I spent 8 years at Ohio State (largest college campus in the country), and I teach there part-time. I can absolutely, positively, 100% say that I would NEVER park anything worth more than $5,000 on the streets around a college campus. College kids may be getting an education, but many of them are jealous and immature, and love to spout off by dragging a key down the door of a nice car. Not to mention the high rate of towing, accidents, DUI's, and flying beverage containers.

Unless you have access to a semi-private parking deck, I'd invest in a nice beater and stop worrying about it.

 

I'm currently a full time student at Georgetown university in DC (where parking is absolutely horrible) and found the perfect solution by parking a couple streets down next to a mini-museum or any "low traffic" spot and walking to class. The 5 minute walk is worth the piece of mind and it's always nice walking around the campus area.

Hope this helps I also thought about this when I first started going to school so I get where you're coming from. What I don't understand is why people are acting like d!cks to someone who's kindly asking for help.