<p>Have read most threads but is Columbia crime overblown or is it really that dangerous? Some of the stuff I read in The State is unreal? I was thinking of transferring to USC from Arkansas... So are students afraid to go out at night? Are off campus apartments in dangerous areas? College shouldnt be prison....</p>
<p>USC isn’t a prison and kids go out at night. In fact, USC has the highest rate of students who go out on Tuesday nights of any school in the country.</p>
<p>Crime is prevalent but it’s all what you’re used to. I also think crime is worse during the summer for some reason. I’ve received probably three times the amount of Carolina Alerts since May than I did all school year. We didn’t even receive one first semester that I can remember.</p>
<p>The key is to be smart. Don’t go out alone at night. (You shouldn’t do this anywhere, anyways.) And don’t be walking around with an iPad or an iPod just asking to be stolen.</p>
<p>If one were to consider buying a house, which neighborhoods within long walking distance/bike ride to campus be the safest and which ones should I stay away from - Granby, Olympia, Hollywood Hill, Rosewood, Shandon, Old Shandon, Waverly, Downtown (north of campus), Arsenal Hill, etc. Are there certain directions that are better than others - N or SE or SW, etc.?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>where did you find that ‘tuesday nights’ stat?</p>
<p>^I think I read it in the Daily Gamecock. I don’t remember precisely though. Wish I could. And Google isn’t helping me out. Sorry. :-/</p>
<p>I feel like it was in an article condemning the party atmosphere at USC and maybe had something to do with the one fraternity student who died from overdosing on something or some other fraternity article, but I really don’t remember.</p>
<p>I grew up in NY Columbia is hardly a rough area. Please. I guess If you grew up around farms and trees maybe but if you’re from a big city no way is it intimidating.</p>
<p>^Heh. My city is the 8th “most dangerous” city in the US and the most dangerous in SC and I find that funny. Although, our crime rate is worse in every category than Los Angeles, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.</p>
<p>I did notice that I felt more comfortable going out at night in Columbia than I did in my hometown, so perhaps there is truth in that.</p>
<p>But really. Columbia isn’t that bad when it comes to crime. There are 30,000 students and it is in the middle of a city, so stuff will naturally happen, but it isn’t really anything that most people are concerned with. Just be smart when you go out, and you shouldn’t have a problem.</p>
<p>Also, USC has things to combat issues like these. There’s a shuttle that runs door to door to most buildings at night until like 12:30 and escort service available after that. There are free cabs available from Five Points on the weekends.There are blue boxes everywhere.</p>
<p>If you google top 100 most dangerous us cities, Columbia is like 90. No where near top 10. Detroit, st Louis, camden, Baltimore, Memphis, flint,Atlantic city, myrtle beach was 14. Columbia was 90.</p>
<p>^My hometown isn’t Columbia. My hometown in South Carolina is a city in the upstate and it’s listed as 8th Most Dangerous in the country.</p>
<p>Sorry for the confusion.</p>
<p>Columbia feels live any other city, not overwhelmingly dangerous, but not overwhelmingly safe. Lock your doors and travel in groups and you should be fine.</p>
<p>This list from about six months ago doesn’t even show Columbia in the top 100 and has five other South Carolina cities in front of Columbia. <a href=“http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/dec/28/spartanburg-ranked-8th-most-dangerous-city-us-ar-2946929/[/url]”>http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/dec/28/spartanburg-ranked-8th-most-dangerous-city-us-ar-2946929/</a></p>
<p>Thanks i enjoy your posts you are informative… So much for au…it was usc in the end huh?</p>
<p>AS I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT BY SPEAKING WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES CRIME STATS TAKEN IN A VACUUM ARE MISLEADING. FOR EXAMPLE CONSIDER THIS STATISTIC FOR THE CITY OF BALTIMORE MD WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS CITY BY MOST CRIME STATS</p>
<p>One columnist at the Baltimore Sun recently described Baltimore as a city of two worlds. It is in the “other world”, the one populated by drug dealers and gangsters, that most murders occur. Those not involved in the drug trade are apparently as unlikely to be murdered in Baltimore as they are in any other civilised city in the world. </p>
<p>Figures seem to suggest that is true. Of the 234 murders last year, 194 of the victims (82 per cent) had criminal records and 163 (70 per cent) had a history of being arrested for drug offences.</p>
<p>BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE DRUG TRADE OR HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, YOUR CHANCES DECLINE EXPONENTIALLY OF BECOMING A VICTIM…</p>
<p>^^Thanks! I try to be helpful. Applying to college can be a daunting task. Luckily there’s about three of us now who are active posters on here to answer an array of questions.</p>
<p>But you’re right. I joined this site in like tenth grade with the intent on going to AU. Come senior year, I looked at the finances and the fact that I felt like I needed to stay closer to home for family health reasons, and ended up not even applying to AU. I applied to USC at the very last minute (as in, I didn’t even consider applying until the six days until the application was due and didn’t get everythign turned in untilt he day it was due.)</p>
<p>USC ended up being the best decision I could have possibly made though. I can’t possibly imagine myself at another school.</p>
<p>Thats so great… Thats when you know its meant to be… Good for you… Cant wait to go there too. I love everything about it and it keeps getting better… They are expanding all the way to the river… The vista is so nice… Businesses are opening everywhere… Just watch what happens in a few more years its going to be exciting… Good luck</p>
<p>Do you know if the garnet riverwalk apartments are ok? Is that a decent location… They seemed nice and not to far, about a mile… Blossom over the bridge to the right… Thanks</p>