r/UWMadison • u/_WillPower01 • 3d ago

Other Park-and-Ride: How is it?

Hello! My current top college choice is UW-Madison and I've already applied for the fall 2027 semester. However, my two best friends plan to attend Madison Area Technical College and want me to room with them in an apartment. I really want to join them because, well, they're my best friends, but all of the places right near UW campus are either super expensive or have an income requirement that we just don't meet.

To those who've participated in the school's park-and-ride system: is it good? As a college freshman, would it be a good experience for me to commute via car to their lot and then take a shuttle the rest of the way? So far this seems like the most realistic option for my situation but I'm just a little worried. Thanks!

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22

u/ionlyeatdips 3d ago

You'll probably just be able to take the regular Madison Metro Bus and not have to use the Park and Ride.

17

u/Ok-Butterscotch-6432 3d ago

I do the park and ride. For the most part it’s pretty reliable and wayyyyy cheaper than parking on campus. I’d recommend it.

8

u/Gwydion11b 2d ago

Does Madison no longer require Freshmen to live in the dorms? You might want to check that first. If not, the bus system is pretty good, and you get a bus pass with tuition.

9

u/Broad-Roll-2979 2d ago

You’ll miss a lot of the reason to attend Madison if you live at MATC.

5

u/blizzard-10000 1d ago

For freshman year, strongly recommend you live in the dorms to meet people and get the college experience. Then the following year you can decide if it's worth living off campus.

5

u/AwayPudding1267 2d ago

Exactly - if you want the full experience, live in a dorm and meet people on campus. You can see your friends too, but now it the time.

3

u/jiffer_zenith 2d ago

I lived further east than that and bused in to work on campus. Madison Metro's new rapid transit system has been quite an improvement. I don't think you'll have a problem living by MATC.

2

u/Human_Mark3686 1d ago

Hi!! I would recommend you live on campus. My best friend actually goes to MATC too, and I live on campus!!! We still get along really well and see each other all the time since the campuses are very close to one another. Sometimes she’ll spend the night in the dorms! Living on campus is a really good experience that I would recommend you not miss. Speaking from experience, I don’t regret it!