D loves Muhlenberg. It would be one of her top choices except for the fact that they don’t allow Freshmen to have a car. Its very important to her to go to a college close to home (NY subburbs) and be able to have easy access here. Muhlenberg is only 2 hours from home, but without a car it might as well be hours away. This is really not something she is willing to give up for personal reasons which I won’t go into.
Do any of you know if there are any work arounds? Do students every keep cars off campus but close by? Is it possible to get a waiver of this policy?
I would ask the school about this. My DD who is a junior doesn’t have a car although many of her friends do. I’m in a NJ suburb of NY and on a good day it takes me about an hour and fifteen minutes one way. She likes to get home for her sisters’ events or when her twin is home from college. We have it down to a science.
@gallentjill I thought I just posted something but I don’t see it now. Sorry if it posts twice. I would start with the Office of Admissions and go from there.
If there is a pressing reason why she needs a car she may be able to get some kind of a waiver to allow her to have one on campus freshman year. Agree, that it is worth asking about. But also recognize that it is a huge responsibility to keep a car on campus and be sure she is ready to handle that.
@gallentjill I am sure that your daughter feels she needs her car for her first year at Muhlenberg for a good reason. I will tell you that very few if any first year students I am aware of brought their car but were all able to manage to survive the experience. Muhlenberg does a great job of offering shuttle buses to bus stations and airports around all of the usual breaks. Many times students with cars are going to the same area you need to go to and will share a ride with you. I would suggest that there are work arounds for the first year that might not be as easy as having your own car parked outside your dorm but it can be done. Best of luck to you!
Chiming in with what @beenthereanddone said, my daughter hasn’t felt the need for a car at all. Also, Muhlenberg isn’t really a “suitcase school” so she and you may well find that even if your daughter does get a waiver and has a car, that she isn’t coming home as often as you might have expected.
My freshman son has had his car on campus for part of the school year. There is plenty of close on-street parking. He just has to move it occasionally for street sweeping.
Unless she has a health reason (or needs to come home frequently because of poor health of another family member), then as a parent I’d discourage a car freshman year. If it is a health situation, the school may grant a waiver.