<p>Check out this article from the Daily Trojan regarding gangs...there is some real concern. My Grandmother just told me that she had a friend whose daughter went to USC 10 years ago and was murdered! I think this is something to consider.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2005/04/28/News/Three.Gangs.Around.Usc.Area-94%5B/url%5D">http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2005/04/28/News/Three.Gangs.Around.Usc.Area-94</a>
2822.shtml</p>
<p>The last numbers got cut off. Interesting article. I remember reading in the Los Angeles Times magazine about Joe Jones, a 16 year old involved with the Fruit Town Brims. I hope nothing tragic happens to me involving gangs.</p>
<p>Yea, gangs and crimes around USC are the most downside of the university. security really concerns me.</p>
<p>BTW, is it safer to drive than walk? if driving is safer, i think i will get a second-hand car after my freshmen year.</p>
<p>But hey, we're the Beverly Hills of South Los Angeles! :)</p>
<p>uschicka...are you being paid to post...or does this count as credit for your major? I have noticed that you are the major TROUBLESHOOTER on the web site....not too discrete after all. I'm sure others have noticed. A month ago, I was torn between UCLA and USC. Now, it is not an issue. Thought it would be important to point out the security concern to those who are still trying to decide.</p>
<p>I was joking, candid. I think it's pretty funny that they think of USC like that. That's all. I wasn't trying to discredit the fact that the area around USC is not the greatest.</p>
<p>And no, I am not being paid to do this, nor am I getting credit. Wow. I just try to help where I can, and, if I must admit, this gives me a major source of procrastination. </p>
<p>I just happen to think USC is a great school, and that it gets shot down too much on here. I just try to show an insider's perspective, other than some random kid that says "Ooo, USC sucks! It's in the worst area ever!" </p>
<p>Gosh.</p>
<p>candid, relax. uschika is like the best sources of usc info on these boards. she's really nice and always helpful. don't be mean. there's no reason to make a comment like that. i know she has helped me with some info. i wish all schools had someone as nice and honest as her to post.</p>
<p>^^^I totally agree. uschicka is the most informative about usc and is extremely nice about it. trojangirlie on the other hand...</p>
<p>The biggest problem for me about University Park was not criminal activity, it was that there's simply not much to DO in the immediate area other than go to Expo Park for the museums and if there's something going on at the Coliseum or Sports Arena (which is to say, not very often other than USC events). If you consider LA in general, there is more to do than probably anywhere else in the country except NYC, but that involves driving and traffic, or LONG trips on public transportation. There's just nowhere else you can WALK and do something interesting. Having a car was the most critically important thing about going to USC for me.</p>
<p>i dont think gangs are a big deal in LA. they generally just kill each other. if a rich white person somehow ends up dead he was probably involved in drugs and what not. i'd say the biggest concern your gonna have is if your a girl(rape). but just dont walk out at night alone.</p>
<p>other than that stay out of bad neighborhoods and everyone should be fine.</p>
<p>I've never had any problems with gangs either...nor do I feel unsafe at USC. In fact, I always get hasseled by a lot more bums in Westwood than around SC. And, I am a girl, and have never had any problems even when I did walk at night.</p>
<p>But, based on how rude candid was later in the post, I would say please feel free to go to Ucla. We don't even want you.</p>
<p>Staples Centers is near, KissingtheShadows!</p>
<p>People who do not have common sense and isn't streetsmart should not go to USC. USC is as safe as any other school if you know what you are doing.</p>
<p>Thanks for sticking up for me guys. :)</p>
<p>USC definitely isn't the safest place in the world. It also isn't the ghetto. I do not feel unsafe here, and I am a girl from a middle-to-upper class background. All you should do is try not to go out alone at night, and be aware of your surroundings, and you'll be fine. I have to admit that I have walked around at night by myself multiple times (although I know I shouldn't do it), and nothing has ever happened. I am not saying nothing COULD happen, nor am I trying to advocate for girls to go out by themselves at night. I'm just saying that it's not so bad where everytime you step out the door, you'll be attacked.</p>
<p>And KissingtheShadows: I have never been bored while at USC. I mean, there have been times when I'm doing my homework, and I'm bored of the work, and I want to go out and do something, but I have never been bored because there is nothing to do. And I don't have a car.</p>
<p>chicka, I'm glad you haven't been bored, but it sounds like you're into the whole Greek/party scene, which I wasn't. My social life at USC was a disaster zone, so I had to entertain myself.</p>
<p>KissingtheShadows- I didn't know you actually went to USC. Did you graduate, or did you transfer? I'm sorry you didn't have that great of a time. </p>
<p>I actually haven't been active in the Greek scene at all this year, btw. But, party scene, I guess, sure.</p>
<p>LA has gangs thats a simple fact of the matter, i'm sure students at Columbia or even NYU have to deal with the same thing at times, even though new york is a little less gang oriented when it comes to crime.</p>
<p>I have never seen a "gang" per se. Yes i recall a student got shot near downtown last year, but almost every college has crime, even UCLA.</p>
<p>I went to USC for the last two years, finishing the second now. I'm probably transferring to Berkeley in the fall.</p>
<p>I completely agree. The University Park Campus is beautiful, but because of its location in south central it is very isolating. Unlike an urban campus such as NYU or Columbia, you cant walk around and visit places in the city. There is the beach, disneyland, hollywood, beverly hills, melrose and all of the other fun places everyone associates with the school, but unless you have a car those places mean nothing. And like mentioned above, you have traffic to deal with. Safety is another huge concern. The area around the campus, while not as bad as people make it out to be, is not a place I want to come home to, ever. People say you can be "smart" and not have a problem, I beg to differ. There have been 13 armed robberies of MALE students this semester alone. Some of them happening at 6 and 9 PM on weekdays in lighted, populated areas. I am harrased daily by homeless people walking to/from parking structures outside the gates of campus, and walking to/from off campus university owned housing. Speaking of housing, only freshmen have guaranteed housing provided by the university. Trying to get housing around the school that is safe, clean, and AFFORDABLE was more stressful than applying to college, no joke. In every aspect, USC is a BUSINESS before an institution of education. I hope to transfer to Wake Forest in the fall.</p>
<p>Hey Uschicka...I am glad others are rallying around you...shouldn't they? After all, they are going to USC! </p>
<p>It doesn't hide the fact that USC is TRULY in the GHETTO. I am sorry for those of you who will be in total denial for years and years. The fact of the matter is that the outlying area is extremely dangerous. </p>
<p>My apologies for offending you. It just seems strange, after all, that you spend so much time on this web site...when it is designed for those who are trying to figure out where to go to college. One would think that once admitted, you would have better things to do with your time. What year are you in? That is why I thought you might be employed by the university or doing this for a class.</p>
<p>Perhaps you are just a really nice person who wants to help others. If true, I applaud you. </p>
<p>The point I was trying to make was that USC is an oasis in a huge city. But outside of the campus, you are in total crap land. Sure, get in a car and drive, but the reality is that the location is REALLY BAD!</p>
<p>It's unfortunate that USC didn't jump at the chance to buy the property in Malibu years ago when it was offered. Pepperdine University scored there. </p>
<p>Best of luck to all of you Trojans...in your own little world...SHELTERED...because you have to be.</p>