I’m asking current or previous SDSU students if you needed or are glad to have a car on campus. My D is going this fall and we are about 2 hr away from SDSU. Since she didn’t have her own car during high school, she asked me if I could help her out getting one for college.
My initial answer was no since she’ll be in dorm. But now I’m thinking back when I was in college and how that would’ve been nice and more convenient. Financially it doesn’t make sense obviously since we don’t have any hand me down car to give her. So I need to buy a used car or lease a small one. She’s been really good D through high school with no troubles at all so thoughts have crossed my mind that may be it’s ok for her to have a car.
Still not 100% sure though.
Any accepted students planning to take cars to SDSU? Obviously my biggest worry is safety, accidents, criminal targets, liability when taking other students for rides,… but I guess even many high school students go through that already…
My younger son did not take a car Freshman year and we also live 2 hours away. Most of his classmates complained about the parking situation and if she is living in the dorms, the SD trolley and friends with cars are always available. He had no problem finding rides to the Beach if needed.
As an SD student, you can get a discounted trolley pass for the year. There is a trolley station on campus and the Green Line can take you to several shopping centers along the route. SDSU also has several Aztec markets on campus for food and convenience items needed. Since you have to buy a meal plan, I do not expect her to go out and eat much but there are several restaurants around campus if she wants some variety.
My son also took the Amtrak train home for weekends and holidays. He took the Green line trolley to Old Town and caught the Amtrak there and we picked him up at the Fullerton station.
He brought his car down Sophomore year since he moved into an off campus apartment (within walking distance from campus) and only used the car for running errands and grocery shopping. It stayed in the parking garage more than being used. By Junior year, he did have an off campus job which required a car.
Now as a Senior, he still has made a point to find housing nearby (within walking distance) even with having a car, just due to the overcrowded parking and high parking costs.
I would not worry about a car until Sophomore or Junior year, unless she is interested in getting an off-campus job.
Current SDSU student here, I find a car essential for students attending SDSU. The only things really accessible by the trolley (which is not the safest no matter the time of day) is Fashion Valley mall which is a few exits away from campus. If your daughter wants to go anywhere else in San Diego, you have to drive a car or get an uber which can be very expensive because of how far campus is from other areas in San Diego such as the beach or downtown. In addition, parking is not really a huge issue for students living on campus. The parking garages next to the freshman dorms ALWAYS have space in them, no matter the time of day. Parking is mostly an issue for students commuting because the parking garages closest to most classes are a lot smaller compared to the ones on the edges of campus. I will say this though, the parking garages at SDSU are not very safe and it is always a good idea to have a friend with you when walking through them. This year alone we have had a lot of issues with robberies as well as other crimes in the parking lots. These incidents tend to happen however in the evenings/nights, but there have been more frequent incidences during the day towards the end of the spring term this year.