<p>It’s the last week before putting down deposit, and I have yet to decide between Carnegie Mellon and USC for undergrad. My parents are extremely upset about the USC graduate shooting happened earlier this month, and understandably, they want me to attend CMU. I personally much prefer USC; I fell in love with the school and the architecture program while I visited the campus during the Explore USC trip.</p>
<p>I have trying each and every argument (personal and factual) to prove that USC is The Fit for me, and I think I have never worked so hard to prove my point ever… However, safety trumps all other logical reasoning and I really don’t want to worry my parents for the next five years that I’m at USC. </p>
<p>Could anyone offer some advice/comment/encouragement to prove that USC is not as bad it sounds on Asian media? (yes, I am from a Chinese family; that really does not help my case, does it?)</p>
<p>Thanks for reading and in advance for all your replies!</p>
<p>I was in the exact same boat as you before a year back, and even then, my parents were extremely concerned about the safety of USC. Let me just say that everywhere off campus that most students frequent (e.g. path to the Row, the restaurants along Figueroa) is extremely safe. I’ve walked around these places at 3am alone. There are always students around these areas even at crazy hours, not to mention the yellow jackets and DPS/campus cruiser patrol. </p>
<p>Although USC’s neighborhood is bad and crimes do occur, I have never at any point during my time here been genuinely concerned about my safety. Just be smart. Keep an eye on your surroundings whenever you’re out, day or night, with people or without. Don’t whip your expensive phones out when you’re walking along at night, or take your wallet out when going on buses (if that need arises). Just really obvious, common sense things. </p>
<p>The recent shooting is an isolated incident. Crimes of this magnitude rarely occur. Robberies and the like are much more common, however. Tell them that these crimes can happen anywhere. You’re not totally safe no matter where you go in the US, or any other place for that matter. Your safety will never be guaranteed, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing what you want to do.</p>
<p>Have you been to Pittsburgh? USC is an urban school just like CMU (and UPitt right nextdoor) are. There is an area where students live just SW of campus kind of like the north side of USC’s campus that has lots of theft/robberies just like we deal with at USC. There was a big shooting <em>on</em> campus at Upitt last month too which a couple blocks from CMU.</p>
<p>It is a given when a university is located in a city like usc or other urban schools. There will be crime of opportunity such as car break-ins and mugging. You just need to be street smart to avoid it. The shootings were not a normal occurrence for this neighborhood.</p>