Kay guys, things I wish I'd known this time last year.
So most of you have heard there is quite a waiting list for "good" parking. It's true. In the beginning, almost everyone has Zone 5 parking which is a lot at the North Campus a few blocks away. There is a shuttle that runs between that lot and right in front of the med school and outside of the anatomy lab and other places. It's a pain, but just remember it's temporary and we all did it. There will be shuttle schedules available (also online at the police dept. website). If it wasn't too hot or I had just missed the shuttle, I just walked. Some people prefer to walk all of the time. And don't forget that after 5, anyone with a parking tag can park anywhere on campus. So if you wanna head to the library after school hours, you can't park right in front.
When you go to pick up your school ID you will be able to put your name on a parking lot wait list. Within some of the zones, there are specific lots that you can get a reserved spot at. You can choose a zone and the first available lot or you can choose a specific lot to wait for. You can only have your name on one list at a time though. I went in to the parking office as soon as I got into SA which means I was able to get on a list before most of the dental students and before most of the med students. I highly recommend stopping in as early as you can. I can't remember when the first day of registration is, but I went in around July 15? I'm sure you could call and find out what the start date is this year.
Zone 4 is the first lot that will become available, although I highly recommend not putting your name on this list. The advantage to zone 4 over 5 is that it's on campus. While it's still quite a walk, you can leave without being at the mercy of the shuttle. Around October, there will be a ton of spots in Zone 4 and you'll be able to walk right into the parking office and buy a zone 4 tag without being on the zone 4 list.
Most students will sign up for Zone 3. It's a huge area that's close to the nursing and dental schools. Since our med school is attached to the dental school, you can walk through the building to get to class. I haven't ever parked in zone 3, but when I was in zone 4 I noticed that the spots were full almost up where zone 4 started when I arrive to campus at 11. If you get to school earlier or at lunch/afternoon you should be able to park a little closer.
When I signed up for parking in June, I put my name on the list for zone 2, lots 1, 2, and 4. I just got a reserved spot in lot 2 a couple of weeks ago. It was defiinitely worth the wait. I know park right outside of the medical school and my walk-in time went from 15 minutes to 1. It is a bit more expensive ($504/yr), but it's all about how much you care about walking. As a chick who likes to wear heals on CAP days and hates the heat, it's worth it to me. You can also sign up for zone 2 unreserved, although those few rows of spots in front of the library seem to fill up early in the morning. If you want a reserved zone 2 spot, I recommend signing up for the first available from lots 1, 2, and 4. There doesn't seem to be much turn over in lot 1 (right in front of the school and library) and you pretty much have to wait for a faculty member to retire or move.
If you put your name on a list and they call you to let you know that spot is available, you can swap out your tage and put your name on another list. So if getting on campus is the most important thing to you, you can wait for zone 4 and then move your name onto a closer list. I think the key is to get on the list before the dental students and nursing student register. Hope this helps. Lemme know if you have more questions.
