First of all, Congratulations! That's a great question though. I was awarded to study in Ankara, so it's not a factor for me. Have you contacted your affiliate or the program reps in Istanbul? They might be able to provide some assurance that you will be relatively safe. I say "relatively" because no place in the world is truly safe. For what it's worth; I was in Istanbul in November and never felt unsafe. I walked all over, talked to a lot people, and never hid my nationality. Herkes çok sevgiliperverdi!
