Can Freshmen have Cars?

<p>read the topic</p>

<p>There is no place on campus for cars. The town now charges $50 - yes, $50 - per month to keep the car in a parking spot in town. It used to be $20. Here is an article in the Phoenix about it from 2 weeks back:
<a href="http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2005-01-20/news/14518%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2005-01-20/news/14518&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>However, there are freshmen who have cars; they are a very small minority, though.</p>

<p>
[quote]
RESIDENTIAL LIFE AT SWARTHMORE </p>

<p>Parking Permits
Only those students who have received permission from the Car Authorization Committee may bring cars onto campus. Applications for parking permits are judged primarily on need; however, because of space restrictions, first- and second-year students are infrequently granted permission. Applications are available at the Benjamin West House. Please note that overnight street parking is not permitted in the business district of Swarthmore Borough and some residential streets also have restrictions.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>From what I've been told, "infrequently" should be read quite literally. There is nothing to stop you, however, from paying for a spot at the nearby RR station, although the fee has just been increased from $20 to $50.</p>

<p>One great advantage of Swarthmore is its location and the availability of, and proximity to, public transportation (unless the proposed SEPTA budget cuts are actually enacted). Do you really need a car?</p>

<p>I was just asking because I am compiling a college list, so I'd like to have all the facts on my schools:</p>

<p>Georgia State University<br>
UNC- Chapel Hill<br>
UNC- Pembroke<br>
UNC- Greensboro<br>
Alabama State University<br>
University of Georgia<br>
American University<br>
University of Alabama<br>
Howard University<br>
Bowie State University<br>
Delaware State University<br>
Temple University<br>
Hampton University<br>
Swarthmore College </p>

<p>And I realized that I didn't know if swattie freshmen could have cars on campus. But now I know.</p>

<p>BTW, I appreciate anything else you could tell me about swarthmore. Thanks.</p>

<p>I'd say that Swarthmore stands apart from every other school on your list. How did you come to include it?</p>

<p>I wanted Journalism schools, basically big state universities. But I go to a private quaker prep school in philly, pa. My guidance conselor said that at least one of my schools should be different from the others I heard that Swarthmore was a great school. I am fairly sure of my major (communications), but I know that if I don't do that, I will be an English major, which Swarthmore offers. So basically the reason that it is here is it is a small LAC close to home (I believe 11 miles away from philly) that has a good percentage of minorities</p>

<p>Yes, I did not mean to give the impression that freshmen park in the college parking lot. The one freshman my son knows in his dorm who has a car, parks it in a spot near the station. I would say freshmen are not allowed at all unless there is a valid reason..</p>

<p>Swarthmore does, indeed, have a fairly large number of minority students (all things considered). Your response is interesting -- everything you said is accurate. So why are all the other schools on your list?</p>

<p>If I am reading correctly, you live in Philadelphia. You really should go see the school while it's in session (and not on a weekend). The contrast between it and all the other schools on your list will be obvious. You will have an immediate reaction.</p>

<p>And if you are in Philadelphia (and 11 miles from home), why would you want a car? Moreover, you'll end up the designated driver for every adventure.</p>

<p>I should have done a quick search before posting:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Black Male
Junior
Attends a Private School in Philadelphia, PA
1110 SAT
No SATII's or AP's
Wants journalism, set but not stuck on it. Desires to stay on East Coast
-Good EC's (choir/chorus/acappella/instrumental music oriented), will be on newspaper (officially) next year, but have written for it the last 2 years
-Will have AMAZING recs, no doubt
School doesn't rank or give awards
My GPA is along the lines of a B-B+

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As someone on another thread mentioned, a number of LACs will be interested in you. Many excellent schools are on the east coast (which you indicated was important), and would be in a better position to offer you aid.</p>

<p>There are two posters who could help you if you posted in the parents' forum. "Carolyn" would be better be able to direct you towards good match schools; "Northstarmom" is quite knowledgeable regarding URM admissions, and would have a better sense of the stats necessary to have a reasonable chance at a particular school. Put their names in the thread title, and I'm sure they would be willing to help.</p>

<p>RBase, I want to echo Eddy_Merc's advice. It is OK to apply to Swat, and it would be a great place to visit, to get a feel for a LAC, because it will cost you almost nothing to go visit. However, Swat is almost as selective as Penn, maybe as selective, I'm not sure that an 1100 SAT will cut it, even for an Af-Am male. On the other hand, if you find you like the LAC atmosphere appealing, there are a number of other LACs that would find you a very attractive candidate. As Eddy said Carolyn and NSM can be very helpful, Jamimom as well - repost on PArents, they will find you.</p>

<p>As you probably know Alabama has a fairly good journalism program, and a large Af-Am population with active black frats. There is still a great deal of self- segregation, but there is also separation based on what frat you are in, what part of the state you're from, whether you commute or not, etc, not just separation by race. The unifying factor is sports - and not just football, you should see how they turn out for gymnastics. You should try to visit.</p>

<p>When I visited, one of the students there had gotten in with a 1260 SAT score. so it might be possible...</p>

<p>I would also try to visit one of the large southern universities on your list: UNC-Chapel Hill or UGa might be the easiest. </p>

<p>I'm not an African-American male, so I'm probably not the right one to advise, but I have a strong suspicion that the social scene will be very different from what you are used to at an elite private Quaker high school in Philadelphia. Not better. Not worse. Just very different.</p>

<p>Specifically, I think that you might find a very high degree of self-segregation by the Af-Am communities at these schools. Again, I'm not really qualified to say for sure, but I would want to do a little research to make sure the schools you look at meet your expectations.</p>

<p>As for cars at Swarthmore. The $50 a month buys you a parking space on a public street. For most students, having a car at Swarthmore would be a pain in the butt. There's a SEPTA train station right on campus that provides easy access to the downtown train stations, airport, etc.</p>

<p>Swarthmore has always had a pretty good number of minority students from the Phila. area. You should go out there during the week some time. The admissions office can set you up with a current student and probably give you a good feel for whether your would be a viable candidate or not. It's a pretty friendly place.</p>