Safety!

*questions* · 01-02-2008, 10:00 AM

Hello..i am completely in LOVE with U of C but my dad heard that it isnt safe, the neighbourhood...so i was hoping you guys could tell me what youve heard or seen( o how i envy you!)...i live in india,so its a teensy weency bit hard!
Also..Congratulations to all you guys that got through!

kodama · 01-04-2008, 03:39 PM

Go anyway. You'll be fine.

The neighborhood of the University is quite nice, though there are some pretty bad slums not far away. Campus *feels* pretty safe, and apart from one tragic murder (edge of campus, 1am), the only real risk is mugging, and even then only if you are alone out late. The University also runs a huge private police service, and endless variety of transportation services 24 hours.

monv84 · 01-05-2008, 04:26 PM

i livei n chicago so i can tell u a bit

u of c is located on the southside of chicago where there are many ghettos,,, but u of c is actually located in hyde park one of the richest neighborhoods in chicago. so yes the ghetto is close by, but u of c is surrounded by million dolalr homes.. also the southside is progressively getting better, much of the ghettos are being destroyed and moved further away from the city, so its getting better.

its a beautiful campus!!

JohnC613 · 01-06-2008, 10:17 AM

they have the largest privat e police force -- tht's what my interviewer said

mv8 · 01-08-2008, 12:21 PM

im pretty sure, that is correct, i was also told that they have the largest private police force in the state

ppenguin757 · 01-14-2008, 12:28 AM

Ok, let me dispel a couple myths here. I attend the U of C Lab HS, so I am on campus every day.

1) It is not the richest neighborhood in the city of Chicago. Go about 3 miles north to the Gold Coast.

2) It is surrounded by bad neighborhoods. As long as you stay on the middle of the campus with a friend, things will be ok. Nothing should happen while it's light out. With that said, there have been exceptions.

3) The U of C police force is a joke. They're more interesting in writing parking tickets that no one will pay rather than watch out for students' safety.

It's a great school, but I didn't even apply there because I can't handle another four years in Hyde Park. It's depressing and really contributes to U of C's slogan ("Where fun goes to die.") Just don't be stupid and you'll be fine.

Tara@NYU · 02-22-2008, 02:19 AM

Yes Vash, I'm sure it's lovely! Don't worry you're going to get in and you'll be fine! Hahaha I'm so bored this is what happens when I sit at home dying of flesh eating viruses. K I'm going back to my own college now buh bye

aspiring_1010 · 02-22-2008, 05:55 PM

I think the correct answer to this question lies somewhere between penguin's and monv's. Hyde Park is definitely not a neighborhood surrounded by million dollar homes *unless you count the actual campus buildings* but, (if I only I could find stronger words to say it*, safety issues should not deter you from attending this school.

Consolation · 03-21-2008, 08:17 PM

Kenwood, immediately north of Hyde Park, has lots of million-dollar houses.

But some people count Kenwood as part of Hyde Park, although it really isn't.

Maroon8 · 03-23-2008, 10:09 PM

Actually, there are a few houses within about 3 blocks of campus currently listed for over a million dollars.

You'd probably be surprised at the price for full houses in Hyde Park. Even two-bedroom townhouses sometimes sell for over $500,000. In addition to lots of university folks, Hyde Park is also home to a lot of professional (lawyers, doctors, etc.). In fact, some younger faculty choose not to live in Hyde Park, partly because it's too expensive. Barack Obama couldn't even afford to buy a full house until his second book deal, and while his house is technically in Kenwood, I think, it's only about 8 or 9 blocks from the main quads.

None of this really answers the safety question, since lots of places with cheap housing have little crime (many small towns), but it's just to make clear that Hyde Park is not what most people think of when they talk about the "South Side" of Chicago. The campus isn't any more dangerous than any other urban university, I would venture to guess.

Relampago · 04-02-2008, 09:27 PM

It depends what you are used to. Most city kids don't have a problem with it. I think the more affluent kids think it is the ghetto because many have never seen a working class neighborhood in their lives. "Fear is your only God" RATM. Yale is in New Haven would you not go there. Don't let others scare you just be careful. And frankly if you are a female, you have to be careful just going to ANY frat part ANYwhere. So again it's relative.