<p>I just watched a video on Campus Safety in Health and boy was it scary! It talked about a hazing death at MIT, a murder at lehigh, rapes at UMinnesota, etc. I was just wondering how someone could truly know how safe campuses are? I know viewbooks may say they have a "light" system, etc. but I guess I am just a little curious now. I really didn't think about "Campus Safety" when applying to schools. How big of a factor should it be?</p>
<p>I wouldn't eliminate a school based on stats for campus safety, but instead use the information in the video to help you learn safe behavior wherever you go. I would imagine that was the point of showing the video.</p>
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<p>If you want to do some research on the subject, the US Dept of Education has a website where you can look up crime statistics for each school you're interested in. Colleges are required to report this information yearly. You can find this info on the OPE Campus Security Statistics Website: <a href="http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.asp%5B/url%5D">http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.asp</a></p>
<p>If you define safety as having zero crimes committed on campus, you won't find such a place. A college campus is a heavily populated place usually, and crimes will happen - its a fact of life. As has been said before, don't discount any school because of stats on crime or safety unless it is a ridiculous amount. Usually things happen when someone hasn't taken proper precautions - closing a door, for example. I'm sure other schools have campus safety officers, if not a police dept. on campus, and have other resources available. You can be as safe as you want to be.</p>
<p>Just be sensible no matter where you are, and you shouldn't have much of a problem imho...</p>
<p>I guess rainbow kirby said it best, you've got to be sensible and use your best judgment no matter where you go.</p>
<p>My own 2 cents: looking up the college crime statistics is a good idea, but only use it for research like the poster who gave the link suggested. Maybe use it as a starting point for comparison, but not as a final deciding factor because you aren't going to find a campus with 0 crimes.</p>
<p>If visiting is possible for you, its probably one of the best things to do so you can get a feel for the campus yourself, and ask current students questions about any concerns you might have.</p>
<p>a few street smarts to mix in with the book smarts will go a long way.</p>
<p>but if you don't feel comfortable on a campus, you shouldn't go to that school.</p>