<p>@shacherry I can answer your transportation to Ithaca question though I don’t have a student there. My daughter did an on campus audition last year and we did go to the airport plus I asked the question to the student panel about how students get to campus on their own without a car. </p>
<p>The airport is small and no more than 15 - 20 minutes tops from Ithaca campus. I believe one would have to take a cab to it because I don’t think there is any public transportation option (though I could be wrong about that.) There is a direct flight to Tompkins from Newark and it is very expensive because there is no competition for it. There are no direct flights from any of the other NYC area airports.</p>
<p>At the info session with the student panel I asked the “how do you guys get here on your own?” question. The answer I got was that students can take the Cornell Bus (whatever that is I assume something arranged by Cornell) from NYC which runs during busy times like holidays, move in/out and it takes about 6 hours. Then there were other mentions of things like catching rides posted on ride boards etc. It is an absolutely beautiful spot but make no mistake, it is not easy to get to without a car and even with one, it’s quite a distance in on narrow roads from any major highway.</p>
<p>Getting to Ithaca is one of the reasons there was no way I wanted my son to apply there. I grew up nearby and visiting home even when we lived closer was difficult enough — from the West Coast, very difficult. Driving — yes, narrow roads and ice and snow in the winter. Also if they start “fracturing” for natural gas in that area as they have in the surrounding areas in PA, getting flights in will be practically impossible and expensive.</p>
<p>This is definitely one of those “personal preference” variables: I’d a million times rather spend 40 minutes driving on a 2-lane road (the rest of the trip to Ithaca is on interstate from Virginia) than travel into Boston, New York, Philly, Chicago, etc.! Even getting around those cities is more hassle than it’s worth in my book. However, Shacherry’s son wants easy access to New York for professional reasons, and that would probably be cumbersome unless there are good flights. Syracuse is even farther for us, but there IS train access. I was also interested to realize that Ithaca was significantly easier and closer for us than, say, Hartford. </p>
<p>To risk sounding like one of those “in the olden days” people, when I went to Middlebury for college and traveled home (to West Virginia) for vacations, it was literally an all-day excursion, starting with a 45-minute cab ride to the Burlington airport and then a succession of puddle-jumpers and short flights zig-zagging across upstate New York all the way south. Exhausting! I was so grateful my senior when I finally could drive home for breaks, even though it meant a 2-day snowy trek. When it came time for my kids to look at schools, we decided that most schools should be within a day’s (8-hour) drive, and that was about what it ended up being. It was close enough that I could get there once or twice a year to see a production or a game, but far enough that I was never tempted to “rescue” them when they had the flu or felt overwhelmed by school. But we have had more than a few snowy drives! :)</p>
<p>I would concur that Ithaca is not a location that would provide easy access to NYC for professional reasons. Also agree that for anyone for which that is not a priority, it certainly is a question of personal preference. For example, I think getting around Boston, New York, Philly, etc. is a zillion times easier because you don’t even need a car and there are competing airlines that serve those major metros that keep the price down. Also, if the goal is for the student to be able to get themselves to/from on their own which is a necessity for those of us that live too far to consider driving, it is relatively straight forward.</p>
<p>But the beauty of choice is that there is something for all preferences!</p>
<p>I went to Ithaca many years ago and hated it - except for the location. I grew up in NYC, live here all my life and love it, did not find it difficult to get to or back ever. There are buses from Port Authority to Ithaca, as well as kids who drive down when necessary so you could hitch a ride. It is a school for wealthy kids so many, many have cars and are great about driving friends where they need to go. Hitchhiking is still a safe and fun way to get around the town. I had a boyfriend at Cornell, neither one of us had a car until Junior year and saw each other many times The town of Ithaca also has a fairly good public bus system.</p>
<p>I had a car when I was a junior and drove down one Saturday to go to my nephews six year old birthday party and then drove back up the same day. Not a big deal at all. Currently my younger daughter goes to school in western Illinois - either a 2 plane ride/45 minute drive or a three hour drive/plane ride - now that’s a tough commute!</p>
<p>Amtc, were you studying performing arts at Ithaca? I am curious about your statement that it is a school for wealthy kids. </p>
<p>My husband went to graduate school at Northwestern and talked about the fur coats in the library and BMWs in the student parking lots. Meanwhile I was working in the admissions and financial aid office, so I knew the wealthy kids were a minority, but very visible.</p>
<p>Today It is no more a wealthy kids school than any other expensive private school. I know kids at Ithaca, and their families are not wealthy. There are many kids there on scholarships too. I wouldn’t worry about that.</p>
<p>It’s worth keeping in mind that there are reasonably close airports besides the one in Ithaca itself: Syracuse and Elmira/Corning. I went with my son to audition on campus; our flight was cancelled due to a snow storm, so we ended up flying into Elmira, which actually is a larger airport. If we end up flying again, I would look at all the airports – the proximity between them helps keeps fares reasonable. These other airports are just under an hour away. I had a rental car, but I’m guessing a taxi or ride service would probably be less money than my recent cab fare from Newark airport to midtown Manhattan!</p>