<p>What do students from other colleges think of Amherst students?</p>
<p>I make the commute from Amherst to Northampton (for work, not classes) about 4 times per week by bus. I don't mind it at all. Read a book. It takes 50 minutes, and I think it is pretty relaxing. I usually walk when I need to go to UMass, unless the weather is really miserable. I also call girls from Mount Holyoke Mohos (and they sometimes do, also). Locals never say "Noho", though. It's "Hamp".</p>
<p>ok... I think its pretty much decided that there is at least some kind of transport issue with taking classes at other places... some people might be ok with it, but some people are sick with wasting so much time on a bus... </p>
<p>now tell us... what about social activities?? what happens when you going on the weekend for parties and stuff??? And are social activities open to all the colleges??? or some are restricted???</p>
<p>I'm at Mount Holyoke student, and we do <em>not</em> call the school MoHo, but we do call ourselves that. The quality of classes at each of the schools varies. You could take an incredibly difficult astronomy class at U Mass, but end up taking the easiest astro class ever at Amherst. A lot of professors do visiting stints at some of the other 5-colleges, also. Don't have an elitist attitude when you go and take a class elsewhere -- it can only serve to bite you in the ***. Also, the town between Hampshire and Amherst is pretty much non-existent. It is not vibrant or lively at all. The area, overall, is pretty dead. Welcome to western MA!</p>
<p>South Hadley, at least, is extremely dead.</p>
<p>Haha, South Hadley is really dead, but so is the part of Amherst in which Hampshire is located. </p>
<p>There is more of a town around Amherst Center and an even bigger town in Northampton. I'm not fond of Western Mass in general, though. I got tired really quickly. :(</p>
<p>Does the 5 college bus still exist or is the only option the PV Bus ? During my years at MHC getting to or from Amherst, Smith, Hampshire or UMass for a party or class was quick and easy. My son is starting college this year so it has been a few years since I took the 5 College bus but if it no longer exists that must really make interaction between the schools more difficult.</p>
<p>Hadley is a farm town. What were you expecting?</p>
<p>Also, I'm pretty sure the Five-College Bus IS the Pioneer Valley transport now.</p>
<p>Yes, it is the PVTA. This is the way I see that area: you are in western Mass. It is generally pretty rural, though you are about 1/2 and hour from the city of Springfield, a little farther from Hartford and two hours, or so, from Boston. Because of the colleges, the towns of Amherst and Northampton have grown in to something unusual for the area. Amherst is a beautiful, small, town with most things a college student could want--movie theaters, coffee shops, ice cream stores, restaurants, record stores, etc. Northampton is larger and has many more things including an incredible number of ethnic restaurants and great shopping. You are not in a big city, don't go there if that is what you want. Like a city, however, if you don't have a car, you will have to take public transportation. It may take you anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes to get where you want to go, because there are multiple stops, indicating that there are multiple desired destinations (UMass, the malls, the towns, etc.)</p>
<p>I have friends at Hampshire, Smith and Amherst who have taken classes at the other schools and have enjoyed the experience. I think it is one of the incredible aspects of going to any one of the 5 colleges. As far as I have heard, all of the colleges follow the same academic schedule. The consortium is a planned for thing, not a random occurrence. All of the schools understand that this strengthens them.</p>
<p>The schools do mix and go to each other's parties and events, this I can speak to from personal experience. </p>
<p>and TianXia: Along the route from Hampshire to Amherst is R&P liguors, and that whole strip that includes the wings and pizza place everyone from Hampshire orders from, the restaurant and stores across the street from that, and I can't even picture what elementary school you are talking about. Most of the walk is in a neighborhood of ranch houses, or typical New England clapboard houses, not isolated at all. I feel like we are talking about two different places! (or at the very least, two different routes to getting there).</p>
<p>Thank you for updating me. Last summer I visited Northhampton, Amherst and South Hadley. Although the general feel of each has not really changed in 25 years, it was fun to see how much they have grown--even South Hadley ! I agree with allthosethings' assessment.</p>