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To Bring a Car or Not To

This is a biggie. Having a car on campus is very important to some students. Everyone's family circumstances differ. If you are exploring the possibility of your student having a car on campus, consider the following pros and cons:

Pros

Increases student's ability to get to an off-campus job or internship
Student is able to travel home more frequently and easily
Going into town to buy supplies or groceries is less of a hassle
Student can get away from campus to study or take a break
Opportunities to get involved in the community become more accessible

Cons

The availability of parking
Cost of gas remains high
Student may travel home too frequently and lose out on campus experiences
Costs associated with car upkeep, including oil changes and maintenance, can eat into student's meager funds
College students are considered "higher risk" drivers, therefore insurance rates may increase and strict regulations may be placed on them as drivers
Students with cars are often pressured by students who don't have cars to drive them places or loan out their car

If the possibility exists for your student to have a car on campus, consider this pro and con list carefully. Many, many students go through their college years without a car on campus. Not having access to a car can help them learn to solve problems creatively and to explore public transportation in ways they never would have otherwise.