<p>I applied RD to Smith, but now have some questions.</p>
<p>I really like music and going to concerts and was wondering how easy it would be to travel to Boston to see some of my favorite bands every couple of months or so. How long does it take to get from Northampton to Boston or New York?</p>
<p>Also, how easy is it to find a part-time job even if you're not eligible for financial aid? Would I be able to find a job on campus?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>It takes 2 hours to Boston, 2-1/2 hours to NYC driving. If going by bus, the time adds up.</p>
<p>From what I understand, finding part-time jobs on campus isn't that difficult. I've heard that it's Smith's philosophy that the student jobs pay relatively well so that the jobs in the community aren't gobbled up by the students.</p>
<p>So to get to New York City would I have to take a bus to Boston and then from Boston to New York?</p>
<p>No, you can get buses in either direction from NoHo. When I said "the time adds up," I meant that bus is nowhere as fast as driving yourself. Getting to the bus terminal, any stops and transfers, a slower speed (at least slower than I drive), getting from the terminal to where you're going on the other end.</p>
<p>Um, it wouldn't be that easy to get to Boston by bus to see shows unless you have somewhere to stay in Boston. The actual bus ride is not that bad, especially if you can catch the express bus that goes straight from the five colleges to the South Station terminal, and that runs pretty regularly. THere's a slower bus that makes stops in a variety of small towns. Bus to Boston is about 2 hours, bus to New York is 4 hours (and since when does it take 2.5 hours to drive to New York from Noho? It's always taken me at least three). </p>
<p>The main problem with going for shows is that the last bus back to noho leaves boston at 8 PM, long before most concerts will have started much less finished. So then you're looking at the cost of not only a bus ticket (not extraordinarily expensive, but not exactly cheap, even with a student discount), and then a place to stay in Boston. </p>
<p>If you're not on financial aid, it's a little tricky to find a job on campus. Of course, dining hall jobs are always available, but other jobs can be more competitive. However, I've been able to hold a variety of on campus jobs including boat house monitor. You just have to keep applying for stuff and see what happens. One place you won't be able to work is the main library, since they only take sophomores and up, and they pretty much only take people on aid. </p>
<p>Off campus jobs are another option, you make more money that way, though you have to work out with your employer what happens when you go on vacation.</p>
<p>There are also some pretty good bands that play in Northampton, moreso than in Amherst/Hadley, at least.</p>
<p>S&P, re NYC, there are two possibilities: I drove fast and lucked out with traffic or my memory got it wrong. Fwiw, bad traffic can make NYC run to 4 hours if you're going into Manhattan.</p>
<p>:-) Well, I thought maybe you were in the know about a secret 2.5 hour way to get there that you could share. You're probably right about the driving fast and traffic thing though. I usually go to NYC at the wheel of a Smith SGA minivan and end up getting stuck in traffic on the GW bridge. So that's probably why it felt so long.</p>
<p>gub, </p>
<p>Maybe you could crash with friends at Harvard, MIT, BU, BC, Emerson, Northeastern, etc. if you go to Boston. Hang onto those friendships!</p>
<p>The couple of times I've done it I've driven south on 91 and then southwest on 95. I've kinda wondered would it would be like to take the MassPike to the NY line then shoot down the NY border on whatever the highway there is...but never had the time to explore. </p>
<p>Traffic in/around Hartford is wildly variable. Considering the number of vehicles compared to LA, I can only conclude that the design of the road system as a whole is inefficient.</p>
<p>My two best friends will most likely be in Boston and NYC respectively next year, so if I'll definitely be crashing with them (unless I'm in NYC, too).</p>
<p>Yeah, then it would be do-able, but you'd be shocked how little time you will actually have for doing those kinds of things when/if you get to Smith. While geographically speaking Boston/New York are pretty close, as a student I often find that they might as well be the moon. It's easy to go in for vacations and things, but you probably won't want to/won't be able to jaunt over to Boston even once a month. If I get there once a semester, i consider that an achievement, and I'm a severe music-phile as well.</p>
<p>There is much truth in what S&P says: if you're a serious student at Smith, the amount of time you have for trips is small, other than at times like Fall break. D went on a couple of retreats and had to miss 2-3 days twice for family funerals...it took a lot of sweat for her to get caught back up. Each weekend poses questions about what you need to do for class & assignments the following week. </p>
<p>I am sorry that a proposed House trip to Montreal never materialized.</p>
<p>Just a quick question... sorry for hijacking this thread by the way... When do the teacher forms (printed off CAO) have to reach the college for RD?</p>
<p>Thank you! I'm Int'l and I've everything ready for sending, I just don't want to send it at the wrong time! Happy New Year!</p>
<p>If you have them ready now, go ahead and send them. If I recall correctly, the RD deadline is Feb. 1 and since you're int'l, that'll give the paperwork plenty of time to clear the hurdles.</p>