<p>Is it realistic to take any more than a handful of courses over four years in other consortium schools?</p>
<p>Can you work up a schedule that allows time to get around?</p>
<p>Can you get a seat in other school’s classes when you want one?</p>
<p>Is the task of navigating five different course catalogs too overwhelming?</p>
<p>Do people actually take a large number of courses at other schools?</p>
<p>Which schools’ students seem to take a lot of courses elsewhere?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is it realistic to take any more than a handful of courses over four years in other consortium schools?
[/quote]
If you are motivated to, yes. The PVTA runs free buses between all of the campuses very frequently during the day. Having a car might help if you want to take a bunch of classes at Smith, because the bus takes 45 minutes where driving is more like 15. However, it's still very possible to do without a car. I have a friend at Smith who doesn't have a car and has taken a number of classes at Amherst.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Can you work up a schedule that allows time to get around?
[/quote]
Yes, you just have to take into account transportation time and not sign up for a class that starts on another campus 5 minutes after you have a class at Amherst. </p>
<p>
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Can you get a seat in other school's classes when you want one?
[/quote]
That depends on the professor and the popularity of the course. If the course is not near its enrollment limit, you should have no problems. If the course is overenrolled, professors have varying policies on who gets cut. Some will choose randomly, some will cut underclassmen, some will close the course to 5 college students, it really depends. Most of the time, though, they will be sympathetic, especially for a student that's willing to leave campus to take their class.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is the task of navigating five different course catalogs too overwhelming?
[/quote]
Not at all. There is a combined searchable course catalog for all 5 college classes [url=<a href="http://www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/courses/%5Dhere%5B/url">http://www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/courses/]here[/url</a>]</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do people actually take a large number of courses at other schools?
[/quote]
Some people do, especially if you are majoring in Astronomy or Theater and Dance, which are majors run jointly by the consortium. Others never take a class off campus in their four years and are perfectly happy. It just opens up a lot of options that wouldn't be available otherwise, especially in languages. UMass, being a large school, can support a ton of language programs that you wouldn't otherwise have access to at a small school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Which schools' students seem to take a lot of courses elsewhere?
[/quote]
Hampshire, because that is the nature of the school. It was created by the other 4 members of the consortium and everyone designs their own program, so students tend to look for classes at other campuses that might fit with what they want to do.</p>
<p>If you are a male, taking classes at Smith and Mt. Holyoke often prove interesting.</p>
<p>Much appreciated.</p>
<p>Haha...I was wondering if males were allowed to take classes at Mt. Holyoke and Smith...guess that question's been answered.</p>
<p>hahahaha :D</p>