I’m Too Old For a Student Transit Pass

I keep telling myself that being just shy of 40 is not too old to return to college for a Masters. My first class in grad school starts a week from today. But, faced with hostel SLU safety officers that don’t like my scooter locked out of the way on the sidewalk and parking rates ranging from $145 to $1200+ a semester I’m considering bus transit to get me to my two classes this semester.

Sadly, our transit agency thinks I’m too old for a transit pass (source). In fact, I’ve been too old for the last 16 years! Ouch.

Full-time students age 23 and younger with a valid Student ID card who attend a registered school are eligible to purchase a Student Semester Pass for only $125.00 (valid for the fall 2006 semester)! Please check with your school to see if they are currently registered with Metro.

Well, I’m only part-time this Fall anyway. I did manage to save $2 at the Chase the other night by flashing my student ID when purchasing a ticket for The Devil Wears Prada.

On the plus side I will be able to qualify for the senior discount in just over 25 years. Assuming, that is, they don’t raise the senior age by the time I get there.

In truth my 15-week semester with two classes would require only $52.50 in bus fare per the new rates which take effect on August 28th — the day before my first class. I’m looking at biking to the #70 Grand bus and then using it to get to the SLU campus, biking the rest of way to class. Weather and energy permitting I may simply decide to bike home rather than taking the bus. Having my bike would give me the freedom to stop at the store and pick up a few items or head to a coffee house to study. From my door to class I estimate about 45 minutes via this method — about 15+ minutes longer than if I rode my scooter. Driving my car would also save time but there I run the risk of getting parking tickets if parked more than 90 minutes at a meter (the classes are 2.5 hrs long).

Taking the bus certainly looks good, even for us old students.

– Steve

I’m Going To Grad School

Yesterday I received the official letter from Saint Louis University that I have been accepted to graduate school. I will be pursuing a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development (program website). When I received my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Oklahoma in 1991 I didn’t think I’d ever return to school, but here I am at 39 years old doing just that.

I’m still debating taking two or three classes this Fall. I do know that one will be ‘The Metropolis’ taught by Professor Todd Swanstrom, PhD., a Tower Grove East resident. Swanstrom, a Princeton graduate, is said to be an excellent instructor. I’ve certainly enjoyed the conversations (and debates) I’ve had with him. Update: I keep getting Swanstrom mixed up with Joseph Heathcott, PhD!

Last August I did a critique of Matt Bauer’s “Capstone” project from this program (read post). I was pretty critical of some assumptions but in general agreed with much of what he presented. A good friend of mine, a PhD in Communications, commented that he was glad I was not on his dissertation committee! So now I must subject myself to my own scrutiny as I complete this program over the next 2-3 years. I will likely post much of my class papers here so that you can all give me a dose of my own medicine.

As I spend more time at SLU I will end up doing more posts about the physical relationship between the city and campus. You can also expect that I will start pushing for scooter parking around the campus as well (see post from March).