CharlieTakesMFA

I just want to note that poverty was created and manufactured by white people

I just want to note that poverty was created and manufactured by white people

I just want to note that poverty was created and manufactured by white people

I just want to note that poverty was created and manufactured by white people

I just want to note that poverty was created and manufactured by white people

I'm going to add on to what tonydoesmovie and mbiochem have said. I'm a Baltimore native, I did undergrad @ Hopkins Homewood, and I'm currently living in the area. I live ~15 min walk from the campus, and I've never felt unsafe walking to and from my home even if it's really really late at night. I could seriously write an entire novel about how much I LOVE the city of Baltimore. I think it's the perfect city for a grad student: really really affordable, a myriad of cool things to do (for when you're not in lab!), easy to get around, close to a bunch of other cool cities (DC 1 hr, Philly 1.5 hrs, NYC 3.5 hrs) etc etc etc. Don't let "everyone" scare you about Baltimore, especially if that "everyone" hasn't experienced living here. 

When you say "everyone" warns you about the Baltimore crime rates, who are they? I'm not here to be a Baltimore crime-apologist, but I'm irked as a resident when people make claims without properly sourced information. Baltimore is like any major city: there are areas and pockets of crime, and varying levels of crime within those areas. Familiarity with the area helps guide where one should or should not go. A sweeping generalization from someone like my dad, whose father was a police captain for years in Baltimore no less, who says things like, "Why would you go there? Are you looking to get shot?" Well, no, because I stay out of those areas as best I can. And yes, even in the good areas, there is crime, but again, that is any major metro area.