NYCPM Safety?

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emericana

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So NYCPM is in Harlem.... I cannot imagine this being safe. Especially if you have to live near there and commuting in and out every day. I am a prospective podiatry student who is researching all of the schools. Can anybody shine any light into the safety/environment of this school?

Thanks!
 
So NYCPM is in Harlem.... I cannot imagine this being safe. Especially if you have to live near there and commuting in and out every day. I am a prospective podiatry student who is researching all of the schools. Can anybody shine any light into the safety/environment of this school?

Thanks!

Its safe. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Being in the school is safe; security at all doors that check ID's. Its being in Harlem obviously that would be dangerous. Yes, it is safer than it was 20 years ago when it was like the wild west. I'm not going to lie and say it is safer than suburbia; it isn't. It is a big city, and Harlem has a lot of poor people. You have to be on your game at all times and avoid dangerous situations.

I've walked around at night after a long day of studying, but only to the subway which is a block away. Because that block is heavily traveled, there are usually people around, and always cops in the subway station/on the street between school and subway.

During the day, I would say it is fine. If you are worried that much, just be out of Harlem before dark or don't go out alone.

At least it is never boring. I would feel let down if I didn't go outside and see someone peeing in the street or passed out on the curb. You get used to it.
 
I graduate from there in 2007. I never felt unsafe. I lived in the south bronx and walked across the bridge or rode my bike to and from school most days. When I did my rotation at Lincoln hospital in the south bronx I walked there from my apartment as well.

Also, I am a 5'1" white female and definitely stood out in the neighborhood. I was called snowflake and vanilla on 2 different occasions walking down 125th street. I ignored it.

2 of my friends were pick pocketed near the school - one at pathmark, the other on 124th street. It could have happened anywhere. I have a high school friend that was killed while working at starbucks in georgetown. A very affluent area in D.C. If you watch the NY news more random acts of violence, rappings and muggings happen where the wealthier people live.

You do have to be aware of your surroundings and walk like you belong there.
If you will feel uncomfortable then don't go there. I never felt uncomfortable. I even walked from the far west side of 125th st to the east side of 125th one night at 10PM or so with another white small female friend of mine and we were fine.

It can be safe, it can be dangerous. Crime happens everywhere.

The best hospitals for residencies and medical schools tend to be in the worst neighborhoods. Look at Hopkins, worst part of baltimore. I'm from the baltimore suburbs and feel safer in the bad neighborhoods of NY than I do in most of Baltimore (except the harbor area).
 
2 of my friends were pick pocketed near the school - one at pathmark, the other on 124th street. It could have happened anywhere. I have a high school friend that was killed while working at starbucks in georgetown. A very affluent area in D.C. If you watch the NY news more random acts of violence, rappings and muggings happen where the wealthier people live.

Ugh. I absolutely hate it when people randomly bust out in freestyle rhymes.
 
Ugh. I absolutely hate it when people randomly bust out in freestyle rhymes.

I would say about 85% of people on the street are legitimately rapping to themselves as they walk around aimlessly. I thought it was a stereotype; its the truth.
 
Totally dislike the neighborhood and I have heard of many students getting robbed.
 
Totally dislike the neighborhood and I have heard of many students getting robbed.

Misstatements like this aren't fair. NYCPM has to publish it's crime statistics based on incidents reported by students. Either "many" students aren't reporting things, or this is a fabrication meant to scare prospective students away from NYCPM. And no, they don't fake their statistics (available in the catalog and on-line.) Do things happen? Of course, as with any city. But if you asked current students, you wouldn't get a sense that they're walking around in fear.

And when you're thinking about Harlem, remember that many top medical institutions are located in economically depressed areas. That's where the patients and pathology are. If you want a school in a nice area, enjoy and good luck. Maybe that's why their clinical experiences are less than those experienced by NYCPM students.
 
So NYCPM is in Harlem.... I cannot imagine this being safe. Especially if you have to live near there and commuting in and out every day. I am a prospective podiatry student who is researching all of the schools. Can anybody shine any light into the safety/environment of this school?

