<p>I know that freshman arent allowed, but im planning ahead for sophmore year. I really think itd be a lot more convienent to have a car, so I will be getting one sophmore year. </p>
<p>How is the parking like on campus? Like, is there fair amounts of spots next to the buildings where your classes are?</p>
<p>Also, is it bad to drive a nice-ish car such as a BMW or an audi, because my parents insist on me getting a BMW / benz/ audi. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>There is very little parking on campus for students. There aren’t even parking lots near most of the classroom buildings in central campus although there are some parking decks within walking distance but again, parking is highly regulated both on campus and in the borough. You will not be driving to class. If you live in an apartment, know that not all of them have parking, and the ones that do will charge you extra for that. And I don’t think anyone will care , or know, what you drive.</p>
<p>If your parents “insist” on getting you a BMW/Benz/Audi, then I don’t think you really have to worry about it being a good idea or not.</p>
<p>The campus is not designed for students to commute by car. There are essentially four kinds of parking spaces on campus:</p>
<p>Faculty/staff spots: Most of the parking you see on the interior of campus is reserved for the faculty and staff, and they will tow and fine anyone else who uses it. Some of these lots are 24/7, others are reserved only during “class hours”, and are freely available nights and weekends.</p>
<p>Visitor spots: Metered, rare, located only near those buildings where visitors would need to park… which is not likely to be useful to you. Plus, if you have a parking pass shown they will ticket you because you are not a visitor. Get used to that idea - PSU is actively looking for any possible way to hand you an absurdly large parking ticket. For that matter, if you miss the meter and they run your plate in their systems, you get the meter violation PLUS the not-a-visitor violation.</p>
<p>On-campus student parking: BARELY on campus, it is located at the edges, but you can bring your car down to the faculty lots on the weekends at least.</p>
<p>Off-campus student / commuter parking: By the stadium, accessible by bus.</p>
<p>Put these together and you should plan on using a car ONLY to get to places away from campus - on campus walk or get a bike. And I mean bicycle, not motorcycle, as they are regulated just like cars.</p>
<p>
It will brand you as a rich kid in the minds of those who see it (probably not many). Some people can handle that, others can’t. I had a friend who arrived on campus with a brand new $50k+ SUV courtesy of her filthy-rich parents, and I don’t remember anyone ever giving her any grief about it cuz she never made a big deal of it.</p>
<p>Like someone said, if you have an apartment next year, many don’t include parking. You can rent parking around town, but it’s expensive and not secure. If you bring an expensive car, it may be sitting out somewhere not so safe. You may have to choose your apartment based on safe parking which is going to limit your choices.</p>
<p>I really don’t think you need to worry about safe parking. Many students bring fairly expensive cars and they are parked all over town. I live in town and have never heard of any real problems.</p>
<p>Son paid 100 a month 2008-2010 for a spot at his apt. near campus. His money…not mine.</p>
<p>If “parents insist on me getting a BMW / benz/ audi” $100/month is probably chump change to them. Maybe she’d like to park her benz in my driveway; it would be very safe and would certainly impress my neighbors. :rolleyes:</p>