<p>It can be pretty ghetto to the south, west, and east of campus, but North University Park is not bad at all. There are locals interspersed throughout the mostly student-populated area north of campus, but they respect the university. There is a gate around the campus, but it doesn’t suggest a maximum-security prison-like area. On campus is very secure and safe. DPS (Dept. of Public Safety) constantly patrols the campus and the surrounding area.</p>
<p>It may seem a little scary at first, especially to those who have never been in an urban setting before, but most students live off-campus after the first year (whether in USC or private housing) and most become more or less comfortable with the area (as comfortable as you can be in an urban setting). Just keep your city smarts about you and don’t go walking alone at night. Where I live off campus it’s quiet (in other words, no sirens, no gunshots) at night.</p>
<p>And since you mentioned Bloods, Crips, and Snoop Dogg, might I also remind you that South Central (and the rest of LA) is now mostly Hispanic, not black. LA has a very different feeling compared to other major cities in which the dominant minority is black. Gangs, although there are some nearby, do not bother USC students. I know I’m probably not making it seem all picture-perfect, because it isn’t, but too many people make USC out to be in some war zone when it isn’t.</p>