done!

[theagonyofblank]

SO! I took my DATs (Dental Admission Test) on Saturday, and I did okay, I guess - but the point is that I'M DONE! (And you guys, the entire world was against me taking this test. I'm FOR SRS).

Comments

[hmsharmony]

I don't live in Baltimore, but I'm only forty minutes away and hear about it enough. Baltimore is pretty liberal from what I've gathered (it's been a Democratic stronghold for the past 150 years), so in terms of homophobia you should be fine. Baltimore is one of our biggest cities, so the night life, as you can imagine, is pretty stellar. There's tons to do, and you're also right on the water.

Safety, however...if you live in a certain part of Baltimore it is bad. I mean REALLY bad. But other parts are perfectly safe. It's just like any city, really. I'm not sure WHERE in Baltimore is safe/not safe, but if you look it up I'm sure you'll find what you need.

[theagonyofblank]

All right! Thanks! I'll look into the safety thing.

I'm not sure I'm going to be applying to the dent school there yet, but I figure I might as well ask about the city. I've visited once, to see Georgetown back when I was still in high school, and the area around it was a little rough (I think?), but it was pretty vibrant nonetheless.

[mayireadtoday]

If you're looking at Penn's dental school, the campus area is generally safeish. However, just a few blocks away can be not so safe. At least that's how it was a few years ago. I would look through Penn's newspaper (http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/) to see if there's been problems lately. Look at the articles from September to May, which is when school is in session.

I'm don't know anything about the level of homophobia. I do know that there's a "gay area" of Philly where many places fly the rainbow flag. It's the area where the bar in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is -- or at least where the bar was in the pilot episode. I would track down the pilot episode to see shots of what that area looks like. There are brownstones in that area -- I don't know how expensive though.

[theagonyofblank]

Thank you for the tips!

I'll look out for that. :D

[theagonyofblank]

Thank you!! :)

And I've heard very nice things about Boston. (I have a friend at Tufts and another at BU). Strongly considering Tufts - but it's more about whether they will have me or not.

[theagonyofblank]

Thank you! Hee.

[takethisstep]

Milwaukee's not bad. Marquette, however, is another story. I mean, it's okay, and there are plenty of gays and gay-friendly people, but the recent hubbub over the hiring and then immediate firing (paraphrasing, but google "Marquette and Jodi O'Brien" for more info) makes me question whether the university is fully committed to the changes and welcoming atmosphere that Fr. Wild promoted during his tenure as President. And, he's leaving within a year or two. Staff water-cooler gossip is currently of the opinion that the new President will be a very conservative and traditional Catholic, because for the next five years or so, we're going to be the graveyard where bad academicians and small-minded people come to teach.

[theagonyofblank]

Are you part of the staff/prof at Marquette? Student? TA?

Hmm. If that's the case, I might strike Marquette off my list... Thanks for the heads up!