<p>If you desperately want a parking permit, you can work for parking services, and earn money while guaranteeing yourself a parking permit (still have to pay for it though)</p>
<p>Grad students have either guarenteed or very high chances of getting permits (don't remember exactly). </p>
<p>And no, parking isn't distributed randomly. They make a big deal about the point system. Which, by the way, may or may not be easily manipulated. Theoretically. Just saying.</p>