Tell me about Drexel University

[Anonymous]

Ds wants to apply to the business school. He has a 3.79 gpa. He likes the co-op program they offer. Is Philadelphia safe?

[Anonymous]

weighted, unweighted? public? Private? AP courses? what subjects? test scores? We toured but DD didn't think it was safe. The campus is spread out and doesn't have a centralized feel.

[Anonymous]

We liked the co-op but it was too expensive for us.

[Anonymous]

We toured Drexel and loved the buildings. I was surprised because I didn’t have high expectations. I did not get the feeling it was dangerous but I can’t say for sure. It’s not an enclosed campus and the buildings blend into the city (and University of Pennsylvania which is a few blocks away). My son doesn’t like the co-op idea, otherwise he would have applied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:weighted, unweighted? public? Private? AP courses? what subjects? test scores? We toured but DD didn't think it was safe. The campus is spread out and doesn't have a centralized feel.

Ok here: unweighted at Jackson Reed, 3 ap classes, not very good at test taking..1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ds wants to apply to the business school. He has a 3.79 gpa. He likes the co-op program they offer. Is Philadelphia safe?

Drexel is safe. It’s right next to upenn.

[Anonymous]

He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

[Anonymous]

They are pretty stingy with aid and it is $$$$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

When were you in Philly? Your assessment hasn't been accurate in decades. I went to Penn, my kids go to Penn, and two of my siblings live in Philly, each not far from Penn or Drexel.

It's a city, so if you're scared of cities (I realize that lots of DC urban mom people are actually suburban or exurban parents afraid to come into even DC), you'll be scared. But there's no reason to be.

Drexel butts up against Penn. The two campuses are literally next to each other. And Penn has grown so large and taken over and redeveloped so many blocks and blocks of Philly that much of West Philly is either Penn, property owned by Penn, or businesses dependent on Penn or being incubated by Penn. On the other sides of Drexel are the river and across it a fairly expensive part of center city, and on the other end 30th Street Station, which has become a center of another area of amazing development.

As a result of all that Penn and the city put into this area, there are jobs galore, especially tech, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and design. It is attracting lots of young workers, with center city Philly now having a more vibrant vibe than DC. Over the past decade, Philly is jokingly referred to as the New Brooklyn or the sixth borough. It would be a great place to do a coop.

I would say that Drexel has a lot of similarities to Northeastern, with both having a coop program as its core. The key differences are: Drexel is the real deal on STEM and design-- it's what they do-- but Drexel until recently didn't do the full blown marketing job that Northeastern has done to polish its reputation.

My suggestion is that, if your child wants a coop, likes STEM or design, and wants to be in a youth- focused, dynamic city that is only two hours away (and about three blocks from Amtrak), then Drexel is a great choice. At this point, if that was my child, I'd pick Drexel over Northeastern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

When were you in Philly? Your assessment hasn't been accurate in decades. I went to Penn, my kids go to Penn, and two of my siblings live in Philly, each not far from Penn or Drexel.

It's a city, so if you're scared of cities (I realize that lots of DC urban mom people are actually suburban or exurban parents afraid to come into even DC), you'll be scared. But there's no reason to be.

Drexel butts up against Penn. The two campuses are literally next to each other. And Penn has grown so large and taken over and redeveloped so many blocks and blocks of Philly that much of West Philly is either Penn, property owned by Penn, or businesses dependent on Penn or being incubated by Penn. On the other sides of Drexel are the river and across it a fairly expensive part of center city, and on the other end 30th Street Station, which has become a center of another area of amazing development.

As a result of all that Penn and the city put into this area, there are jobs galore, especially tech, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and design. It is attracting lots of young workers, with center city Philly now having a more vibrant vibe than DC. Over the past decade, Philly is jokingly referred to as the New Brooklyn or the sixth borough. It would be a great place to do a coop.

I would say that Drexel has a lot of similarities to Northeastern, with both having a coop program as its core. The key differences are: Drexel is the real deal on STEM and design-- it's what they do-- but Drexel until recently didn't do the full blown marketing job that Northeastern has done to polish its reputation.

My suggestion is that, if your child wants a coop, likes STEM or design, and wants to be in a youth- focused, dynamic city that is only two hours away (and about three blocks from Amtrak), then Drexel is a great choice. At this point, if that was my child, I'd pick Drexel over Northeastern.

and if that was my child, I'd pick Northeastern over MIT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

When were you in Philly? Your assessment hasn't been accurate in decades. I went to Penn, my kids go to Penn, and two of my siblings live in Philly, each not far from Penn or Drexel.

It's a city, so if you're scared of cities (I realize that lots of DC urban mom people are actually suburban or exurban parents afraid to come into even DC), you'll be scared. But there's no reason to be.

Drexel butts up against Penn. The two campuses are literally next to each other. And Penn has grown so large and taken over and redeveloped so many blocks and blocks of Philly that much of West Philly is either Penn, property owned by Penn, or businesses dependent on Penn or being incubated by Penn. On the other sides of Drexel are the river and across it a fairly expensive part of center city, and on the other end 30th Street Station, which has become a center of another area of amazing development.

As a result of all that Penn and the city put into this area, there are jobs galore, especially tech, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and design. It is attracting lots of young workers, with center city Philly now having a more vibrant vibe than DC. Over the past decade, Philly is jokingly referred to as the New Brooklyn or the sixth borough. It would be a great place to do a coop.

