Anxious about Dd potentially going to London University

[AffronttoBS]

Dd is applying for ucas 2023 entry, two out of her 5 choices are London (imperial and ucl). If she gets offers, on the one hand they are fantastic universities, and London should be full of opportunities and it would be great to study and live there. On the other hand, I’m getting more and more nervous about the state of things in London, especially regarding the decline of law and order and how risky it would be for her as an environment to learn to be independent.

aibu? Are there other parents feeling this way? Or if you are a parent of a yr 1 , yr 2 London student, how do you feel about your dc studying in London?

It depends on the area?

I am well aware that arguing from the particular to the general is ineffective. I was using my daughter's robbery in order to show that I had personal experience of someone in my family being a student in London and a victim of violent crime.

Despite being retired from the Met Police, I maintain close contact with some who still serve and can assure people that violent crime in London is on the increase. Evil can happen anywhere, but the chances of it happening in the capital are worse than average; if you think otherwise, you are deluded.

@Mumof3girlsandaboy but it proves the point that London is no worse!

Good excuse for another London bashing thread (which I'm heartened to see this hasn't turned into).

A couple of posters have mentioned that the London student experience is likely to be different. In terms of safety this can be a positive as well as a negative. Both Imperial and UCL will have a cohort of hard working students who are more likely to socialise via subject or interest societies (say a minor sport like dodgeball) than via clubbing. Plenty of students won’t drink at all and discos, gigs, and other events put on in SUs and halls are more likely to attract students than commercial venues. DCs experience was that problems with drugs, spiking etc appeared far less common on London campuses than elsewhere. Because of the large numbers of overseas students, Universities also appeared to put more effort into welfare. Small things like being chased up if you skipped too much. Both Imperial and UCL have good student facilities which are well used. UCL also has the advantage of ULU round the corner.

For anyone thinking of applying, Imperial is particularly good on bursaries, so worth asking.

I am a retired London copper and those in this post who question the OP's views on the declineof law and order in the capital have very little idea of how bad things have become

If you are a 'retired London copper' then your view is going to be somewhat skewed because by definition as police you were dealing with crime all the time.
I live in the capital, have done for 54 years and I'm not seeing any notable 'decline in law and order.' If there is, what were the police doing about it? (you'd be Met, so not much, is the answer).

I would be more concerned about a lack of social life, which I know sounds ironic given there is so much to do in London but I don't think the unis there have the same student community feel that other universities have

I lived in London for 12 years from university age, it’s an amazing city. I work there now and actually I think it feels much safer than other major cities I’ve been to and lived in. For a start, the public transport runs really regularly all night so getting home safely is easier. Regardless, it’s your DD’s choice where she goes, she’s an adult. You need to start the process of letting go

Lifelong Londoner here. The crime rate is a lot lower than in comparable cities. I really wouldn’t think twice about that.

Lots of pros and cons to London as a student- it’s very international, buzzy, loads going on. The two universities you’ve mentioned are great. Disadvantages are that it’s expensive and that you have to make more effort to find your friends than in a campus or college-based uni.

Tell us @xpc316e how much if that is drug related, turf war related and gang / inter-gang related?

I lived in and around Tulse Hill and Brixton and horrible as it was for those involved, it was very very rare for anyone outside this activity to be a victim.

It is true that younger teens got their phones taken off them, but not involving violence.

My teens went to a comprehensive which was local to us when we lived in SW2 and were fully aware that some students were caught up in gang activity. But it didn’t affect them at all.

My Dc was once witness to an assault at London Bridge station and have a statement to police. The perpetrator was on his way home to Not London. Hint: best not go to any Uni in Kent, OP!

Are you seriously advising that a talented Imperial or LSE student should not study in London due to a breakdown in law and order?

Disadvantages are that it’s expensive

Also very big.

Personally I would worry about the rents in London over and above the law an order issues.

P.S For the Avoidance of Doubt: SOME younger teens OCCASIONALLY got their phones taken off them. As in that is the crime that there was.

I came to uni in London 10 years ago and have been here ever since. Haven't noticed any decline in law and order, I still love living here and had an amazing time at uni. Loads of free stuff to do, great transport, lots of student nights on everywhere, cheap amazing food, lots of casual jobs. It was brilliant

I lived in and around Tulse Hill and Brixton and horrible as it was for those involved, it was very very rare for anyone outside this activity to be a victim

Me too. Brother was mugged in the 70s but that's about all. Altho Brixton and Stockwell were a bit infamous for that.

I was heavily discouraged from going to a London uni by my parents owing to the cost and students bring spread out across the city.

Ended up going to a campus university which was a great place to grow up and learn to adult before I shot off to London as soon I graduated.

I don’t regret it in the slightest, personally London is fun when you have a bit of money to truly experience it and take advantage of all the opportunities. In hindsight being a poor student was much easier in a cheaper city that catered to the student population.

I would give the same advice to my daughter.

Decline of law and order? Seriously?! Um, London is no different to any other city in the UK.

Your daughter will be fine. She just needs to take the same precautions she would take if she was in any other city in the UK.

I always think campus universities are unsafer, the sexual culture is very concerning, they feel more rapey to me as opposed to normal towns/cities. (I've been a student at both)

I live in London. I've also lived in NYC (back in the big bad 80s), Paris, Boston and so on. I've been burgled in a leafy part of London, ditto Paris. Mugged during the day in Boston and harassed in NYC (by a well suited businessman during the afternoon), followed in London and Paris.
Does that put me off? Obviously not. There are bad a good parts to all. My teen daughter takes the tube to central London for school. She's now a lot more street smart and aware - a few nutters and drunk football fans are inevitable, but harmless. I'm happier with her on a crowded tube than walking down an isolated lane in the countryside, especially this time of year when it's still quite dark when she heads off and comes home.
Your child needs to have their wits about them for sure - I'd say that for any person any where. You can't wrap them in cotton wool.

If you are concerned Op I think you need to look at crime rate statistics rather than making sweeping statements. I suspect that you will find it a very mixed bag with many areas being pretty safe. Use data not fear.

London born; would move back in a heartbeat but can't afford it. Law and order is no better or worse than any other big city. The vibe and opportunities are excellent though, and those are two very good unis.

As someone who went to Imperial myself, I can confirm London is a blinking brilliant place to study! Best years of my life, seriously.

I was delighted that DS applied to both Imperial and UCL. Sadly the courses were too competitive and he didn’t get an offer from either.

The only downside of London is the cost of accommodation- a friend’s daughter is paying double what my son does in Durham. Also I remember struggling to find accommodation for 2nd+ year in the 90s (but DS has just lived through the same nightmare at Durham, so maybe it’s universal?)

Took DS(8) to London at half term and was teaching him how to read the underground map so that when he's a bit older he can go up with friends and can figure out how to get from A to B. Wouldn't dream of worrying about him at uni in London! We already live in Cardiff and hear horrible things happening in the news. Why would London be so much worse?

The cost of living here would be my main concern. Crime happens everywhere.

A lot of cities have the same issues as London, its not as bad as you imagine.

I wouldn't recommend UCL or Imperial as an undergraduate but that's a whole other story and not to do with safety.