Living in Baltimore (safety) - UMD

[UNCafDDS]

I have the University of Maryland on my list of schools, but I have to say that the reputation of the area makes me wonder if I could handle it there for 4 years. I am generally not a city girl, though I did live in downtown Philly for a summer. It's not so much the city life I am asking about, it's about the safety of the area, day in and day out. I guess I will be mainly working hard in dental school. But I like I run outdoors each day. Would I have to say goodbye to that?

I know several dentists who graduated from UMD and would happily place a call on my behalf, so I feel like I cannot rule out UMD.

Anybody here with first hand experience? Thank you.

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[deleted480308]

Baltimore sucks

 

[Master Yoda]

Baltimore sucks

What makes you say that? Can you be more specific?

 

[UNCafDDS]

Yes, why does Baltimore suck? The crime, the weather? Will I constantly be watching my back in Baltimore? Did you live there, or do you just know the reputation?

Baltimore sucks

 

[deleted480308]

Yes, why does Baltimore suck? The crime, the weather? Will I constantly be watching my back in Baltimore? Did you live there, or do you just know the reputation?

I did live just outside the city. It's dirty and crime ridden with bad schools and high taxes and worse roads

 

[dr.d00m]

I did live just outside the city. It's dirty and crime ridden with bad schools and high taxes and worse roads

This isn't far from the truth. But it wouldn't really affect you as a student at the dental school. UMB is located next to the inner harbor, which is probably one of the better areas of Baltimore. So most of the stuff you would do outside of school work (like bars, restaurants, sporting events, aquarium, jogging, etc.) are all within walking distance and is relatively safe up until like late at night.

 

[predental21250]

Baltimore as a city sucks a lot. I would not feel safe living there.

Crime in Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD neighborhood - Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD Neighborhood Crime Map - SpotCrime

<- past 2 weeks

 

[DogeDDS]

Baltimore is fine. UMB is (or is nearby) downtown, which is close to the nicer areas of inner harbor, fells point, federal hill, canton, etc. which have all the restaurants and bars. People try to make Baltimore out to be a 3rd world country but just use common sense and you'll be okay.

 

[predental21250]

Baltimore is fine. UMB is (or is nearby) downtown, which is close to the nicer areas of inner harbor, fells point, federal hill, canton, etc. which have all the restaurants and bars. People try to make Baltimore out to be a 3rd world country but just use common sense and you'll be okay.

UMB is equally close, if not closer, to **** areas as it is to those nicer areas.

 

[SmileItsLife]

Baltimore is fine. UMB is (or is nearby) downtown, which is close to the nicer areas of inner harbor, fells point, federal hill, canton, etc. which have all the restaurants and bars. People try to make Baltimore out to be a 3rd world country but just use common sense and you'll be okay.

It's not a 3rd world country, but it's not that safe either. My 10 year old brother saw multiple drug deals go down when he went up there for a day trip with my dad. Be safe by not going out when it's dark... Bad things can happen anywhere, but they usually occur more often here.

Remember: 50% of crime occurs at 3% of the places..... be sure to avoid that 3% of places (day or night) in Baltimore, and you'll be generally safer. Shootings happen almost everyday in certain blocks.

 

[geekbones]

UMSOD has a police escort service which I use frequently if I have to work late in lab/study at the library. They drive you to your house if it is within a one-mile radius. I walk ~7mins to school and honestly I've seen some weird things, but I never felt like my life was in danger lol. Obviously don't be oblivious to your surroundings, don't be on your phone or have your laptop/valuables out when you are walking in the city, but other than that like someone else said: use common sense! And use the police escort as much as you want, you'll be paying for it after all. Great school, keep it on your list if Bmore is the only thing that might make you knock it off the list. PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[DogeDDS]

UMB is equally close, if not closer, to **** areas as it is to those nicer areas.

But why would you be going to those areas to begin with? Like I said, use common sense

 

[cjddds]

Baltimore as a city sucks a lot. I would not feel safe living there.

Crime in Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD neighborhood - Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD Neighborhood Crime Map - SpotCrime

<- past 2 weeks

Can you elaborate? Because I thought you were one of the people I spoke to who was okay with living in Baltimore. Anything change? And since you dislike the city do you see yourself going to the dental school?

 

[cjddds]

This isn't far from the truth. But it wouldn't really affect you as a student at the dental school. UMB is located next to the inner harbor, which is probably one of the better areas of Baltimore. So most of the stuff you would do outside of school work (like bars, restaurants, sporting events, aquarium, jogging, etc.) are all within walking distance and is relatively safe up until like late at night.

Agreed on the "relatively safe" part and the police escort service is a god send from what I heard! A note on jogging though: heard from some friends that it's not safe to jog everywhere but if you're near inner harbor in daytime that seems like a good jogging spot. Also to clarify for the sake of this sub thread, UMB is not exactly next to Inner Harbor. It's about 0.6 miles away and those 0.6 miles are all the difference. Downtown Baltimore will always be Downtown Baltimore. Even Inner Harbor is unsafe at dusk. Just don't take distance for granted and think that all the blocks are the same. Each block is unique in Baltimore so it could be relatively safe on one block and crime ridden on the next. Just keep a watchful eye wherever you go and if in doubt, don't go out. Or if in doubt, call a friend or an escort.