I would say that Drexel has a lot of similarities to Northeastern, with both having a coop program as its core. The key differences are: Drexel is the real deal on STEM and design-- it's what they do-- but Drexel until recently didn't do the full blown marketing job that Northeastern has done to polish its reputation.

My suggestion is that, if your child wants a coop, likes STEM or design, and wants to be in a youth- focused, dynamic city that is only two hours away (and about three blocks from Amtrak), then Drexel is a great choice. At this point, if that was my child, I'd pick Drexel over Northeastern.

and if that was my child, I'd pick Northeastern over MIT

Other than shrewdly focusing on playing the USNWR ratings game for a couple decades, Northeastern has nothing to offer over Drexel. And at this point, I'd rather be in the Philly job market (and less than an hour to midtown Manhattan) for a coop than in Boston and a region in decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

When were you in Philly? Your assessment hasn't been accurate in decades. I went to Penn, my kids go to Penn, and two of my siblings live in Philly, each not far from Penn or Drexel.

It's a city, so if you're scared of cities (I realize that lots of DC urban mom people are actually suburban or exurban parents afraid to come into even DC), you'll be scared. But there's no reason to be.

Drexel butts up against Penn. The two campuses are literally next to each other. And Penn has grown so large and taken over and redeveloped so many blocks and blocks of Philly that much of West Philly is either Penn, property owned by Penn, or businesses dependent on Penn or being incubated by Penn. On the other sides of Drexel are the river and across it a fairly expensive part of center city, and on the other end 30th Street Station, which has become a center of another area of amazing development.

As a result of all that Penn and the city put into this area, there are jobs galore, especially tech, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and design. It is attracting lots of young workers, with center city Philly now having a more vibrant vibe than DC. Over the past decade, Philly is jokingly referred to as the New Brooklyn or the sixth borough. It would be a great place to do a coop.

I would say that Drexel has a lot of similarities to Northeastern, with both having a coop program as its core. The key differences are: Drexel is the real deal on STEM and design-- it's what they do-- but Drexel until recently didn't do the full blown marketing job that Northeastern has done to polish its reputation.

My suggestion is that, if your child wants a coop, likes STEM or design, and wants to be in a youth- focused, dynamic city that is only two hours away (and about three blocks from Amtrak), then Drexel is a great choice. At this point, if that was my child, I'd pick Drexel over Northeastern.

and if that was my child, I'd pick Northeastern over MIT

Other than shrewdly focusing on playing the USNWR ratings game for a couple decades, Northeastern has nothing to offer over Drexel. And at this point, I'd rather be in the Philly job market (and less than an hour to midtown Manhattan) for a coop than in Boston and a region in decline.

yes sure seriously my kid chose Northeastern over MIT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

When were you in Philly? Your assessment hasn't been accurate in decades. I went to Penn, my kids go to Penn, and two of my siblings live in Philly, each not far from Penn or Drexel.

It's a city, so if you're scared of cities (I realize that lots of DC urban mom people are actually suburban or exurban parents afraid to come into even DC), you'll be scared. But there's no reason to be.

Drexel butts up against Penn. The two campuses are literally next to each other. And Penn has grown so large and taken over and redeveloped so many blocks and blocks of Philly that much of West Philly is either Penn, property owned by Penn, or businesses dependent on Penn or being incubated by Penn. On the other sides of Drexel are the river and across it a fairly expensive part of center city, and on the other end 30th Street Station, which has become a center of another area of amazing development.

As a result of all that Penn and the city put into this area, there are jobs galore, especially tech, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and design. It is attracting lots of young workers, with center city Philly now having a more vibrant vibe than DC. Over the past decade, Philly is jokingly referred to as the New Brooklyn or the sixth borough. It would be a great place to do a coop.

I would say that Drexel has a lot of similarities to Northeastern, with both having a coop program as its core. The key differences are: Drexel is the real deal on STEM and design-- it's what they do-- but Drexel until recently didn't do the full blown marketing job that Northeastern has done to polish its reputation.

My suggestion is that, if your child wants a coop, likes STEM or design, and wants to be in a youth- focused, dynamic city that is only two hours away (and about three blocks from Amtrak), then Drexel is a great choice. At this point, if that was my child, I'd pick Drexel over Northeastern.

Well said. My husband and I went to Penn and would send our kid there when they are off the college in a few years. I don’t know much about Drexel but safety would not be a primary concern. The area has only improved since I was there 20+ years ago. Good luck to your family, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

This isn’t true any more, sounds like you haven’t been back in decades. Penn and Drexel have bought up most of the surrounding area and it is safe. I wouldn’t wander a mile or so away in certain directions but wouldn’t have any concern about the safety of my student on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will most likely be safe but that area is not safe. Drexel and Upenn are in a terrible location (I’m from philly). They are great schools in the midst of a challenged neighborhood. But for the most part they are in their own little world and he will he fine.

This isn’t true any more, sounds like you haven’t been back in decades. Penn and Drexel have bought up most of the surrounding area and it is safe. I wouldn’t wander a mile or so away in certain directions but wouldn’t have any concern about the safety of my student on campus.

On a recent tour, one of our tour guides pointed out a Wawa that was about half way between the dragon statue thingy and the computer science building and told us that a couple of armed robberies have happened there recently and to avoid that store at night or late hours, but otherwise the area is generally safe.