NYCPM is a great school. Don't the the neighborhood intimidate you. I'm a very weak female, and I know that I have to be extra careful if I'm alone wherever I am. Bad things can happen to anyone no matter what neighborhood they're in.

Just be smart. Stay on the main street and never walk down a deserted street alone. AND ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS! NYC is a busy place, so you won't be the only person on the streets.
 
Maybe that's why their clinical experiences are less than those experienced by NYCPM students.

I can handle bashing from students, but when a "School Admin" starts bashing on other school's clinical training it just looks bad for the school.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe currently in NY you can't even touch the ankle (might be changing from what I hear though). Some look at that as being "less" than other schools.
 
Maybe that's why their clinical experiences are less than those experienced by NYCPM students.
Haha, talk about unfair statements. I laughed for a long while at this statement. Well done. :laugh:

There are 9 different schools to choose from out there, so make sure you consider them all before ruling any out due to location. Good luck!

Edit: The meetings were apparently moved due to high cost of hotels in the area.
 
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Having a gun pulled on you does NOT happen everywhere...but it has happened to a first year at NYCPM. Definitely not the norm but you can't tell me any big city has the same amount of crime as Des Moines/West Des Moines, North Chicago, north end of Glendale, Sun City, etc.

As for the nycpm admin coming on to a public site and making a statement like that...does it really surprise anyone? Seriously. All you have to do is look at the some podiatry programs' websites, news releases, blogs, etc. to know that they are full of crap. One dean doesn't believe in releasing board scores, one program won't tell you how big their class size is so you can't figure out their attrition rate, another program has blatantly untrue information on their site regarding residency information and another won't list any matriculating data.

newyorkrocks is a prime example of what's really wrong with this profession from an educational standpoint. Not the residency shortage, not parity with MD's, not scope of practice. No, it't the complete disregard for honesty and transparency among many of our "educators" and their staffs. These people should be setting the standard for "professionalism"....and while most do, there are still too many that don't.
 
Having a gun pulled on you does NOT happen everywhere...but it has happened to a first year at NYCPM. Definitely not the norm but you can't tell me any big city has the same amount of crime as Des Moines/West Des Moines, North Chicago, north end of Glendale, Sun City, etc.

As for the nycpm admin coming on to a public site and making a statement like that...does it really surprise anyone? Seriously. All you have to do is look at the some podiatry programs' websites, news releases, blogs, etc. to know that they are full of crap. One dean doesn't believe in releasing board scores, one program won't tell you how big their class size is so you can't figure out their attrition rate, another program has blatantly untrue information on their site regarding residency information and another won't list any matriculating data.

newyorkrocks is a prime example of what's really wrong with this profession from an educational standpoint. Not the residency shortage, not parity with MD's, not scope of practice. No, it't the complete disregard for honesty and transparency among many of our "educators" and their staffs. These people should be setting the standard for "professionalism"....and while most do, there are still too many that don't.

Hey look now I am in administration. I quit school. Lets not jump the gun here bucko. But tell me how you really feel....
 
In regards to the neighborhood, I have never been there, but they moved the APMSA students and their national meeting this year to New Jersey instead of being near the New York school due to safety concerns, if that tells you anything. Take it for what it's worth.

Unless your name is Ted, then I would challenge the credibility of this statement, as I think much more went into this decision than safety. Then again, what I hear is third hand.
 
air bud said:
Hey look now I am in administration. I quit school. Lets not jump the gun here bucko. But tell me how you really feel....

Judging by the post I highly doubt the poster is smart enough to pose as someone else. It reads like something an admin would write, a student would have talked about classmates, said "we", or written about their own experience.

If it looks like s*** and smells like s***.....
 
Judging by the post I highly doubt the poster is smart enough to pose as someone else. It reads like something an admin would write, a student would have talked about classmates, said "we", or written about their own experience.

If it looks like s*** and smells like s***.....

People have questioned my intelligence before and I figured it out...
 
My family is from that area and that was one reason I choose to go there.

I graduated 3 years ago, so I can only speak for the current environment at that time. IT WAS NOT SAFE!

