I used to commute to school by bike, of course back then we had to bunnyhop a lot to avoid running over dinosaurs....;o)
I'd say forget a $900 bike. Look in garage sales or on eBay and get yourself a bike you can afford to lose, a dependable beater. Make sure it has fenders and lights on it and a rack to attach panniers on. Any sturdy bike should do for a short commute like that. Don't worry about the looks. Once you are familiar with your bike, looks take a back seat to feel and how it makes you feel.
Good luck. Since school, I've continued to bicycle commute for many decades. It's cool.
Last edited by Artkansas; 04-02-07 at 03:02 PM.