<p>
To be honest, I would be the same as your parents. However, I was often accused by my child that I always want to put him into a protective “bubble”.</p>
<p>Actually, his college is often accused by some people that it creates a “bubble” so that the students can live relatively safe within this bubble. This includes buying up properties near the campus and turns them into an upscale store so that it would not attract local people who have no business there. (Apple Store or up-scale clothing store is OK, but a pawn shop or “dollar store” is not.)</p>
<p>I heard of this story: About 30 or so years ago, the university hired somebody to help improve the safety of the community near the campus. The first day that the person was in the area to investigate the situation, he got mugged. The school knew that they really needed to be serious about doing something about it. I heard of the same that had been happening in other city as well, including NYC. But many would accuse them of inviting the rich (bankers, financial institutes) into that area and driving out the poor in the past several decades, oftentimes using some questionable means which might borderline discriminate or oppress some ethnic groups. But, hey, NYC is now in a much better shape in its safety.</p>
<p>Since OP is interested in medicine, many older, major hospitals are in a not so safe area in the inner city. OP’s parents may have a lot of worries if OP goes into this career path. Especially in the long training phase of anybody in this career path, the doctor-in-training is required to go to this area often at an odd hours (e.g., late in the evening or very early in the morning.)</p>
<p>Last semester, DS need to go into two “shady” areas (at different cities) where the typical college students would unlikely go into, often times at not so safe hours. This is where the hospitals are at and when the patients need them.</p>
<p>Just in case your driving skill is still not so good, improve your driving skill now so that you would not be afraid of driving into such crowded area/cities.</p>