<p>Hey everyone, I recently got accepted to PSU and I'm considering going there next year. However since I live in Switzerland I haven't been able to visit the campus. So to anyone that has been to PSU (visited or as a student) do you think it's necessary to have a car? Also keep in mind that I'd like the explore the area and visit Philadelphia and New York, would this be easier with a car? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>No. Most students do not have a car. It is also very expensive to have a car on campus.</p>
<p>You can use buses or fly to Philly or New York. Most would drive or use some sort of transportation to get to those places. You could also buddy up with a group that is visiting those cities. </p>
<p>Oh BTW, congratulations!</p>
<p>Thank you! :)</p>
<p>You aren’t even allowed to have a car on campus freshman year anyway - so no worries! State college near the University is a very walkable area…and the campus buses will also take you all over. The other buses will run to Pittsburgh, Philly, NYC etc…So it’s not necessary to have a car. I did have a car there sophomore year until graduation, but that was 25 years ago - and apparently it’s gotten more expensive since then. </p>
<p>But since you can’t have a car there freshman year anyway, just go and enjoy the town and see if you want one after that. PSU is a great campus with a great college town. </p>
<p>My daughter was there from California so never had a car. To get around town she used the free bus that circles around on 2 different routes and it worked very well for her. The town is very walkable also, and easy to get around. It was fairly easy to get into Philly and NYC using the Megabus. It is reasonably priced has a good schedule. Flights in and out of State College tend to be expensive - sometimes the flight from State College to NYC or Philly to catch a flight to Calif. was as much as the main flight from there to Calif. As a result of the high cost, she sometimes took the Megabus into Philly and caught her flight to Calif. from there. Of course, it always is useful to have a friend with a car!</p>
<p>Wanted to update with costs for any students that may be interested in having a car on campus.</p>
<p>This applies after you have 28 credits:</p>
<p>If you live on campus in one of the residence halls, the parking is $640 for two semesters. </p>
<p>If you are off campus, one option is $351 for two semesters. You are given a lot to park your car.</p>
<h1>2 option is: $90 for day parking only or the year. No overnight.</h1>
<h1>2 seems like a pretty good deal if you’re off campus.</h1>
<p>I believe that parking after hours or weekends all change. I don’t know much about that part of it.</p>
<p>Though from what I’ve seen. Having a car and trying maneuver around the people and buses and other cars seems so hectic. Walking would be faster.LOL. </p>
<p>I know it says freshman can’t have a car, but my DD knew freshman that had cars on campus. I don’t know how that worked and she was mad that we didn’t let her take her car :). We picked her up for holidays and she walked everywhere while on campus. We made her take a car for sophomore year simply because I got tired of driving up and back to get her. She thought she would need a parking permit this year because she moved off campus, but decided against it. She says that after 5pm (I think) parking is free. So, she can drive over after classes if she wants to use the library or computer labs. </p>
<p>If you do take a car, be prepared to be driving friends. My DD is one of only a couple of people in her very large group of friends that has a car, so she is always driving for THON canning weekends and any organization outings.</p>
<p>If you’re living on campus you do not need a car. Never needed one when I lived in East last year</p>
<p>Daughter is a senior there and past 2 years she lived off campus and paid $900 each year to park her car in a lot near her apartment and the only time she really used it was to drive home to NJ. Many times she had to call AAA to get a jump start during those cold winter months due to lack of use. </p>
<p>My daughter is OOS and I just flew her home. There is a small airport in State College that connects to Philly and DC. Very painless. Its a 10 minute taxi ride. State College is a very walkable town which is connected to the campus. I think it would be more of a hassle to have a car. Then again I was a NYC girl for many years and did a lot of walking back in the day. The town itself is very charming and vibrant. I love visiting her.
Edited to add: There are buses that connect to Philly and NYC from State College. The campus and surrounding area have a lot going on all the time you might not have much time for exploring during the semester. </p>