I'd recommend getting the best cheapest bike you can find. Don't know where you're going to school, but my niece lost (stolen) a bike a year during her years in college. When my son went, I found a cheap 90's "mtn bike" for around $40 and he never had a problem with theft. Save your money and buy a nice bike when you're ready. BTW depending on the area, any bike left alone for hours is susceptible to theft. If you're going to leave it unattended for hours or overnight, go with a cheap bike you don't care about and get a good U Lock that'll probably cost as much as the bike!