<p>Is membership with the college gym usually included in the tuition, or is there a separate fee for membership? From what I can tell, it seems to be included in our instance. But, I'm not sure. I don't see anything giving me the ability to purchase one on their website, so I assume it's "free" (as if anything is free)</p>
<p>What are you all doing with any existing gym memberships for your son's and daughters? Can we "suspend" them while kids are away? We belong to Bally's. I assume enough of you might also belong and might have already checked this out. I'm sure I can just call them.</p>
<p>we can go to the gym whenever we want at our school.. so yeah it's included for us. i don't have any gym membership at my house, so i don't know about how that works. ;)</p>
<p>Cornell has a separate optional "fitness center" fee of $145 per semester. We decided quickly that DD can do without it the first semester, then pay for it with her own "expense" money if she really wants it.
There are 4 centers on campus for students, faculty, etc., but it seems to us there are plenty of other ways to get exercise there without paying extra for it.</p>
<p>Depends on the college. When I took a college course for fun last semester, use of the college's fabulous fitness center was free, paid for out of my student activities fee. It was the best center in town and a wonderful bargain!</p>
<p>Thanks all. Yes, NSM, that's what makes me ask. The are two fabulous gyms on campus......much better than what Bally's offers (from what we could see through the glass, from our parking lot vantage)</p>
<p>i think it depends on the college. you should ask each individually. however, what i have noticed is that more private schools include it in tuition, while state schools require an additional fee. but this is just a generalization.</p>
<p>I know my D at UPenn has to pay something like $300 for the use of the gym facility on Walnut (I think that is the main drag) as she noted that it was not included in the stipend. I recall this cause they did not take the whole amount out of her check at one time which we had figured they would do, and were budgetting for. Of course it may be different for undergrads. Wish I could tell you who to contact! I'll see if she can give me some facts and figures.</p>
<p>As for existing memberships back home... I know that at my gym if you are moving farther than 100 miles away you can cancel your membership at no charge. Because I thought about college when I signed up we added a line stating that when I come home for breaks I can restart my membership without paying the activation fee and that my membership isn't really cancelled during the year but more just on hold. Mine was only a year contract so I'm not on contract anymore. Call and ask... I'm sure most gyms have a policy with college students.</p>
<p>My D called a little while ago; it is her impression that the undergrads DO have the gym membership included in tuition. She pays about $250 for it, but says it is worth the cost, especially for the gym on Walnut. Sounds like a fantasic place. Hope it is "free" for your S!</p>
<p>There are a number of scheduled fitness programs such as aquatic aerobics, dance aerobics, pilates, T'ai Chi, yoga, aikido, tae kwan do, etc for which a fee is charged. The Center hires professional outside instructors to lead these programs and the fee is to pay for this cost.</p>
<p>Gym use is included in tuition/fees at my D's school, which is a very small liberal arts school. It wouldn't make much sense for them to charge an additional fee, given the fact that there are fitness requirements and "Wellness" classes (also required) held at the gym. D fulfilled this semester's fitness requirement by attending kick boxing classes three times a week, and was very grateful for them. They turned out to be a tremendous de-stressor for her. On non kick boxing days, she'd often go to the gym just to use the machines or put in a bit of weight training. </p>
<p>We don't currently have any family Y or gym memberships (we had to drop the Y membership in order to free up funds to pay for college). But D has gotten so use to working out, that she plans on looking into a possible "summer" membership at the Y when she returns home (paid for out of her summer earnings, of course, if the cost is not too prohibative).</p>
<p>momofthree-thanks for checking with your D. That's what I was hoping. The gym on Walnut is Pottruck....which is the one we were checking out on Saturday. It's all glass, so we could see well into it from the parking lot next door. It does look like it is well worth the money your D pays. There must be 5 or 6 floors of equipment. My son, who works out 2 hrs per day, will think he died and went to heaven. </p>
<p>Drummerboy, it seems that residents of the immediate surrounding community can join the Penn rec system for a fee (looks like it's about $370/yr). There seems to be some caveat that the membership was available prior to the gym opening......and is now grandfathered. But, new residents moving in can get a membership. I suppose you have tp live in certain zip codes. For use of all of the rec facilities, it's a bargain. I spent more on our Bally's memberships and the maintennace fees for Bally's continue to increase each year. I wish I could unload my Bally's membership in favor of the Penn Rec membership, as the gym alone looks 100X nicer.</p>