Life in the Blasewitz area of Dresden - Germany

Hey all. So I may be moving to Dresden in the spring to do a semester at the university (assuming I make it through the obstacle course of the Auslaendersbehoerde and get my visa stuff in order). Since I have no idea what, if anything, the Studentenwerk is going to offer me in the way of a residence place, I've been trying to find a WG/room online. I've got one promising lead - looks really nice, price is pretty good (by Freiburg standards, anyway), etc. Only real potential drawback seems to be that the place is in Blasewitz. I was hoping to get something fairly central and from the one month I've previously spent in Dresden, I seem to remember that Blasewitz was fairly far from the Uni, Neustadt, Altstadt... pretty much everything except the river.

Basically, I'm wondering if anyone knows the area well and can share some impressions with me:
-what are the neighbourhood demographics like (students, families, older people, mixed?),
-should a smallish girl be concerned about coming home alone late at night (a big concern for me, as I don't have any friends in the neighbourhood to get home with after a night out),
-what's the atmosphere like (bedroom community or some life to it?),
-does it really seem all that far from the centre of things?
-any pluses, minuses, thoughts or impressions that come to mind

Also, I'd appreciate any shared knowledge on the Dresden student/youth housing market. Should I be panicked if I can't find anything well in advance, or will there be tons of people looking to sublet their rooms come March? And of course, if you or anyone you know (no axe murderers, thanks) has a furnished room to rent for the spring and summer, I'd love to hear about it.

hello

I am not a blasewitz expert by far. Still I would not say it is that far out but i guess it depends on where exactly you live there(i would chose to live closer when possiable). as far as i know there are trains running all night and so getting home should not be a problem. while I seem to have a overprotective gene (maybe because i have a litte sister (although she is not so little anymore) I would always worry a bit about a young woman walking home alone. That said I have never felt uneasy in Dresden and i think that blasewitz is not as far as i have heard what is concidered a dangerous area. I have only heard that gorbitz and maybe parts of prolis are bad but even then most people told me that it is only a issue if you are not white. in the summer time there are some nice beer gartens over there anyway. unless you have only time to study.

Blasewitz is a rather posh area with villas, not a typical student area but quite nice with some decent shops. The tram and bus connections are OK if you're near the Blue Wonder. The area used to be full of well-off middle-aged people but I think the age might be dropping as some new restaurants have opened and it's got a bit more lively - by the Blue Wonder there's even a cinema and a Subway! As I said, not really a typical student place, but much sought-after.

I can't say how easy it is to get a place these days (used to be very easy when I was younger but that's a few years back now!) but try looking here:
http://www.studenten-wg.de/Dresden,mitwohnzentrale.html
http://www.wg-gesucht.de/wg-zimmer-in-Dresden.27.0.1.4.html

Thanks for the info guys. In the end I've found a place much closer to the centre - convenience won over prettiness. So straker's big brother instincts can rest easy. Actually, I myself would never ever make my way home alone at night back home, but here everyone seems to think I'm completely paranoid for not wanting to travel the city alone at night. Whether Germany is really safer (possible) or it's just a cultural difference, I have no idea.

Anyway, see you in Dresden, perhaps!