<p>Anyone having children major in political science? Is it possible to double major in both political science and something else, like biology?</p>
<p>Can anyone help me with information regarding different locations near H? I have access to a vacation exchange program but unfortunately the Boston area locations are all booked up. Which will be a more convienent location to access H bearing in mind ease of traffic and availability of public transport if we decide not to rent a car.</p>
<ol>
<li>Cape cod area</li>
<li>Yarmouth/ Falmouth/Dennis area</li>
<li>Marthaās vineyard.</li>
<li>Berkshire, MA</li>
</ol>
<p>Other areas will include RI, Vermont, New Hampshire but I am thinking this maybe too far.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with the Boston area and will really appreciate any input.
Is it worth it taking the exchange? I will be paying less than $200 a week with it as against minimum of $140 per day for 2 weeks in a hotel.
Will I be paying a lot in transportation commuting from this locations?
We will be at least 4 (-1) people.</p>
<p>Look at a google map: <a href=āGoogle Mapsā>Google Maps;
<p>If you stay in Yarmouth/Falmouth/Dennis you WILL need a car to go food shopping, site seeing etc, as public transportation between Cape Cod towns is almost non-existant. </p>
<p>Yarmouth/Falmouth/Dennis is an hour-and-a-half drive from Cambridge ā thatās on a good day, without traffic back-ups. If you are further out on the Cape, it will take longer to get into Cambridge. There is a train that runs on the weekends from Boston to the Cape: [CAPEFLYER</a> - SUMMER WEEKEND PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE FROM SOUTH STATION BOSTON TO HYANNIS CAPE COD](<a href=āCapeFLYER - Passenger Train Service Boston to Cape Codā>CapeFLYER - Passenger Train Service Boston to Cape Cod). There is also bus service: [Cape</a> Cod Ground Transportation and Bus Lines](<a href=āhttp://www.capecodchamber.org/ground-transportation]Capeā>http://www.capecodchamber.org/ground-transportation). But you will need a car (or a very expensive taxi ride) to get to the train or bus.</p>
<p>Marthaās Vineyard ([Marthaās</a> Vineyard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=āhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marthaās_Vineyard]Marthaāsā>Martha's Vineyard - Wikipedia)) is an island. Itās really not an option if you want to get into Boston several times during your visit. The Berkshireās is also about an hour-and-a-half drive into Boston. Although there is bus service from the Berkshireās to Boston, you will also need a car while staying in the Berkshireās to go food shopping etc.</p>
<p>@Gibby, Thanks for your helpful insight.
It seems staying in a hotel in the Boston area will turn out cheaper and more convenient in the long run bearing in mind the transportation and gas cost. I understand that the public transport system is quite good around Cambridge. Is this correct?</p>
<p>^^ Thatās correct. Public transportation around all of Boston is very good: [MBTA</a> Subway 'The āTā > Maps, Schedules, and Fare Information for the Boston Area Subway System](<a href=āSubway | Schedules & Maps | MBTAā>Subway | Schedules & Maps | MBTA)</p>
<p>Thanks for the link.</p>
<p>As gibby said, none of those places is anywhere near Cambridge. Some people do commute from Cape Cod (the āUpperā Cape) to Boston/Cambridge, but they leave for work at about 5 a.m. Thatās the closest of anything on your list. My dad has a place in the Berkshires, and it takes over two hours to get there from Cambridge in no traffic. Have you checked any of the towns west of Cambridge or on the other side of Rte. 128 (Burlington comes to mind)? You would need to rent a car if you were out there. May I ask when and for what you are coming? That might help me think of some options.</p>
<p>We have options to choose something at South Lee or Lenox but that seems to have the same commuting need. We are now more inclined to use a hotel in the Boston area if the wait list does not pull through for the Boston resorts. We are looking at sometime between 15 Aug and 3rd of Sept for 2 weeks. Thanks.</p>
<p>Providence, RI is about an hour from Cambridge and the commuter rail goes right into South Station, Boston; there is also regular Peter Pan Bus service (both to South Station and to Logan Airport). From South Station the MBTA Red Line (subway) goes right into Harvard Square. But most good beaches in RI are 45-60 minutes south of Providence; the commuter rail only goes as far south as Wickford (half hour south of Providence). Newport is about 35 miles from Providence but it is an hourās drive, and there is no regular public transportation between Newport and Boston that I am aware of other than, perhaps, private bus service (e.g. Peter Pan). Hope that gives you the lay of the land better.</p>
