<p>As for having to have a car at CSUF, that simply isn’t true. Case in point: two of our current BFA students do not have cars. Both work, go out with friends and get to school without problem (and neither has a BIKE, either; they walk for the exercise!). Personally, my son rides his bike to campus in 10 minutes (less time than it takes me to drive and park!), or walks the 1.5 miles in less than half an hour. </p>
<p>Also, many of our students ride their bikes, as the weather is rarely inclement enough to preclude this (except the rainy months in the spring). In the event the distance or weather does not permit biking, the bus system into the school is excellent (providing transportation in from all over the county), and the school subsidizes monthly bus passes (free, last I heard!). Also, there is a special bus line that runs in from the Fullerton Amtrack (train) station, so that students who live farther away (Riverside, Corona, Santa Ana, Capistrano, and beyond) can train in, and take a free shuttle bus to school. And Amtrack offers student discounts on monthly train passes, too.</p>
<p>At USC, they estimate undergraduate transportation costs to be $1362/year. Why is that, if they needn’t have a car because they live on campus? Same thing at UCI - $1,193/year for transportation if living on campus. And UCLA estimates $729/school year (whereas a commuter expense here is estimated at $1,776). Very likely this fee estimate for those living in campus is for the expense students must incur hauling their stuff into and out of the campus twice per year (to vacate at the end of each semester/quarter).</p>
<p>And in LA, unlike in NYC, people need a car to get to casting directors’ and agents’ offices, and auditions and callbacks - plain and simple fact, widely accepted as gospel among the professional community here.</p>
<p>Whew! Hope I’ve covered it all…I get carried away, but feel passionately about knowledge and resources being shared (as we all do, or we wouldn’t be here).</p>