The Pros & Cons of Cars on Campus

If your student lives on campus, one of the "driving" issues may be whether or not to have a car at school. Here are pros and cons to add to your own lists:

Pros

• Increases the student's ability to get to an off-campus job or internship or student teaching gig
• Student able to travel home more frequently and easily
• No one has to go pick up the student at the end of the year because he can drive himself and his belongings home
• Going to town for supplies or groceries is less of a hassle when you have a car
• Student can get away to study somewhere quiet or go hiking, etc.
• Opportunities for involvement in off-campus efforts, from community theatre to volunteer firefighting, increase

Cons

• The availability of convenient parking can often be an issue
• Cost of gas remains high
• Getting a pass to park on campus can be expensive
• Student may travel home too frequently and lose out on campus experiences
• The costs associated with car upkeep, including oil changes, maintenance and insurance, can eat into student's meager funds
• Students with cars are often pressured by those without to provide rides, be designated driver when others choose to drink and to loan out their cars

You'll also want to check out campus policies as they relate to cars. Are freshmen and sophomores allowed to have cars? How much does parking cost per year? Encourage your student to check the public safety or parking services website affiliated with your campus—or to stop by and ask questions in person. An informed decision is a better one when it comes to the "need vs. want" decisions associated with cars on campus.

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