<p>I posted this in the USC forum as well, but given the time of year, I’m not sure I’ll get much response. I’m posting here just to see what parents think of the situation in general, even if you’re not familiar with the USC campus and its location in a somewhat sketchy area of L.A. FYI, D grew up in Dallas, is in school in New Haven CT, and has taken a school sponsored self defense course. So she is moderately accustomed to being aware of her surroundings and so forth. Maybe others have had some experience with this.</p>
<p>Here’s my post:</p>
<p>D is not a USC student but is staying in a friend’s apt (USC owned, Cardinal Gardens) 12/29-1/2. I am concerned that the place will be completely empty, the security staff will be minimal, and that she will be rather conspicuous as a lone female returning late from dinners, concert, etc.</p>
<p>Parents and experienced USC students: Would you advise your 20 yr old to find another place to stay, or do you think this setup will be ok?</p>
<p>As I mentioned on your other post, I don’t think staying at USC makes your daughter’s situation worriesome, it is that she will be walking around in the middle of the night alone - she should do her best to find someone to walk with regardless of where she stays.</p>
<p>My 20 year old daughter lives off-campus at USC and has encountered no problems, but she uses common sense - not wandering around alone in the middle of the night or overindulging in things that might compromise her judgement - the SAME precautions she takes here at home in our small town.</p>
<p>She will be staying alone, but will have a couple of guy buddies to walk her back from a nearby concert venue with her on New Year’s Eve. </p>
<p>I’m probably most concerned about the first 2 days, before the guys get there. I don’t think she would be foolish enough to go out & drink heavily until 2 a.m. then walk back to the apt. by herself. But I picture her going out to eat in the evening and then returning at 9 p.m., obviously alone, to a completely deserted campus with not many security folks around. Mom’s imagination running away, I suppose…</p>
<p>I don’t know the neighborhood at all, but for that amount of time (2 days) can you make a deal with her that she’d only take cabs home after dark and you’ll reimburse? Ask that she keep taxi receipts to send to yoo, so she really does use the cabs.</p>
<p>^ I love this idea and hope to use it for other situations I know we will encounter. Thanks for suggesting it. Though is it really necessary to require proof of purchase with your own children? .</p>
<p>Starbright: see the man cave thread. If the parental units had asked for a receipt from the oil change place, the truck would not be dead in the water at the transmission shop.</p>
<p>The campus will be deserted for the most part. As for DPS, if she isn’t a USC student, they may have an issue taking her to a USC owned apartment, since technically she is supposed to be accompanied at all times by the resident of said apartment. </p>
<p>It might be a little weird for her that there aren’t many people around, but as long as she keeps the apartment locked, and doesn’t go walking around at night by herself she should be fine.</p>
<p>cnp55: Thanks. I really, truly still don’t get it. I honest, truly can’t imagine my kids lying to me, or using money I gave them for a purpose, then finding a way to pocket some in a creative way. If they needed it that bad, they could just ask, they would have no need to manipulate. Just not at all how we work as a family. And it goes back generations. We just don’t do this kind of thing to each other.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the helpful responses (and for not thinking my concerns are completely ridiculous). I think encouraging the use of cabs is a good idea. We’re trying to make her completely responsible for expenses on these just-for-fun trips, but safety trumps financial independence training, so I will gladly spring for cab fare.</p>
<p>Trojanchick–I wondered about her using the apartment when her friend is not there. Darn, now I have an integrity issue as well as a safety concern:/</p>
<p>If you’re that worried for the first few days, what if you just booked a cheap hotel nearby (I’m sure there are some, given it’s a big school and all) for those nights? And if you’re still concerned, you could always pick one that has a restaurant attached or help her find some good delivery places (assuming you don’t want her out alone at night–totally understandable). Then she could stay with the friends once the guys get there and can help her out. You guys could split the cost of the hotel so that she learns to value her safety over saving a few bucks. </p>
<p>I’m a college student too, and I’d be really hesitant to stay at my friend’s apartment for a few days if she wasn’t there. For some reason, a hotel by myself and an apartment by myself just feel totally different.</p>