Also someone said something about statistics that the school published. COME ON, there are legal ways of brushing things under the rug. Example: one of my friend was almost raped on the street, guess where that statistic fell under? Assault instead of attempted rape or sexual crime stats. Now, which one is more damaging to a school? Increase in assault or increase in sexual assaults (attempted rape, rape, etc)?

Assault can be anything from being shoved by someone or to being beaten unconscious with a baseball bat. So admin can play those things off as the shoving instead of being brained with a baseball bat. Whereas, attempted rape is attempted rape. Get my gist here?

I am a pretty big person, 6 feet 1, skin color is a bit mixed so I can pass off as Hispanic so I don't stand out as much as someone who is snowball white, but even I have gotten challenges and have had people follow me to the subway and I have lived in NYC my whole life! SO I can say without a doubt, that area is not safe. Yes crime happens everywhere, but more crime happens at some places due to social-demographic and economy.
 
Unless your name is Ted, then I would challenge the credibility of this statement, as I think much more went into this decision than safety. Then again, what I hear is third hand.
Edit: I had heard the options in NY were either too expensive or not in a safe area. Take it for what it's worth. I've never been there personally.
 
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It's not only the safety part, it's also about the money. Cost of living is crazy in NYC compared to other schools, so all in all, it's more expensive, school is old and falling apart, crime, etc. why would you want to go there?

A huge factor I think in safety is just living in the city does not make having a car easy. Since most people don't have cars, you have to rely on public transport and walking which puts you at more risk.

At least at OCPM, in cleveland, you are in your car most of the time when going from home to school, and it's that transition that is the most likely time you will be mugged or attacked. At least driving in a car is a lot safer than walking down the block.
 
Allow me to add my two cents. I usually observe and do not become involved in posting, but this thread should not lead people away from New York.

According to Forbes.com, NYC was in the top 10 safest places to live in the year 2010.

An Excerpt from Forbes.com article:
Big City Surprises
Fans of small-town living might be shocked to find that the biggest city on our list is also one of the least dangerous: New York, with 8.4 million residents, is the sixth-safest city on our list.
Sure, the Big Apple ranks high in part because it's so pedestrian-friendly, and fewer drivers on the road reduce the risk of traffic fatalities: In 2008 NYC had only 3 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents. But New York also boasts a violent crime rate well below what you'd expect for a big city: Only 552 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, better than two-thirds of the 71 cities on the list.

...Oh yeah, check out Cleveland:


Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in United States in 2010
  1. St. Louis, Missouri
  2. Camden, New Jersey
  3. Detroit, Michigan
  4. Flint, Michigan
  5. Oakland, California
  6. Richmond, California
  7. Cleveland, Ohio
  8. Compton, California
  9. Gary, Indiana
  10. Birmingham, Alabama
Let's bridge the gap between perception and reality.
 
Unless you have lived in the area, all of these arguments are useless to have because you will never understand what it is like.

podsoon, you don't know what you are talking about with a car/public transportation. No one does until they actually live in NYC, where the public transportation is unlike any other. No car = no car payment or fixing or worries, so more money in your pocket. Transportation is one block from school, probably less steps than it takes you to get to your car. Cops in the subway station all the time. Its not dangerous walking to the subway. Also podsoon, I love your choice of words "its ohio, but at least its not new york" is pretty much what you say when you say "at least at ocpm".
I love how the comment about how busy the clinic is was even refuted. Are you kidding? How many patients does each clinic see each day? Lets see some numbers on how many patients each student sees each day. What types of pathologies does each clinic see? Its pretty much accepted that there are more patients and worse pathologies in the big cities.

doc1107, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. When was the last time you were at the school? You should come visit some time.

jdikis, I'll ask them when I see them.
 
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Unless you have lived in the area, all of these arguments are useless to have because you will never understand what it is like.

podsoon, you don't know what you are talking about with a car/public transportation. No one does until they actually live in NYC, where the public transportation is unlike any other. No car = no car payment or fixing or worries, so more money in your pocket. Transportation is one block from school, probably less steps than it takes you to get to your car. Cops in the subway station all the time. Its not dangerous walking to the subway. Also podsoon, I love your choice of words "its ohio, but at least its not new york" is pretty much what you say when you say "at least at ocpm".
I love how the comment about how busy the clinic is was even refuted. Are you kidding? How many patients does each clinic see each day? Lets see some numbers on how many patients each student sees each day. What types of pathologies does each clinic see? Its pretty much accepted that there are more patients and worse pathologies in the big cities.

doc1107, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. When was the last time you were at the school? You should come visit some time.

jdikis, I'll ask them when I see them.


