Using mass transit to get to interviews?

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nitrolegs

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Do most of the schools provide information on how to get there via public transportation on buses and rails? For those that have applied, is it difficult to find out where you need to go once you make it to the airport? Or do most people just go with a taxi? I'd like to ride mass transit if possible to save some money. Thanks.
 
Do most of the schools provide information on how to get there via public transportation on buses and rails? For those that have applied, is it difficult to find out where you need to go once you make it to the airport? Or do most people just go with a taxi? I'd like to ride mass transit if possible to save some money. Thanks.

some schools will help you out with transportation/lodging stuff up front. otherwise you can always call/email them if google doesnt get you what you need. just make sure you are never late to an interview!
 
why in the world would you risk being late?
 
i know UoP and Tufts send a handy guide that gives public transportation options, car rental info, airline info, muni/bus routes etc.

however i found maps.google.com to be a life-saver b/c they have the handy option of selecting public transportation to help navigate from different points. i was able to select my hotels based on how i could arrive to them via bus (just travel light!) or subway. additionally, i was able to select my hotels based on which routes were closest to the school so i could just walk to the interview myself or so i could just take a subway.

also, i selected 1 hotel based on the fact they had a free shuttle service to the airport, but you had to tip the driver like $10-15, but that saved me a $50 cab ride.

ironically, i found that the taxi was the most inefficient way to get to my school interview b/c the douche bag driver was 1. forty minutes late to pick me up and 2. ******* got lost on the way to the school and drove completely past it. 😡
 
Allow me to share my analysis of the option:

Taxi: Pros -- (likely) won't get lost as long as you tell the driver the exact
address, along with closest major intersection. Quicker than public transit.

Cons -- Requires booking a taxi ahead of time if not in a dense city such
as NYC. Booked taxi may come late. More expensive than
public transit.

Public: Pros -- Cheap.

Cons -- Takes more time than taxi to travel to destination. May
require transfers, easy to get lost. Actual punctuality of the
local transit system is unknown to an outsider like yourself.

A third option: Choose to stay in a hotel within walking distance to the
school you're interviewing at! It may mean a $30 premium
on the rate that you'll have to pay for the room, but a taxi
ride can cost as much. Eliminate the risk of being late for
interview.
 
I wouldn't take the chance on using mass transit heading to an interview. I would try to stay as close to the school as possible. When I interviewed at Howard I stayed close to the airport and booked a taxi to come about 2 hours before my interview. My vote is spend the money and allow crazy extra time to get there.
 
Doubletree hotel is a sprinter's distance away from Tufts and was a reasonable price.
 
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