St. Olaf College - ParkingCollege Prowler3.08
Comparable Schools'
Parking Grades:
Quick Stats
Freshmen Allowed to Park
Yes
Common Parking Tickets
- Non-registration fee - $25
- Parking in a visitor space - $20
- Parking without a permit - $50
Approximate Parking Permit Cost
Getting a Parking Permit
Because parking is limited on campus, you have to have a legitimate need for a permit before you can apply for one. If you need a car for off-campus academic work, if you are commuting to campus, if you need a car for medical reasons, or if you need a car to get to an off-campus job or service project, you are pretty much guaranteed a permit. Students living more than 200 miles away from campus can also apply for a storage permit, but these are harder to come by.
College Prowler Take
It’s really nice to have a car on campus. If you don’t have a car or a parking permit, then be sure to make friends with someone who does. Once you get a permit, you will basically be guaranteed a spot, but you can be sure that it will be a very bad one. Countless outings to downtown Northfield have been cancelled because the prospective travelers have been too lazy to walk down to Tostrud, where almost everyone has to park.
Parking tickets can also be a major hassle. Once you have a parking permit, you’re on record. The parking office knows your car, and they know you, so you can’t just ignore your fines and hope they go away. Just make sure that you park in your designated lot, or you’ll be fined. If you do get a ticket, bring the nice people in the parking office some flowers and tell them you had to drive your sick grandmother to the hospital, and maybe they’ll cut you some slack—just maybe.
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
If you have a permit, there’s a...
If you have a permit, there’s a place for you to park. The problem is that you have to live 200 miles or more away to get a permit if you are not a senior, don’t have a medical problem, or work/volunteer for less than 10 hours per week. The parking situation is perhaps the worst thing about Olaf because the campus officers love giving students tickets for not parking in the correct spots. Many students are very bitter about the parking office, and the people who work there are very mean. |
Anonymous says: |
There are a lot of public safety...
There are a lot of public safety people on power trips with parking. You’ll get tickets, but just make up an excuse and you can get out of it. Is it easy to park? Hell no. |
Anonymous says: |
You need to get a permit if you...
You need to get a permit if you have a car. Only people who volunteer, work, or have another really good reason can get an on-campus parking permit. I advise you to make something up. |
Anonymous says: |
It is easy to park, though it will...
It is easy to park, though it will be far from your dorm. The hardest thing will be getting the parking permit. |
Anonymous says: |
It’s difficult to get a good...
It’s difficult to get a good parking spot on campus. Parking permits are issued to students that qualify, either due to distance from home or working responsibilities. |
Did You Know?
Best Places to Find a Parking Spot:
I-Lot, J-Lot, and Tostrud
Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here:
Buntrock Commons or anywhere near your dorm
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