<p>We are about 20 miles south of Gettysburg, and about 60 miles west of Baltimore. I have driven thru Baltimore and up I 95 a few times; going to the Philly area or NYC, and it always seems like there is a lot of traffic around Wilmington. (and yes, tons once you get to the Jersey turnpike) Our neighbors are from near Philly, with a daughter at Penn, and they always go the Harrisburg route. I will however, try the Baltimore route next time, for comparison sake.</p>
<p>Harriet - thanks for the info on verizon. That is what we currently have for our family plan. I am glad to see my daughter will not loose service once she gets to Swat in August. (and really glad I won't have to get different service just for her)</p>
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We are about 20 miles south of Gettysburg
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<p>Ahhh. You are enough north of Frederick that it's probably about the same distance either way. Maybe ten miles shorter thru Baltimore.</p>
<p>You really don't have a direct route. You've either gotta go out of your way north or out of your way south.</p>
<p>I guess you'd just have to try a couple routes and see if either is shorter.</p>
<p>Since we're from the West Coast, we're coming in a couple of days early to get acclimated. We were planning on staying in Philadelphia for some sightseeing prior to orientation and then using the train instead of a rental car to get to Swarthmore. From your posts it sounds like we may want to rent a car and stay closer to the college and may need to do some shopping for our son. Any comments gladly accepted. Thanks.</p>
<p>Another question regarding banking. Do most students get an account at the Franklin Mint Credit Union? My daughter received a brochure with her packet.</p>
<p>I believe most students do get an account at the Franklin Mint. My B has one and so do all of his friends. I think it's the most convenient option.</p>
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Do most students get an account at the Franklin Mint Credit Union?
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<p>My daughter opened her account at the PNC bank that is right across from the train station. I don't recall ever hearing why she chose that bank, although it proved to be prescient since they have branches in D.C. so she can keep the same account.</p>
<p>It's probably worth noting that Swatties spend virtually nothing at college.</p>
<p>Lasemuse:</p>
<p>The train approach certainly works, although I wouldn't want to schlepp a lot of stuff from the train station to any of the first year dorms. It just depends what you are shipping versus buying locally and so forth.</p>
<p>The Market East train station in downtown Philly is located underneath this mall:</p>
<p>Gallery</a> at Market East</p>
<p>There's a BigK Mart in the mall downtown, so you could certainly do some basic shopping there (pole lamp, trash can, etc.) and bring it with you on the train. The college also runs frequent Target shuttle vans during orientation as kids need to do basic shopping. Tons of restaurants downtown if that's where you are staying. Morimoto is a just a couple of blocks from the station above.</p>
<p>My daughter did not have an account at any local banks. She deposited checks over breaks, and used credit card or cash out of ATM while at Swarthmore. It was more convenient for us, because we could access her account/transfer money on line if needed that way.</p>
<p>Verizon is pretty good on campus--EXCEPT Alice Paul. You can barely get service in the building at all. My friends who lived in Alice Paul and had Verizon had to walk outside to make phone calls, which was a real drag. </p>
<p>I don't know about David Kemp--it's next door and made of similar materials, so it might have the same problems.</p>
<p>S had account at the credit union his 4 years at Swat which was convenient for depositing checks from his campus job and withdrawing $ from the ATM. When he closed his account, they sent him a check for everything in his account which he received days after graduation.</p>
<p>We also have a family plan with Verizon, so that's what S had for 4 years. He even lived in Willets basement one year and never complained much about phone service. I'm sure there were times calls were dropped but not enough for it to be an issue.</p>
<p>D has an account with FMCU, which, as shellfell says, is the most convenient option for depositing checks from campus jobs. She also maintains her home checking account, which we can access if the need arises, as nngmm says. (Not that we've needed to so far, but it's nice to know that the option is there.)</p>
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Verizon is pretty good on campus--EXCEPT Alice Paul.
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<p>It's that darn Swiss stone!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the banking answers and the cell phone ones. We currently use PNC, so I think it will be easier for my daughter to just keep her current account. Does anyone know if there is a fee to use the ATM on campus?</p>
<p>ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
Do most students bring a trunk to keep under their bed? Do the beds adjust in height to allow a trunk to fit underneath? </p>
<p>Regarding a refrigerator; the housing packet says 24" in height? Is that a strict policy? We have a small one, but it is more like 3 feet high. </p>
<p>Thanks to all you experienced Swat parents out there who are taking time to answer my questions!</p>
<p>I added the PNC Bank to the map. As you can see, it is 450 feet from the Swarthmore train station. Any trip to the Ville (for example, to hit the Dunkin Donuts for coffee on Sunday after having slept thru breakfast) will put you at the bank ATM.</p>
<p>As for trunks, some students use lift kits to raise their beds off the floor by several inches. Many bring those flat plastic under-bed storage bins for clothes. My daughter had a trunk, but I believe she usually stored it in the free rack storage in the basement of every dorm. In fact, the main use of her trunk was to fill it to the brim with junk for summer storage in the dorm basement.</p>
<p>Refrigerator. Students have been known to exceed the 2 foot height limitation.</p>
<p>Right - the bookstore has bed risers, as does BB&B. They come in a couple of different heights. </p>
<p>The flat, under-bed storage boxes are great.</p>
<p>D has a trunk. She uses it as a table/extra seat for visitors during the year, and puts it (stuffed with stuff) in deep storage over the summer.</p>
<p>For "fly-ins" who need to shop on campus, here are the bookstore items:</p>
<p>Swarthmore</a> Bookstore - Bed and Bath</p>
<p>Swarthmore</a> Bookstore - Room Accessories</p>
<p>You can order this stuff in advance to be sure it is waiting for you when you arrive.</p>
<p>I'm not sure, but I think my daughter may have filled her truck with valuables and used it as the one item (or two or whatever limited number) you are allowed to put in the locked, secure storage site in Lower Tarble as opposed to the open rack summer storage in the basement of every dorm.</p>
<p>interesteddad, I never pictured your D as a truck-drivin' woman. ;) I think you meant trunk, and yes, the locked storage in Old Tarble is what I meant by deep storage - that's where my D keeps her trunk. You can put three items there: Swarthmore</a> College :: Housing :: Storage</p>
<p>The link also has some helpful information for people who are sending stuff directly to school ahead of time (as opposed to ordering it via BB&B or through the bookstore).</p>
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interesteddad, I never pictured your D as a truck-drivin' woman.
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<p>Shoulda seen the look on Public Security's faces when she roared up to Old Tarble in her double-axle, crew cab monster pickup truck lookin' to drive it on in for summer storage!</p>
<p>During the school year, she and her Swat buddies used to to truck on up to Willow Grove Speedway for the Friday night Sprint Car dirt track races!</p>
<p>Just kidding about Willow Grove. My daughter didn't share her appreciation for sprint car and Indy racing with her friends at Swarthmore. She said that if she had suggested cruising up to Willow Grove on a Friday night, they would have looked at her like an alien from outer space.</p>
<p>Should I add Willow Grove to the map? It's one of the most famous old dirt tracks in the country...</p>