and 2 terms studying abroad as she was studying international business). She was street smart but enjoyed the area and made the most of her time there.

I agree that the financial aid office was slow to respond. Stay on top of required classes and prerequisits as her advisor was not good with that. Look into study abroad, as there are options with similar tuition costs and the scholorship may qualify.

Good luck in your selection process. It can be stressful but interesting to see what matches your son's personality.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Please provide a link to these crime stats....I dont recall seeing one. And I hope it is broken down by the sections of the city, not just west and north. Because yes there are parts of West Philly I dont want to hang out in but I would not say that about Overbrook, Wynnefield sections.

And yes the Hawk Will Never Die.

And I would not be commenting on this thread at all if I had not been to both locations and recently. I actually was quite impressed with how safer the SJU campus is than when I went in the early 90s, and then when I was there in about 2005. They have bought up tons of property in the area, from Overbrook to Wynnefield. They bought the old Episcopal property and they bought the Cardinal's house.

I just mentioned this thread to DH. He lol. We are very familiar with both areas, he does sales in both areas and knows them quite well. He did not go to SJU, has no warm fuzzy feelings, he actually went to PCPS (or whatever is it called these days....in the true WEST Philly). We both worked in Wynnefield and we were just there and ate in the area bc of cross country meets at the Belmont Plateau. He agreed and said our kids would never go to Temple. Oh and his brother went to Temple.

And I dont understand eliza why your DS could live in West Philly with MIL but not at SJU? Where (approx) are we talking about?

Just do a search on "college factual campus safety and the name of the college" then look at the "grade" and compare. I assume your DH is an alum of what is now USciences . . . the original pharm school.