I think you mis-understood me. What I was getting at is that you have to take public transportation in NYC whereas in most other POD schools you have to drive. So what I mean is that since you are on foot in NYC, it is not as safe from crime as when you are surrounded by the 4 walls of your car and you are moving at a high speed. At the very least, the perception of danger is greater.

Example: driving down a dark road or walking down a dark road. Would you rather be driving or walking? And the only reason I mentioned Ohio is because that is one of the closest Pod school, and which I may add, IS NOT IN CLEVELAND anymore, it is a suburb of cleveland, not in the city.

Oh and fine, walking to the subway from the school is like a stroll in the park? Have you read the above postings of NYCPM students who say walking to the subway is dangerous? Also, what about walking from the subway to your apartment? Or the subway itself? I have been in NYC and if you ride the subway at night, late night, which students tend to do, then it is a lot more scary than during the day.
 
Don't go out at night.

I've lived here for a while now with no problems and I feel safe. That is my input to this thread.
 
I think you mis-understood me. What I was getting at is that you have to take public transportation in NYC whereas in most other POD schools you have to drive. So what I mean is that since you are on foot in NYC, it is not as safe from crime as when you are surrounded by the 4 walls of your car and you are moving at a high speed. At the very least, the perception of danger is greater.

Example: driving down a dark road or walking down a dark road. Would you rather be driving or walking? And the only reason I mentioned Ohio is because that is one of the closest Pod school, and which I may add, IS NOT IN CLEVELAND anymore, it is a suburb of cleveland, not in the city.

Oh and fine, walking to the subway from the school is like a stroll in the park? Have you read the above postings of NYCPM students who say walking to the subway is dangerous? Also, what about walking from the subway to your apartment? Or the subway itself? I have been in NYC and if you ride the subway at night, late night, which students tend to do, then it is a lot more scary than during the day.

NYCPM offers a shuttle service at night from the school to the locations of their student housing, and also to the subway station near 86th street on the Upper East side, an incredibly safe area of NYC. Safety is really a non-issue.

As an aside, I feel safer walking the streets of NY than driving. In NYC, there were 288 robberies per 100,000 people, which essentially means you have around 0.28% chance of getting mugged. You're more likely to be injured in an automobile accident. Personally I'd rather have someone steal my wallet/pocket change than wrecking my car. It's easier to replace the wallet.
 
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you will when you get up in the morning and start trying to walk

so true.... ha

But here is my 2 cents.. I moved from around the St. Louis area to attend nycpm right before the new years. Everything was completely new to me up here and so I was timid to go out and explore on my own b/c of the "stigma" that harlem gets. After my roomie got here I got out alot and I havnt felt threatened since iv been here. As long as your smart, dont walk alone at night, walk w/ friends if you do..etc etc as everyone else has stated you should be fine. Just be aware of whats around you. 👍

Now.. off to anatomy lab
 
so true.... ha

But here is my 2 cents.. I moved from around the St. Louis area to attend nycpm right before the new years. Everything was completely new to me up here and so I was timid to go out and explore on my own b/c of the "stigma" that harlem gets. After my roomie got here I got out alot and I havnt felt threatened since iv been here. As long as your smart, dont walk alone at night, walk w/ friends if you do..etc etc as everyone else has stated you should be fine. Just be aware of whats around you. 👍

Now.. off to anatomy lab

Listen, I have no problem with NY, if you want to go there great. But you guys are saying don't walk alone, don't be dumb blah blah blah like it is not big deal. Its not like somebody is going to call you a bad name if you do. You are going to possibly get robbed/assaulted/etc. So why do people try and always blow off this safety concern so nonchalantly?
 
And for those who are conceal carry, NYC has the toughest laws ever. Basically, if you aren't government or some big shot, no chance of getting an exception to the rule.
 
