Columbia & NYC are great

[deleted179449]

I've read some posts about people being turning off by Columbia's neighborhood and I thought I'd describe it because I personally love NYC. As a past New Yorker I felt I needed to defend the area. I'm still not sure if I'm going to enroll but if the area in which Columbia is located is holding you back then I'd say you're crazy. If you just don't like big cities then it's definitely not for you but the Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem, & Columbus Circle neighborhoods are safe these days. I think the "shady" area reputation comes from the 80's & 90's crack/cocaine epidemic and sure people get mugged. But you can get mugged in any city and NYC is the safest big city in the nation. The per capita crime rate in NYC is like 1/3 of Philadelphia's, DC's, St. Louis', Atlanta's & Baltimore's...each. Also, the area in which Columbia is located has long since been gentrified to the nines. The school is located directly on the 1, A, & C subway lines so you can get to pretty much any other part of Manhattan in about 30 minutes. And the access to great food, Central Park, & culture cannot be beat.

I think you're going to have a wonderful time. Congrats!

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[anshim]

I second that! Sure, Morningside/Washington Heights aren't as fru-fru or wealthy as other neighborhoods like the Upper East Side, Soho or Greenwich Village, but they're *definitely* not scary or dangerous. In fact, I'm surprised people think Columbus Circle is a dangerous area?? That's where the AOL/Time Warner building and Trump Towers is, and is steps away from Central Park West, a huge Whole Foods (where you'll usually spot a celebrity or two) and the Museum of Natural History. I'm female, lived in NYC for many years and NEVER once had a problem walking around alone. I didn't walk alone after 2am, but I wouldn't do that in any city.

If anything, the areas I avoided most at night were Times Square and other tourist hotspots. Tourists are the easiest targets for muggers....they usually have lots of shopping bags and cash on them, are wandering around lost and too busy looking up at the bright lights to pay attention to their surroundings.

I live in Houston now, and my car has been broken into twice, my neighbors have been robbed, and friends have been held at gunpoint. And I live in a "good" part of town. I feel *less* safe here than I ever did in NYC.

 

[tt13]

just out of curiosity, how would you describe the area around nyu? i also applied there, haven't heard from them though..

 

[PHealthMan]

Washington Heights is not safe. I have been there several times in the evening for meetings recently and I have felt uncomfortable. By the way I am also a New Yorker. I think New York is an an outstanding place to live with great opportunities for those interested in Public Health but show some respect for people whow ill be moving their life there. It is an issue that should play a factor. Provided NYU ublic Health is on the main campus of the University the Village is a neat cultural community very different from the heights.

 

[jjright212]

Washington Heights is not safe. I have been there several times in the evening for meetings recently and I have felt uncomfortable. By the way I am also a New Yorker. I think New York is an an outstanding place to live with great opportunities for those interested in Public Health but show some respect for people whow ill be moving their life there. It is an issue that should play a factor. Provided NYU ublic Health is on the main campus of the University the Village is a neat cultural community very different from the heights.

interesting how you consider the village a "cultural community" and choose to not say the same about Washington Heights. kudos to you though.

 

[deleted179449]

Washington Heights is not safe. I have been there several times in the evening for meetings recently and I have felt uncomfortable. By the way I am also a New Yorker. I think New York is an an outstanding place to live with great opportunities for those interested in Public Health but show some respect for people whow ill be moving their life there. It is an issue that should play a factor. Provided NYU ublic Health is on the main campus of the University the Village is a neat cultural community very different from the heights.

Hey, different strokes for different folks but I meant no disrespect. I spent a considerable amount of time in Washington Heights & the Village and to describe the Village as a "cultural community" is a bit much. Washington Heights is a real and vibrant Puerto Rican community. Both the West and the East village have priced out any kind of community that they ever had (unless you like bankers & faux hipsters). But I digress...

Columbia is a great PH school and yes, area is always something to consider but if I get into JHU (God willing), I'm going. And, let's face it, no place is as creepy as Baltimore.

Full disclosure: I lived in the East Village and loved it so if you go NYU you'll have a great time too. Besides, it's always best to visit a place rather than take some forum chick's advice.

 

[MPH]

I wouldn't use such a strong statement for Baltimore. I have been living in Baltimore for 5 years now and i think the city is really improving. The area around Hopkins School of Public Health is not the greatest but there are a lot of great things going for the city including much nicer apartments and living conditions for the same rent price or even cheaper than New York. There are many nice safe areas in Baltimore. You just need to look for a place you feel comfortable depending on how far you want to commute and what means (financial, transportation etc) you have. It might not be the greatest cosmopolitan center but it grows on you. At least it did for me. good luck on your application for Hopkins.

 

[shraf]

I second that! Sure, Morningside/Washington Heights aren't as fru-fru or wealthy as other neighborhoods like the Upper East Side, Soho or Greenwich Village, but they're *definitely* not scary or dangerous.

