What influences students to drive past other ACCD schools to get to our campus? The

facilities, lack of traffic, parking convenience, low cost and the courses offered were a few of the reasons mentioned by long-distance students.

“It's cheaper than a university, the traffic isn't bad from Seguin and the campus is small, so there's a lot of one-on-one interaction between teachers and students,” said Sara Anderson, a sophomore Education major.

Only about 4.54 percent of all Palo Alto students live inside the 78224 zip code, which is Palo Alto's zip code. That's only 282 students from a total of 6,209 students who are enrolled, according to a preliminary report of the Spring 2000 data.

According to the same report, the top feeder zip codes for Palo Alto are all southwest of San Antonio. Students who live close to Palo Alto mostly choose this school because it's close. For those who live further away the reasons vary.

Even though John Tamamantes, a freshman, lives closer to San Antonio College and Northwest Vista College, he chose to attend Palo Alto because his older brother came here.

Nicole Lyssy, a sophomore, drives forty minutes to get to campus from La Vernia which is Southeast of San Antonio. Lyssy also said San Antonio College has poor parking and she is happy with her decision to attend Palo Alto.

Another student who goes the distance to get to campus is Traci Henderson, a freshman, who drives fifty minutes from Stockdale to attend Palo Alto. “Cost and distance,” was Henderson's response to why she chose Palo Alto rather than another school.

Michael Flores, Director of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness for Palo Alto, didn't have one specific reason why students from the north and northeast come to Palo Alto.

“I've heard a lot of favorable comments from students about the feel of the campus and the one-on-one class situation,” said Flores.

Courtney Barth, a freshman English major, likes something about Palo Alto or she wouldn't drive 30 minutes from Kirby to attend class. All of Barth's cousins came to Palo Alto, so this was the obvious choice of schools for her. Barth said, “I like the personal attention from the faculty.”

Sabrina Steenbeke, a freshman enrolled in the Vet Tech Program, drives 45 minutes to attend Palo Alto from Schertz. Palo Alto's low cost and the Vet Tech Program drew Steenbeke because it's not offered at other colleges, only universities. Steenbeke said, “I like Palo Alto, because it's more personable than a university.”

Brittany Socher, a sophomore Communications major who lives in Northwest San Antonio, thinks San Antonio College is too crowded and Northwest Vista College doesn't offer as good of a 2+2 program as Palo Alto for her major. Even though other schools are closer, Socher keeps on driving those extra 10 to 15 miles to attend Palo Alto. Socher's friends recommended Palo Alto when she was deciding on a college.

Michael Flores, Director of Research, attributes students who go the distance to Palo Alto's “unique sense of community.”