Columbia (Charleston, North: safe area, school, college)

[Luvsdabeach]

In about a month our daughter will be heading to Columbia for college. I know she will want to learn the area. What area's do you recommend she stay away from?

Yeah, I'm a nervous mom.

[jlboney]

I can't really say what ares she should stay away from here in Columbia, but I'm sure that someone here can. I can say that there are plenty of good places for your daughter to be safe in here.

[waccamatt]

There aren't large bad areas of Columbia, they are mostly pockets that will be obvious. The best advice you can give her is to remind her that she should stay in well lit and busy areas if traveling by foot and try and stay with a group, if possible. If traveling by car she should stay on main thoroughfares if she's in an unfamiliar neighborhood. USC has emergency call boxes all around campus. Is she going to be living on campus or off?

[BarbaraNJ]

Originally Posted by Luvsdabeach

In about a month our daughter will be heading to Columbia for college. I know she will want to learn the area. What area's do you recommend she stay away from?

Yeah, I'm a nervous mom.

I'm in the same boat Luvsdabeach. I'm thinking/hoping there will be enough entertainment on campus they won't need to venture out. But if they do it seems like the Five Points and Vista areas are safe. Again I'm assuming that is where they would go. I cannot believe we are leaving in 19 days to drive her down. Yikes!!!

[jlboney]

I attended Midland's Tech and 5 points was where I normally hung out at. Most of the students here still tend to hang out there or in the Vista, and both are highly traveled places.

[sonofaque86]

what school is she going too? It depends because USC area is waaaaaaay different from Columbia College on North Main St.

[Luvsdabeach]

She will be attending Columbia College and living on campus. I don't like the area around the college at all but campus security has tried to assure us the campus is safe. Right now she a little familiar with the area around the Columbiana Mall which seems to be a pretty safe area. She does know that just because an area looks safe not to let her guard down.

BarbaraNJ, I can't believe it either. This summer has flown by.

[waccamatt]

As long as your daughters use good judgment, they will be fine. Five Points and the Vista are very busy areas, especially on weekends. There is a lot to do on both campuses, but they will want to venture out. Columbia is not a dangerous city, but they still need to be wary wherever they go.

[Luvsdabeach]

Thanks for the info. There are parts of Charleston that are not good areas that she knows not to go in so I wanted to find out about those areas in Columbia.

[Palmetto Heel]

A single woman should probably stay away from north Main St, some areas near Olympia/football stadium/fairgrounds, some parts of Rosewood, the MLK park area, those are all that I can think of right now.