<p>If you are a current student or parent of one, or just know the area around WashU well, would you comment on it? How safe is it and what kind of stores are within walking distance?</p>
<p>I live 3/4mi south of campus and D is FR in the WUSTL dorms. While growing up, our kids walked to elementary and middle school nearby and never felt unsafe. The areas north and northeast of campus, where many students live, are also quite safe, although problems do occur from time to time, as expected in any semi-urban area. On campus, dorm security is being upgraded in response to an assault that occurred in a dorm room this semester. Although such incidents have been rare, the administration is very serious about reducing them to a minimum. </p>
<p>Stores within walking distance-South of campus along Clayton Road east of Big Bend Ave. there is Walgreen's, Schnucks grocery, Einstein bagels, St. Louis Bread Co (Panera outside of STL), Sprint cellular, among several others. North of campus on Delmar Ave. is the "Loop", which has too many shops, restaurants and funky boutiques to mention, and a great bike store (Big Shark). </p>
<p>A nearby shopping mall (Galleria) and Best Buy can be reached easily by taking Metro (light rail, which is free to all students who register for a semester pass).</p>
<p>Also, the Forest Park is in WUSTL's back yard - free museums, zoo, biking/jogging trails, lake with a boat house, etc.</p>
<p>I am reluctant to allow my son to apply to Wash U because of my perception that St. Louis is unsafe. Am I off base? We live in Austin, Texas and violent crime rarely effects us or our acquaintences.</p>
<p>brimil88 - You are absolutely off base. First WashU is in the suburbs (Clayton - University City) and the area is as safe or safer than Austin. If in doubt visit, before making a decision on faulty info.</p>
<p>brimil88 - My D#2 is a sophomore at WashU. I researched St. Louis crime statistics before she accepted and was appalled. However, the area around the university seems very safe. My understanding is that the high crime statistics are mainly across the river in East St. Louis. Perhaps a native can correct me if I'm wrong. D#2 loves it at WashU, and they were very generous with their scholarship offer. The times I've visited, I've really enjoyed the city!</p>
<p>For those of you that have visited St. Louis and spent the night, any suggestions on affordable and clean hotels near WashU. Also how is the connection from campus to Airport?</p>
<p>When visiting our son, we've stayed at a couple different hotels in Clayton which is just west of campus. There school's website has information regarding hotels nearby: <a href="http://admissions.wustl.edu/admissions/ua.nsf/3rd%20Level%20Pages_Visit%20Us_visit_hotels.htm?OpenPage&charset=iso-8859-1%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.wustl.edu/admissions/ua.nsf/3rd%20Level%20Pages_Visit%20Us_visit_hotels.htm?OpenPage&charset=iso-8859-1</a>. </p>
<p>There is now a metrolink (light rail) stop on campus so you can take the metro from the airport to campus. Some of the hotels offer a shuttle from the airport.</p>
<p>S is freshman at Wash U, the people who have posted positive things about the area around campus are correct. The Loop is great, my S goes running in Forest Park. There is a mall area with all the stores the kids need a couple of minute drive from campus (school runs shuttles there). Clayton is just a nice and ritzy suburb with some really very wonderful houses in the neighborhood around campus (on all sides). These houses are not cheap, people must feel area is safe to be buying there.</p>
<p>As a result of his environment thus far, my son may be relatively naive about where to go and about having a "sixth sense" for potentially dangerous interactions. Is there a way to find historic violent crime statistics involving Wash U students?</p>
<p>You don't need any extra senses to be safe around WUSTL. Five is plenty.</p>
<p>hi. I live off campus and I (and some of my friends as well) have been walking home late at night across delmar where the ghettos are. But I havent got attacked/robbed yet.
At night there is a school security guard on one of those gulf carts at the bridge where a girl got her laptop stolen last year--there are also u city police patrolling the area too. so its relatively safe.</p>
<p>I agree with the above comments. My daughter is a junior and absolutely loves WashU and the surrounding area. I actually just got back from a long weekend visit with her for her birthday. She lived first two years in the dorms on the south 40 and loved it. Now she is just off campus in an apartment on Waterman which is off of Skinker. There is a great coffee shop/restaurant just past the top of her street, Kayaks, which is directly across from campus. We walked to the Loop, which is very eclectic with boutique type stores, restaurants, furniture stores, etc. We also walked to Forest Park which is amazing. I had no idea they had a zoo and art museum in the park, which are both free. I told her she is so lucky to be at a school like WashU and she agreed. There is also the metro which has a stop by Kayaks and will take you close to the Galleria (great shopping mall) if you don't have a car, close to the central West End which has lots of great restaurants, and to the airport easily. And the campus is gorgeous. As far as safety, just like anywhere, you need to be smart and use common sense. She told me about a couple of incidents in the area where she is but those things could happen anywhere.</p>
<p>Hey, I live on Waterman too! Your D and I should get together! LOL :)</p>
<p>My daughter is doing study abroad this semester, but she lived on Waterman last semester and will live there again next fall. My perception, like everyone above, is that the area is both well-kept and safe.</p>
<p>map - my daughter's roommate is studying abroad this semester - she's not your daughter Lisa, is she?</p>
<p>Mom of Alex-</p>
<p>It's a small world! I'll PM you.</p>
<p>the areas around washu are absolutely wonderful. forest park is amazing, clayton one of the ritziest suburbs in st. louis, with great public schools, large stately homes, and a bustling business and entertainment district. DeMun, Pershing/DeBalievere, Clayton, and the Loop are all areas with extensive off campus housing. All have regular partrols by either city or university police as well. Walkways are well lit and peppered with blue light phones. I have never once felt unsafe here, and I have walked or ridden my bike home (to DeMun, south of campus) at all hours of the night.
St. Louis, like any urban area, has its bad areas, but these are far from campus. The crime statistics also include East St. Louis in Illinois, which is a not so safe area. However, this is nearly a half hour away on a major highway.</p>
<p>Im a current high school senior from St. Louis (SLUH) and I am deciding between Tulane in New Orleans or WashU, where I would play football.
Among all things, I live in the neighborhood north of WashU on Washington Ave, which is roughly 5 blocks north. I live one block from the famous Loop area frequented by WashU students and I have been a "Loop Rat" local for over five years and I work there.
WashU is in the perfect location, a full campus in a city environment. YES, there will be crime anywhere, and St. Louis is the most dangerous city (apparently). However, much of the crime takes place in the rougher areas of the city. A student at WashU is not in danger as long as one doesnt venture into the wrong areas.
I have been raised in the Loop (which is probably the "roughest" area aroudn WashU) and have never really had any problems. However, there is occasional excitement. People who shun WashU due to crime are uninformed, St. Louis is a great city and WashU could not be located in a better area.
Fun fact: WashU is located in Clayton, University City, and St. Louis city.</p>