There are approximately 50 blocks separating Morningside Heights and Washington Heights. The former is where the main campus is and the latter is where the med school (and PH) campus is. The two are VERY different with Morningside being significantly cleaner, wealthier, prettier, safer, etc.

Provided NYU ublic Health is on the main campus of the University the Village is a neat cultural community very different from the heights.

What campus? NYU doesn't have a "campus" ...its just a bunch of buildings sprawled around manhattan

 

[anshim]

There are approximately 50 blocks separating Morningside Heights and Washington Heights. The former is where the main campus is and the latter is where the med school (and PH) campus is. The two are VERY different with Morningside being significantly cleaner, wealthier, prettier, safer, etc.

Yes, but Doctoral students will take classes at both campuses.

 

[jjright212]

Hey, different strokes for different folks but I meant no disrespect. I spent a considerable amount of time in Washington Heights & the Village and to describe the Village as a "cultural community" is a bit much. Washington Heights is a real and vibrant Puerto Rican community. Both the West and the East village have priced out any kind of community that they ever had (unless you like bankers & faux hipsters). But I digress...

Columbia is a great PH school and yes, area is always something to consider but if I get into JHU (God willing), I'm going. And, let's face it, no place is as creepy as Baltimore.

Full disclosure: I lived in the East Village and loved it so if you go NYU you'll have a great time too. Besides, it's always best to visit a place rather than take some forum chick's advice.

Hey just so you don't go around getting into trouble, the community is predominantly Dominican, not puerto rican 🙂

 

[deleted179449]

Hey just so you don't go around getting into trouble, the community is predominantly Dominican, not puerto rican 🙂

You're right and wrong. The Dominican community has been moving north for some time to Inwood and the Puerto Rican community has been moving west from Spanish Harlem because the Upper East Siders are crawling north.

This is a silly debate. I'm sorry I started such a silly thread but I just didn't want someone to pass up a great opportunity because Columbia is supposed to be "scary". It's a good school and worth considering.

 

[deleted179449]

I wouldn't use such a strong statement for Baltimore. I have been living in Baltimore for 5 years now and i think the city is really improving. The area around Hopkins School of Public Health is not the greatest but there are a lot of great things going for the city including much nicer apartments and living conditions for the same rent price or even cheaper than New York. There are many nice safe areas in Baltimore. You just need to look for a place you feel comfortable depending on how far you want to commute and what means (financial, transportation etc) you have. It might not be the greatest cosmopolitan center but it grows on you. At least it did for me. good luck on your application for Hopkins.

Hey MPH,
I really like Baltimore and I think it is improving. I worked for a non-profit studying AIDS among injection drug users in Baltimore and it's just so neglected. It's makes me sad that it's so broken because the city has so much potential. Anyway, I hope to see you at JHU!

 

[jjright212]

You're right and wrong. The Dominican community has been moving north for some time to Inwood and the Puerto Rican community has been moving west from Spanish Harlem because the Upper East Siders are crawling north.

This is a silly debate. I'm sorry I started such a silly thread but I just didn't want someone to pass up a great opportunity because Columbia is supposed to be "scary". It's a good school and worth considering.

yeah, sorry guy, im not wrong. ive been born and raised my entire life in washington heights and I have done census work there for many latino organizations. The PR community is miniscule compared to the Dominican community, in WH.

If you don't trust me, just read up on it in Wikipedia.

Ppl in the community call it Quisqueya heights. Quisqueya is another name for the D.R.

 

[anshim]

I find it rather...ironic...that on a forum for public/community health hopefuls, people are so concerned about their proximity to certain neighborhoods or communities.

 

[firecoins]

NYU doesn't have a formal campus. The undergraduate campus is in Greenwich Village which is awesome. The medical school is on 31st st and 1st ave another really safe area. I don't know which campus the MPH is on but I assume it would be taught at the medical school.

Colombia's campus is perfectly safe.

 

[jjright212]

I find it rather...ironic...that on a forum for public/community health hopefuls, people are so concerned about their proximity to certain neighborhoods or communities.

good point. that is the true irony.

 

[tt13]

I find it rather...ironic...that on a forum for public/community health hopefuls, people are so concerned about their proximity to certain neighborhoods or communities.

=) I'm going for health management, and I like to separate my academic life from the other parts of my life. It's perfectly reasonable to take into consideration the safety of where you'll be studying.

i would leap at columbia if it wasn't so expensive.. and i haven't heard from scholarship/finaid yet.

 

[tsavrey]

Hello,

I too really love NYC. But, how can any average student pursue an MPH and live in NYC? The average starting salary for a typical grad with a master's degree is not huge. I have also heard that funding from Columbia's Mailman School of PH is minimal at best and mostly loans. So, if you are like me and would live to begin an education and later a career in NYC how do you finance such a thing?

I would love to attend Columbia's Mailman SPH or NYU's PH program but I have sort of already written both off as I would come out of such an education with more loans than I know what to do with. Any suggestions?

Thanks!