 

[WaveRace]

Baltimore is just like any other big city. I've lived there, Detroit, and in Newark. I'm a white guy who grew up in the middle of nowhere in the country, for reference. Don't clown around outside at night is the takeaway. Aside from that, it's not insanely dangerous like people make it out to be. The crime is largely gang-related on other gangs. If you're not doing illegal things with sketchy people, you are going to be fine. You aren't going to be wandering up "the wrong streets" unless you are trying to. If you have a bad gut feeling about something when you are walking, listen to it and get out of there. For jogging, I wouldn't recommend randomly making a 5 mile path and following it like you can in some cities. Either ask people where it is safe to jog before doing it, or don't jog outside. Either get a gym membership or buy a treadmill (I do both).

I'm not saying crime doesn't happen in Baltimore, but that is a risk you take in any big city. Be aware of your surroundings, walk with friends, don't be outside alone at night. Even for someone like me, who grew up in the country where I could go for jogs at 2 AM or safely get rides home from strangers at the bar, Baltimore is just fine with adaptation. It's not ideal, but if I can do it, anyone can.

 

[Chef Tooth]

I have the University of Maryland on my list of schools, but I have to say that the reputation of the area makes me wonder if I could handle it there for 4 years. I am generally not a city girl, though I did live in downtown Philly for a summer. It's not so much the city life I am asking about, it's about the safety of the area, day in and day out. I guess I will be mainly working hard in dental school. But I like I run outdoors each day. Would I have to say goodbye to that?

I know several dentists who graduated from UMD and would happily place a call on my behalf, so I feel like I cannot rule out UMD.

Anybody here with first hand experience? Thank you.

A year later have you decided to go to UMD? if so can you recommend any apartment buildings close by?

 

[UNCafDDS]

I am applying this cycle, and I am planning to apply to UMD. Nothing to recommend yet. Did you get in? Congrats!

I know that UMD has student housing. If you go on yelp, you can see recommendations of the "higher" rated buildings that are not student housing....and those usually have security detail, at least at night. Good luck!!

What are your stats??

 

[ncide]

My brother lives in Baltimore, goes to Johns Hopkins for medical school, and the place near UMD is much nicer than where my brother is located. I've been up to Baltimore quite a few times, and have a few buddies up there I get together for drinks with from time to time so I know the area a bit. To give you all a picture of how beat up parts of Baltimore looks, this picture of the neighborhood right next to Johns Hopkins medical campus gives you an idea:

There was an interesting article written up by the Washington Post behind the history of this urban decay. Worthwhile to read.

Now, not all of Baltimore looks like this, especially not where you'd be going to dental school. There are lots of awesome places to go eat and enjoy yourself, and downtown is a blast. The UMD campus looks great from the outside, and there's lots to do in the area. I wouldn't blink at the opportunity to go to UMD.

Be careful with your car though. My brother needed to repair his because of the roads. Outside of downtown, the roads are absolute garbage.

 

[hmmmidk]

I lived in Baltimore (went to jhu). West and east side of Baltimore, you will want to avoid going. However places in between Martin Luther Blvd and broadway st like Roland park, fed hill, fell’s point, inner harbor(this place is prob the wealthiest area in Baltimore) are all good area to live in. Just gotta be mindful of surrounding and not go out by yourself at night lol.

P.s. you’ll have more stress over ****ty potholes on the road in Baltimore than actual crimes. Also to give you a perspective, I’m came from an affluent suburb with 0 crimes and had no trouble adapting in Baltimore.

 

[INH]

current UMSOD dental student here

I live in federal hill about 1.5 miles from the dental school. The federal hill and fells point areas are very safe and filled pretty much with just young professionals. The dental school provides a shuttle service on the hour 5 days a week that brings the UM dental med and law students too and from these places. I use the UMD shuttle everyday. Also you have to consider that dental schools love being in areas close to poverty because a higher access to patients. Nobody wants to see a student dentist unless they cant afford other alternatives....

 

[Zippojake]

current UMSOD dental student here

I live in federal hill about 1.5 miles from the dental school. The federal hill and fells point areas are very safe and filled pretty much with just young professionals. The dental school provides a shuttle service on the hour 5 days a week that brings the UM dental med and law students too and from these places. I use the UMD shuttle everyday. Also you have to consider that dental schools love being in areas close to poverty because a higher access to patients. Nobody wants to see a student dentist unless they cant afford other alternatives....

How do you find places to live in federal hill or fells point ? Can you give me any names ?

 

[HarmonicConvergence]

Baltimore is not the best but its definitely not that bad. Just be smart and your golden. Fells point and fed hill are def the spots to be in. Or if you're that worried live on the outskirts and drive in or take the light rail. I live in Towson and its very safe and only a 15 min drive to the city or a like 20ish minute lightrail ride to the city. Lots of families here and great public schools. Baltimore City potholes are no joke tho.

 

[Chef Tooth]

so after living in Baltimore for a year, from what i have seen i would definitely avoid crossing MLK, which includes Camden crossings (as nice as it is people are always wandering looking for people to rob)

2hopkins is very nice, but expensive. 10th light street is also nice but a longer walk and expensive. 39 west Lexington is convenient for UMB student since no application fee or security deposit.

Beautiful luxury apartment in downtown

Any properties near campus are great because of the walking distance but suck because of noise caused by trauma/ambulance/ helicopter/ drunks/ lite rail.