<p>My son will be a freshman this fall. He's trying to decide whether or not to take his car. (Well, actually, it's the hand-me-down car that used to be his mother's until she bought a new car last year. It's not an exciting car.) His sister went to a small, liberal arts college in Nowhere, PA, so having a car was a real plus. But UD is obviously a different situation. Any thoughts from people who have already traveled this road, so to speak?</p>
<p>I confess that I've read the university's parking web pages several times and I'm still confused. "Red permits. Gold permits. Blue permits. Residency permits. " What's the real situation on parking for freshmen? Would the car be down by the stadium or some other remote location? If so, would he have to move it when there are football games? What's the approx. price of a parking permit? (I know it's not cheap.)</p>
<p>From my daughter's previous experience elsewhere, I'm aware of some of the drawbacks, such as becoming chauffer for your friends. And, of course, there are the advantages. (And I admit to a certain selfish desire to have him take the car: Get it out of my driveway! And he could come home without being fetched; though he'll only be about 50 miles away.)</p>
<p>My son was a freshman last year, and together we decided he should not bring his car at the start of the year. Our reasons were some of what you mentioned. Freshmen get the faraway lots, we didn't want him to be the driver for everyone, and it was discouraged. He really did not mind, and did not need it. However, he did decide to bring his car back after Easter. He was given a space in the lot down by the stadium, but since it was not football season, I can't say how that would affect it. What he (and some others on his floor who also brought a car later) did was leave the car alone all week, and then park it outside his dorm for the weekend, which was permitted. They would go as a group on the bus to get to the lot, and drive their cars back. </p>
<p>I believe the gold and red parking permits are for commuters. Next year it will cost $433 for the entire year for residents, so he will need to decide if it is worth paying that amount with the car so far away.</p>
<p>Some further information (from the son of Mattmoosemom): If a student lives on campus (in a University Residence Hall), they must obtain the Resident Student pass. These passes are valid in a specific lot only, depending on availability. For example, if you were assigned to Lot #1, you would be required to park at the stadium. If you had Lot #39, you would park at the Wyoming Road Bus Depot, etc. These lots are assigned partially based on where the student lives, but primarily on a first-come-first serve basis. Returning students were able to purchase permits for the coming academic year at approximately mid-semester in the fall. So yes, freshman do get faraway lots, but UD has a rather reliable transportation system, the UD Bus (University</a> of Delaware Shuttle Bus Schedule) that makes many stops throughout campus. Also, note that during football season, on home game days, students assigned to the stadium lot are required to move their vehicles to another lot. That being said, students with Resident Student permits are eligible to park in Gold Lots on weekends (and between 4PM and 8 AM on weekdays). Yes, permits are expensive, and in my opinion a car was not initially necessary, but it certainly was very convenient. Please be advised, if your son does choose to bring his car, that UD Public Safety patrols every parking lot throughout the day, every day, ticketing. As of last year, the most common ticket, "Lacks Valid Permit," which was given if a vehicle had no current UD permit, was a $25 fine. Students with a valid permit parking in any lot other than that which they were assigned received a $20 fine. While these are not huge fines, they place a hold on course registration, grades being posted, etc. I hope this helps with your decision. Please check the UD Public Safety and Police website at University</a> of Delaware Public Safety for more information about the Division of Parking Services.</p>
<p>I'm a pretty big believer in no cars for freshmen. Older D (now a rising junior, not at UDEL but at good sized U) hasn't had a car yet, and is no worse for it. Younger D (an incoming Blue Hen) will NOT have a car either. Personally, when I was a student (more decades ago than I care to admit) I did not have a car until my senior year, when my lobbying finally broke down all my dad's resistance. In hindsight, though, the fact that I didn't have a car for a couple of years had advantages in exploring all that the U had to offer, which was a lot and increasing my self reliance (including getting in and out of the town from the airport - coming home for the weekend was not an option for me...). Though it was convenient my senior year, it wasn't a necessity then either. As for the ability to drive himself home, the temptation to do so with a car makes it easier and you'll see him more often, so you have to ask yourself, is that what you really want (even if you miss him, which you will, is that the best thing for him, right now...)?</p>
<p>Now, getting a clunker out of the driveway, that is understandable...</p>
<p>Our daughter will be a freshman in the fall, we are sending her car with her and have already signed up for a parking permit. We attended Delaworld101 on the 16th of June and when we met with the security officer she informed us that parking was first come, first serve. We live about 3 hours away in Southern Maryland and obviously want our daughter to have her car available to drive home occasionally. The security officer told us that she will have parking within the perimeter and possibly in her dorm lot, as long as we signed up right away. FYI - we were not able to sign up right then, but did so via computer as soon as we returned home that evening - it was indeed 433.00.</p>
<p>I didn't bring my car for the first semester because i didn't think I would need it, but I ended up bringing it for second semester. It is really difficult to get around Delaware without a car and it seemed like most people brought theirs. It was pretty easy to get a spot in the lot by my dorm, i didn't hear of anyone who had a spot down by the football stadium? And i waited until second semester too so I think all of you will be fine. It was great having the freedom to go home (even though I was 4 hours away, having a car made this seem much more doable and cheaper than the train), you can go grocery shopping, drive to and from class if you have one of those killer 7-10 pm labs in a far away part of campus (esp if you are a girl) and take trips to the mall. Yes, there is a bus that runs throughout delaware but it is very limited, takes you through the awful parts of wilmington, and will take you about an hour ot get to hte mall instead of 20 minutes. I didn't find that i became a chauffer for my friends, and if they needed to go somewhere, they paid me gas money. Overall, i HIGHLY reccommend bringing a car.</p>
<p>OP - If your son has convinced you that he "needs" a car on campus I think he has a great career ahead in Sales. UDel is very compact, Main Street and trains and busses run right through campus. I offered DD the family clunker for 2nd semester and she said "No thanks."</p>