Whether you’re attending college right now or you plan on attending college in the near future, a common thought that comes to a student’s mind is “how am I going to be safe in college?”  While every college is different when it comes to safety, some are going to be safer than others.  Regardless of where you’re going, there are some things that you have to keep in mind when you’re walking about campus.

Always lock your doors – Always get in the habit of locking your car and dorm doors no matter where you’re going.  Even if you find yourself disappearing for a few minutes to do laundry, you should lock your doors because you never know what can happen in that time.

Walk with somebody – If you can walk with somebody to your car or dorm, do it.  It’s always best to have someone come with you than walk it alone.  Make sure that you even if you walk with another person that you always keep a look out as well.

Be alert – Whenever you’re on campus, try and be alert with your surroundings.  Always keep an eye out on people that are around you.  If you ever see someone that looks suspicious, make sure that you report them to the campus police department.  There are many stalkers that love to wander along the college campus.

Carry little cash – Try and get used to using your debit or credit card.  This way if you find yourself getting mugged, you won’t lose much.  With most credit cards, you’re only liable for the first $50.  If you lose your cash, you may never see it again.

Walk in well lit areas – If you have any night classes or you find yourself wandering around the campus at night, most colleges will have lit up areas.  Try and avoid walking around the campus where you find that the areas are dark, etc.   You’ll want to walk in as many lit up areas as you can so that if something does happen, you’ll be able to see around yourself or others may be able to witness the incident. 

Never be afraid to yell – If something does happen and you feel threatened for your life, never be afraid to yell out for help.  Doing this will not only scare the attacker away, it may grab other’s attention, where they can call 911 to get you the help you need.

Saftey is an important issue on most college campuses and many colleges stress safety 24/7.  It’s always important just to remember to be smart and be aware of your surroundings.  If you follow just a few tips mentioned above, you shouldn’t have a problem being safe around your college.