<p>sorry if it has already been posted or asked...</p>
<p>I have a problem. Though I haven't been accepted to USC yet, my dad immediately shot down my idea of attending the school if I do get accepted and can go just because of the location of the school. </p>
<p>Although he doesn't know 1 thing about the school, he's already labeling it completely as "unsafe". He thinks it will be in the west-side of LA with no security whatsoever and from what I heard, even though it isn't in beverly hills, security isn't bad.</p>
<p>Does anybody have any hard data regarding this issue, so I can show him ?, I can't seem to find any in their website... thanks</p>
<p>It's very safe if you stay smart. Just like anywhere. Because there is a myth about USC that it is unsafe, it is actually safer- there is better security system in place than other schools. </p>
<p>Anecdotally: We would never allow our daughter to go to school somewhere we perceive as unsafe, and we're completely comfortable with her attending USC. Our perspective changed after a visit to the campus; among other things you will see for yourself what the campus and neighborhood are like and how proactive security is. If at all possible I urge you to visit. Past threads here have also included various studies on safety.</p>
<p>Some stats are interesting. E.g. Stanford (~18,000 students) has worse stats that CSULB (~33,000 students). There is also a lot more burglaries at Stanford that at USC (~32,000 students). But no one worries about sending their kid to Stanford. Berkeley's stats don't look too good either, but no one worries about Berkeley. Heck, there's almost as many burglaries and a lot more motor vehicle thefts at UCI and you never hear anyone worry about Irvine. </p>
<p>(Maybe this is mean, but sometimes other applicants bad-mouth USC because they don't want others to apply and fill the pool with too many applicants!)</p>
<p>Nice info cc411, thanks a lot. I also think that USC gets LA's bad rep when it comes to security, they don't judge it by the school's own security measurements. It is hard for me to believe a university of that caliber would have security issues... I agree with you though on the applicants bad-mouthing the school, like that's going to help them get in. If you get rejected it's because of your own fault, not because others are applying...</p>
<p>wow there seems to be a lot of rapes....
that's not too reassuring</p>
<p>that's ok, I'm a guy, way harder to get raped lol.</p>
<p>Thanks PBK Mom for your insights. I guess we could always do a visit if I do get accepted and there's a serious chance I can go. My parents have a couple of friends in LA and sacramento, and one of their daughters was also applying to USC, so I guess I can tell him to talk to them too.</p>
<p>On campus is very very very safe, even in the middle of the night.</p>
<p>With regards to the rapes, I'm pretty sure that it isn't outside people committing the rapes, rather they are typically student to student. Not that that's any better for the victim, but I don't think this is reflective of the safety of the surrounding area.</p>
<p>If anything ever DOES go wrong, DPS is there in a flash with their 2 minute average response time. </p>
<p>I personally observed the quick response time a few months ago when a lady got into a rather heated argument with her cab driver right inside the gates of campus. She smacked the hood of the car and things seemed to be escalating so I guess DPS was notified at that time. A DPS car arrived on seen within the minute, and swarm more came soon afterwards.</p>
<p>Anyway, the campus is perfectly fine. Alone at night 6 blocks from campus...ehh not so much.</p>
<p>takeme2cali...I don't think there are a lot of reported cases of girls walking in groups getting raped, lol. Even groups of petite girls. </p>
<p>Then again I pretty much don't walk anywhere alone because I'm a herd animal. Maybe if you're more inclined to be chilling solo at midnight you should be worried...haha.</p>
<p>I've never really felt unsafe on campus. DPS is everywhere... it's almost impossible to walk anywhere on campus for 15 seconds and not see a DPS car or officer. Not to mention that there are blue emergency call lights scattered all throughout campus. Campus Cruiser is also available if you don't want to walk back from a party by yourself or something like that.</p>
<p>Even when you walk on Figueroa or anywhere surrounding campus, as long as you're not walking by yourself (why would you be walking by yourself in the middle of a large city anyway?), you shouldn't feel unsafe at all. Just be sensible (flashing a brand new Chanel purse while talking on your cellphone... probably not the best idea), and even petite girls should be just fine ;)</p>
<p>lol, okie...
but what about if you were to go into LA for nightlife (with some other people of course) and you're walking back to the campus late at night? Do people do this often? Or do they take cabs or something?</p>
<p>There's no 'LA nightlife' within walking distance of campus, so you'd need to drive or take the bus or something. The stuff within walking distance is apartment parties, the Row, and the 9-0.</p>
<p>Sorry ForToto if I came through as "insensitive", I was just stating a fact. I never implied I was happy or didn't care about rapes going on there, just a simple fact...</p>
<p>While it is LA and thus can't be completely safe, the biggest problem is with security inside the school (where I will be living). As long as the school is in good shape security-wise, I can't ask for more. </p>
<p>"D" walks back from the library a lot at night (and alone). She has to walk across the street to get to her room. She says there's a lot of people but I still don't like the fact she is walking back alone. I bought her some pepper spray for Christmas and asked her if she carries it with her now, and she said no because she doesn't know how to use it. I told her I believe it's just point and shoot. Ahhh sometimes I wonder.......</p>
<p>At first, my mother DID NOT want me to go to USC because it was so far away (I live in the South near the east coast), but she said as soon as she saw the campus and after my dad and i took the tour, she felt much better. she was still reluctant, but now that i've been accepted, she feels like it's the right choice, and i'm going to be fine</p>
<p>USC is just like any other school, it's not extremely unsafe nor extremely safe. It doesn't matter where you are, you have to be smart about self-protection.</p>