<p>I have visited Wesleyan and Middletown several times over the past five years starting when oldest D was there for a JHU/CTY program as a sophomore in high school, then when she visited the school twice (she is at Brown now) and twice with S who will be a freshman at Wes this fall, and none of us never had a bad reaction to Middletown. We like the real town feel to Middletown, understanding that there are “bad” parts of town, and that some caution is warranted, especially at night. We like the part of Main Street that is just down the hill from campus. We have had great meals at a few restaurants there, and walked around at night feeling completely safe. Like any urban campus (we felt a little uneasy visiting Yale in New Haven), there are occasionally crime incidents involving town residents. But that is something I am not really worried about.</p>
<p>S has already signed up for community service outing during Orientation with the North End Action Team.</p>
<p>We live in “idyllic rural New England” so my kids were not interested in a similar prep school-type setting.</p>
<p>But yes, to each his/her own.</p>