Of course not. Girls get preyed on in internships. I was.

I don't think this is crazy if you can get her housing on a campus or something similar. My sister did this in Boston when she was 15 living at MIT for a summer program based in the city. It totally depends on the kids. A lot of kids go to college at 17, if you have a mature 16 year old and the set up is like college (not direct adult supervision but plenty of support if needed) vs just a random place in the city, I think that makes a world of difference.

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would but understand those whose say no.

My 15 year old son hiked for 70 days on the AT 3 years ago.

I refuse to live my life scared.

Thirty seconds is Philly is more dangerous than hiking on that trail.

Absolutely not. That city is a s***hole on stilts.

No. And my kids are super responsible. Still no. You do not have a safe living situation set up, and a 16 year old needs an adult keeping track of them. Stay with a friend or relative I trusted? Sure. Do a program through a college where they live in an adult chaperoned environment and take public transportation? Sure. Rent them a room in a random house in philly? Are you nuts OP? Even if you have the most responsible kid in the world, that could turn into a bad situation fast.

Can they really not take their first pass at interning in DC?

I did this but my sister works at UPenn and let DD stay with her. No way would I have sent DD to live in Philly alone. Sister almost certainly allowed DD more freedom than her dad and I did, but there was still some level of adult supervision.

Yes I would but understand those whose say no.

My 15 year old son hiked for 70 days on the AT 3 years ago.

I refuse to live my life scared.

Anonymous wrote:I live in Philly and I WOULD NOT LET MY 16 year old do this at all. Dont do this- not safe. I sometimes don't feel safe in philly and I am a 26 year old woman.

This!!!!!

No one should be subletting to a sixteen year old. Check with the program and local colleges about student housing or family stays. Train or bus to internship.

OP you are a lunatic

Where in Philadelphia? Driving in many parts of Philly is trying for even experienced drivers, let alone a 16 year old. You have to remember that much of the city was built long before cars existed, so many of the side streets are very, very narrow and then people park their cars along the side, which makes the drivable area of the street even narrower. Add in lots of one way streets and potholes, and it's a tough place to drive for anyone.

Why Philadelphia?

Seriously, why was Philadelphia, a city that is about as economically stable as Flint, Michigan, the potential site for your 16 year old's first time away from home? Are you fed up with her and want her dead in a ditch in some ghetto with a needle sticking out of her arm?

Absolutely not. Who will even rent to a sixteen year old?

I'm from Philadelphia - and I'd err towards saying no - unless you can find her housing at Penn or some other university in the city (maybe Jefferson?) that rents out to students to make money over the summer. It's not the kind of city where I'd just get her an AirBnB by herself - it's not particularly safe, even in the city itself. Where is the internship located? Even if you decide to say yes - absolutely say NO to driving. At 16 she isn't an experienced driver and you'd let her drive in a northeastern city? Not to mention a northeastern city that is not particularly safe??

If t were a college program where she could stay in dorms or some kind of internship geared toward teens that provided housing (with chaperones) for teens I would. I don't think I'd be comfortable letting my 16yo live alone for an extended period. Maybe for a shorter period. I'd probably do it at 17.

GL with your decision. It sounds like a tough one.