<p>I recently gained acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania's College of Liberal and Professional Studies. My major is mathematics. I will be attending next semester. I've visited UPenn a few times in the past, but have not really ventured off-campus. Are there certain areas of the city that you recommend I avoid? How is UPenn's campus security? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you’ll be pretty safe on penns campus as long as you exercise normal caution. There are certainly areas of philly that are a little dicey but I imagine you’ll be in center city or the penn campus and both of those are relatively safe for a city. </p>
<p>Penn’s security is top notch. My freshman D has felt comfortable all over University City so far, even at night.</p>
<p>I would be wary of going higher than around 48th street. The only serious crimes I’ve heard of since I’ve been here have actually been in Rittenhouse, the “nice” area, rather than West Philly. So you never know, stuff can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>The biggest crime around Penn is theft of unattended property. So don’t leave your open purse in your grocery cart.</p>
<p>Seriously, use the brains that got you admitted. Don’t walk around using a phone or computer. Pay attention to the people around you. If it’s late, use an escort or the bus or shuttle; all are free.</p>
<p>The University City area is gorgeous and filled with resources. See the directory, Close at Hand, on the websites of University City District and University City Review. (Disclosure: I worked on it.)</p>
<p>Be smart. Read up on articles about how to be safe in a city, any city, if you don’t naturally know.</p>
<p>Bottomline, don’t make yourself an easy mark - being alone, looking like a tourist, out intoxicated, showing your valuables and leaving valuables unattended, etc. Simple stuff.</p>