chammom

My son will be attending this fall. He hopes to buy a car this spring. Are freshmen allowed to have cars? If so, are they necessary or advisable?

descant

I overnighted at Amherst and asked some people that I met the same question. The overall consenus was that very few, if any Frosh have cars on campus. They spoke of one kid who has one but who parks it far from his dorm.

Also there's really good public transportation in Amherst - it has a good bus system (5 colleges). Its also not that large, many things are in walking distance.

Gleech

freshmen can't park on campus.

they're certianly not nessecary: the PVTA has good coverage of the 5 college area and theres a Peter Pan bus to springfield, new york, and Boston. The campus is right in town.

I'm suprised you would buy a car as you enter college: I'm selling mine in the summer.

Amherst (town or college) doesn't really have any good parking at all. it's difficult to find a place to park for an evening, let alone a year. I'd advise against a car.

evitajr1

D doesn't have a car, and she has been to Boston on the Peter Pan bus, and goes shopping on the bus. She and her friends walk into town to go out to eat, etc., since the campus basically starts at the downtown mall. No car is necessary. As a parent who was there for the move-in then for Parent's Weekend, believe me, parking is at a premium!

Cre8tive1

At the overnight, a few freshmen said they park in the church parking lot, it that possible to get away with?

This guy said he only did it for the fall, but still, could that work?

chammom

thanks everyone. He just got a license, hence the frantic desire for his own car. He can certainly use it while he is home, until the fall. I guess he will be leaving it behind come Sept (a good thing).