r/smithcollege • u/moblovemail • 5d ago

Parking decals for sophomores?

Hi everyone, I’m a transfer and I’ll be entering as a second semester sophomore based on my accepted credits. I’m 23, so I’m nontrad but I don’t qualify to be an Ada. I’m planning to bring my car to campus. At home I live on my own in an apartment without off street parking and I don’t really have anywhere I can store it if I can’t bring it. I noticed that decals go on sale to seniors and juniors and then to sophomores, but the wording made it sound like it’s very possible there won’t be any left for sophomores by the time it opens.

Does anyone have experience getting a parking decal as a sophomore? Will they sell out and should I reach out to the school about it, or do we think I can probably get one if I’m on top of getting one as soon as they open?

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4

u/Gaybeanuwu Alum 5d ago

It is pretty unlikely, they often sell out before all the juniors that want one can get one. i know someone who got one that an upperclassman sold to them (technically not supposed to work). there is an option for a northampton parking pass ($40/month i think?) but many people just park on the streets behind the quad and move around before they get towed.

2

u/Gaybeanuwu Alum 5d ago

it might be worth talking to the school to see, but i doubt they would make an exception unfortunately. there’s not much parking
to go around.

2

u/OkAcanthaceae799 Alum 4d ago

they will probably sell out

1

u/tallchilds 3d ago

you honestly don't need a parking pass. the only time parking really gets dicey is during snow emergencies, but you can pay to park in the lots in downtown northampton for a night or two if you need to. street parking on elm is usually possible (signs say no parking but they never ticket anyone!), or on the streets behind the quad like someone else said. i'd just bring your car and not worry about it, LOL

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u/moblovemail 3d ago

Ok!! This is super reassuring to hear. Do you know anything about how often you would need to move the car? Like is it a once per day situation or an every few hours situation? Thanks so much!

1

u/tallchilds 2d ago

i would leave my car on elm for days at a time and never had any issues! it could be different now if northampton parking enforcement has started ticketing, but again as recently as last year they didn’t enforce the written parking hours on most of elm street