Temple University

Commuting is not a good idea. I live on campus, but those who commute are late to class due to traffic/public transportation and also miss out on social aspects of college life. Also, Temple has certain things they like to hide on the tour. Yes, the campus is safe-during the day, where there are Temple flags. As soon as you cross Broad street, campus security is no longer responsible for you. Their security, no matter what they tell people about it, is seriously lacking. Walking four blocks from campus, I was held at gunpoint for money. Unless you don't plan to leave your dorm at night for four years, Temple is not a good idea. I was asked in broad daylight for some of my prescription while filling it a block from the Liacouras center at RiteAid. The local neighbors regularly come on campus and try to talk to you, which makes walking alone (if you're female especially) a nightmare at times. There are no gates they close at night that keep anyone out-anyone can walk onto campus. Also, the dorms are in terrible shape, at least the one I live in. A short list of problems is rats running wild, drunk security guards at the building entrances (they do have 24 hour security. It's just drunk 24 hour security.), fire drills at all hours of the morning, and I mean all hours (it could be 3 am), because people come back drunk and burn the popcorn, and the entire building is evacuated for the next hour until they defuse the "burning" popcorn, lacking building maintenence (a few weeks ago an elevator fell about five stories, but stopped before the ground floor), bugs breeding in public indoor trash cans, a public kitchen for the dorm with no soap or sponges to wash the dishes, so they are left unwashed to breed disease...the list goes on. Drinking is a big part of campus life. I didn't expect to drink when I moved to Temple; I actually intended to not drink. However, when you're at a party and everyone else is drinking, after a while you start to do it too. Also, people do a lot of pot smoking outside on campus and the Temple cops don't say a word. People sit outside smoking pot or stand outside a building with it and the Temple police don't stop them, take it, anything. A larger problem than this, though, is roofies on campus. At any frat party there is most likely roofies. All drinks labeled girls-only should be avoided, and drinks put down should not be picked back up. A disturbing number of people have had roofies put in their drinks, and it's only October. If you go to a party, there is drinking and drugs all around you, and smoking, so you breathe in the second hand smoke. You also run the risk of getting "busted," though Temple cops just make you leave and dump your beer on the way out. If you stay in the dorms, there is absolutely nothing to do. It's a lose-lose situation. Basically; the security is seriously lacking, which is ironic considering it's a major point of their tours, and their dorms are a disgusting place to be. The lights they have for security at night are burned out in certain places and were never replaced.

The classes are good. Class sizes are small usually, and if it's a major core class, the class feels small. It never seems like a large school or like a large class. There are some great classes at Temple and some great people. I have a lot of friends who I see all the time, even when we don't have class together.

Temple is one of the best schools for diversity you can find. I'm currently working on learning more languages because it seems like I'm the only one there speaking english. Everyone speaks it, and everyone speaks it in class, but outside the classroom there are many different languages being spoken. I love the diversity we have here, and I wish we had even more, if that's even possible. The cafeteria food is not great, but it isn't too bad. I'm glad I didn't go to Drexel, even with the things Temple needs to work on.Temple just has some major weak points to work on, as discussed above.

1st Year Female -- Class 2008

Individual Value: A, Campus Maintenance: F