<p>Our daughter has narrowed down college choices to Pitt and PSU - heavily leaning towards Pitt. We are heading to Honors admitted program this weekend. Can someone share real feedback about campus safety and crime in the town of Oakland? Whenever we speak with someone about Pitt, we get comments about safety issues, break ins, etc.. Is it a safe campus??</p>
<p>It is a city, and as such there is some crime. If you take the necessary precautions (don’t walk alone at night down a back street, etc.) you’ll be fine. </p>
<p>There’s usually a couple muggings / break-ins a year, in addition to a shooting every few years, although it’s almost always in the same areas (certain parts of South Oakland, a residential area). </p>
<p>All in all, if you don’t live on those particular back streets and don’t wander around on said streets by yourself late at night, you’ll be fine. The main areas (Forbes and Fifth) are perfectly fine at night, as is Upper Campus. There are a ton of police officers around as well as safety call boxes.</p>
<p>Just don’t live on Mc Kee or Meyran Ave when you move off-campus.</p>
<p>As someone who used to live in a suburban town I thought the city was going to be scary, but it’s not. Most of the people you see walking around you can tell are students, staff, and faculty. I don’t usually see any shady figures around. It might be different in other parts of Pittsburgh, but the Pitt campus is pretty safe.</p>
<p>I am a parent, not a student. But my daughter feels reasonably safe on campus. The Towers dorms (where many freshmen live) have very high security. The entrances to each tower are staffed by guards, and students have to show their IDs to get in, and they also have to sign visitors in AND out. So it’s not possible for a student to be followed in by someone. I don’t know how the other dorms are. I believe my daughter’s current on-campus apartment has an attended lobby.</p>
<p>Pitt has its own security force, and those blue-light emergency call boxes are all over campus.</p>
<p>One comment I would make is that the streets in Pittsburgh in general seem to be very dark. I live in NYC, and our streets are lit up like a Christmas tree in comparison. I think I read that Pittsburgh is moving to install brighter LEDs. That would be a good idea.</p>
<p>I agree with the comment that you have to realize you’re in a city and take reasonable precautions. I would say that getting drunk and wandering around the city in an inebriated state would be tops on the list of no-nos!</p>
<p>You can check crime statistics for any college here:</p>
<p>[Campus</a> Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool Website](<a href=“Campus Safety and Security”>Campus Safety and Security)</p>
<p>i agree with the other responses. however, the streets are usually filled with people at all times- students and workers(given the proximity to the hospitals). the students are comfortable walking the campus at nite as there is always activity. An isolated campus, off the beaten path can be dangerous and pose risks, as well. The campus police at Pitt do a fine job. Also, there is always security available or shuttles to drive the kids back to their dorms late at nite.</p>
<p>Here’s a Pitt service that will pick up students if they are stranded and can’t get back to campus:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.pc.pitt.edu/transportation/saferider.html]SafeRider[/url”>http://www.pc.pitt.edu/transportation/saferider.html]SafeRider[/url</a>]</p>
<p>DD has lost cell phone twice and wallet once: returned every time. I couldn’t believe it.</p>
<p>SafeRider is very slow.</p>
<p>DD = Distracted Daughter? :)</p>
<p>Hahaha. Yeah, that too. Darling, delightful, distracted. Pick one.</p>
<p>We visited campus this weekend and didn’t see on police or security person the whole time despite reassurances that Pitt has it’s own police force. Interesting.</p>
<p>We were there yesterday for the accepted students day and saw several during the tours. Also there was a ton of police officers in front of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall (accident and utility pole repair). Additionally in the reception area at the Student Union there was a table wheret Pitt’s Chief of Security was answering questions.</p>
<p>rbcmhughes and aglages–Our flight was cancelled and so we couldn’t go to Accepted Student Day. Can you give your general impressions (sorry to hijack the thread–maybe you can start a new one?)</p>
<p>You are right - I did chat with the chief of security at the morning reception.</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend the admitted student visit. Our daughter has also been accepted to the Honors program, but we couldn’t make any of the honors event dates - they are on Friday’s and given that we live 6 hours away, too difficult to coordinate. This was our second visit to Pitt. We did the lower campus tour during our first visit, but did the tour again this time. We also did the upper campus tour - we almost didn’t do the upper campus tour, but am glad we did as we understand that many sophomores reside in upper campus. We only attended one of the sessions for school of Arts and Sciences. Our son is freshman at University of DE, so we are familiar with financial aid process, etc… and want to spend as much time getting a feel for living on campus as possible. This visit we did eat in the dining hall in the Towers to experience food - it was pretty good. If you haven’t done a tour of downtown Pittsburgh before, do take advantage of the bus tour, too. Do try and walk downtown on Forbes and check out shops and restaurants. All in all, Pitt continues to be a top contender for our daughter!</p>
<p>lurknessmonster - very helpful info - thank you!</p>
<p>I can’t wait to go to Honors Day. My husband took my son the first time, now it’s my turn to get the tour. I vaguely remember it from when my older son applied 3 years ago (but didn’t get in)</p>