[I will be posting this to a number of schools so my apologies to those who see it multiple times]
The question “do you need a car” doesn’t address the whole situation. When I went to Syracuse University I certainly didn’t need a car but it did make it a lot easier to go grocery shopping or visit friends’ apartments when we were upper classmen. Going home for the weekend was a much easier 3 hour drive than a train ride of 4 hours plus whatever time it took dad to get me. (30 minutes?). I don’t remember how I even got to the SYR train station. Most of my friends were really happy that I had a car and was quick to lend.
I’m a parent so I’m only half qualified to answer, but I’ll tell you what I know.
The PVTA bus system is free for students and takes you to UMass, Amherst, Hampshire, and Smith, and also to a bunch of shopping. Obviously it’s not like having a car and you have to plan extra time for it, particularly for Smith, I believe because a bridge is being repaired or something and the detour takes forever.
There are buses that go distances (Boston/CT/NY etc) and there are shuttles to the airport around holidays, and also Uber and Zipcar.
I don’t think my daughter has particularly missed having a car (and the joys of digging it out in the winter) but she does know a bunch of people who have them and that’s been nice. I think if you have a car you inevitably end up driving people places, which has both advantages and disadvantages.
D’s been there with and without a car. She did just fine without (used airport shuttles, Peter Pan bus into NYC several times, PVTA free bus to go shopping).
She enjoyed having one this past year, though - obviously you can go on your own schedule, wherever. Some of her friends also have cars, they trade off to go places. She REALLY enjoyed having it when she was there over the summer doing an internship - it allowed her to go all over the area on weekends. During the school year, not as much to do (she doesn’t really ski).
“Need”? No. I visited recently and got an Uber in 3 minutes, they were all over Amherst (and presumably would be easy to get at MoHo too).
During the school year, PVTA served D’s needs just fine. When she lived on campus and worked there during the summer, PVTA was virtually non-existent, so a car was almost a necessity.
She kept the car one fall semester, and quickly found out that being the one “with a car” led to many ride requests from friends (not a problem) and strangers (awkward). She was glad to give up the car when returning to school after semester break.