Funny (well not really) recent New York story,

My family and I go to New York for Thanksgiving to visit family. My Mom buys tickets for her and my daughter to go see "Mary Poppins" on Broadway on Black Friday so we all head down there to walk around a bit and drop them off for the show.

Fedex guy is pushing a cart in Times Square on Black Friday with boxes piled so high he can't see over them and is blindly moving this cart around in a very dense crowd. My Dad and small son (he's three and a half) are walking through the crowd and this Fedex guy hits my son with his cart, knocks him down and then RUNS HIM OVER with the cart. My Dad turns around and knocks the boxes off the cart as my son is screaming UNDER the cart. Fedex guy almost jumps my Dad until cop shows up. Fedex guy REFUSES to give me any information about himself (employee ID number or name), and cop won't help unless an ambulance is called to take my son to an ER to have him checked out (on Black Friday in the middle of Times Square). Happily, thank goodness, my son is more scared than hurt, and after 30 minutes of arguing with the Fedex guy and the cop, we decide to just let it go after I thoroughly exam my boy and make sure he's not hurt. Cop does NOTHING to force this Fedex guy to pony up his info.

I LOVE New York!!!
 
Listen, I have no problem with NY, if you want to go there great. But you guys are saying don't walk alone, don't be dumb blah blah blah like it is not big deal. Its not like somebody is going to call you a bad name if you do. You are going to possibly get robbed/assaulted/etc. So why do people try and always blow off this safety concern so nonchalantly?

Because there is no reason to live your life in fear. So few people actually have issues in NY, why worry about them all the time. If you are constantly worrying about the people around you, it doesn't matter where you are.

Have you ever known someone that has been mugged? I knew a guy that was traveling for work in Michigan and got mugged - the guy took his phone. What did he do? Went out and got a new phone the next day. It is the same as losing your phone in a drunken stupor. Things happen in life, and you deal with them. If getting mugged will ruin your entire life for the next 80 years, then don't leave home in any city, ever.

Do I walk alone? All the time.

While you are reading, I will touch on why people think New Yorkers are *******s. It's because they have a job to do. People walk fast because they have better things to do than walk around all day. People don't say excuse me because there are people everywhere and you expect to bump into people. People don't put up with crap here because it wastes their time. On another note, if you stop anyone on the street and ask for directions, they will be pleasant and help you. Unless you are in Times Square where every single person is a tourist.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-111162/Now-mugging-worse-London-Harlem.html
 
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Because there is no reason to live your life in fear. So few people actually have issues in NY, why worry about them all the time. If you are constantly worrying about the people around you, it doesn't matter where you are.

Have you ever known someone that has been mugged? I knew a guy that was traveling for work in Michigan and got mugged - the guy took his phone. What did he do? Went out and got a new phone the next day. It is the same as losing your phone in a drunken stupor. Things happen in life, and you deal with them. If getting mugged will ruin your entire life for the next 80 years, then don't leave home in any city, ever.

Do I walk alone? All the time.

While you are reading, I will touch on why people think New Yorkers are *******s. It's because they have a job to do. People walk fast because they have better things to do than walk around all day. People don't say excuse me because there are people everywhere and you expect to bump into people. People don't put up with crap here because it wastes their time. On another note, if you stop anyone on the street and ask for directions, they will be pleasant and help you. Unless you are in Times Square where every single person is a tourist.

:laugh: Making excuses for why people have no compassion for others and can't be nice is laughable.
 
Oh im not saying I dont walk alone either. I walk to school every morning, sometimes by myslef, sometimes w/ classmates. I feel very safe doing so as well. I probably pass 4-5 cop cars, and there are walking police everywhere. Now I mean walking alone at night is always at a risk. It doesnt matter if you are in NYC/chicago/stl/san francisco/or southern illinois. Its always smart to walk w/ someone else.
 
Listen, I have no problem with NY, if you want to go there great. But you guys are saying don't walk alone, don't be dumb blah blah blah like it is not big deal. Its not like somebody is going to call you a bad name if you do. You are going to possibly get robbed/assaulted/etc. So why do people try and always blow off this safety concern so nonchalantly?

Have you even actually been to New York and walked around?
 
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