<p>Reserved our rooms for 2014 graduation! (Holiday Inn Express, Tues thru Friday, May 27-29) - Iām so happy thatās off my mind!!! Is it too early to make restaurant reservations??? I would appreciate previous year parents help with estimate time commencement events are finished, and restaurant recommendations within short walking distance. I did see someone mention Harvest?? Thanks for helping this excited Grammy!!</p>
<p>Bubbe, Commencement will end after the afternoon program in Tercentenary Theatre at which the Commencement speaker does his or her presentation. That ought to be late afternoon, by 4? Restaurants within walking distance will be packed. Hopping on the T may be a good option. If not, I like the Thai restaurant āSpice.ā</p>
<p>Many of the restaurants around campus donāt start accepting reservations until 4-6 weeks in advance, although you can check opentable.com and make reservations that way.</p>
<p>Harvest is my favorite, favorite, favorite restaurant in Harvard Square. You can also check out Henriettaās Table or Red House, or for a very special meal, Rialto or Upstairs on the Square.</p>
<p>So, Mollie, I see youāve joined us on the Harvard Parents thread. This gives me a chance to ask you what Iāve been wondering. Iām sure many will read your name as Mollie B. at MIT. Here on the Harvard forum, I choose to see you as a baseball nut (and bad speller): Mollie-bat-mit. Youāre a Sox fan, I presume?</p>
<p>Bubbe, gadad is right: afternoon exercises end around 4. (This year, it was especially crowded, but the Tercentenary was pretty clear and navigable by 4:20.) RedSoxMollieās recommendations are good; you might also want to ask your student to name his/her favorite restaurant in the square and make a reservation thereāwe were surprised to find that many restaurants were still pretty empty around 5:30 p.m. You might be hungry by then, anyway, since itās a very full and busy day: you will probably get to the yard before 7 a.m. for good seats, and then lunch at the Houses is more about the commencement than it is about lunch. You will have plenty of time to get to the North End, if you want Italian. Itās really a wonderful dayādress with an eye to the weather, wear comfortable shoes, pack a few snacks and an emergency umbrella for rain or excessive shineāand enjoy!</p>
<p>It is, indeed, Mollie B. @ MIT ā my undergrad email address. 
But given that Iāve lived in Boston ten years now, I have not escaped affection for the Sox, for sure.</p>
<p>Thanks to all including private messages for information on graduation - I guess I can relax for months before deciding about restaurant reservations. I just made it under the wire to get my rooms for Reward Points as my reserved hotel now shows no room availability for Reward Points for graduation dates! I was lucky as itās quite a savings for (2) rooms for 3 nights, now I have $$ leeway for airfare!
Molliebatmit - nice to see you here at Harvard - I used to follow you as my granddaughter graduated from MIT a few years ago!</p>
<p>There is no Political Science major that I know of, My son is a junior Government major and loves it!</p>
<p>I have a few questions for all you knowledgeable Harvard parents. :)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Iām looking into finding a bank/credit union, and noticed Harvard has one. Does anyone have experience with them?</p></li>
<li><p>Iām switching phone carriers and am debating between Sprint and Verizon. Have your students used either carrier/which one is best? (I plan on getting an iPhone 5)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My son used the CU and liked it, until he did his Summer Tour with the Kroks following graduation. He gave the CU his itinerary so they would know that charges in Hong Kong, Korea, etc. were legit. He also deposited all of his graduation gift money into that account so he could buy things during the Tour. Second day of the tour his debit card was denied and he called home in a panic. We called the CU and they told us that they had to speak with him personally (which I had told him to expect, but we still tried). He was finally able to speak with someone at the CU a few days later and confirm his identity. He explained that he had been in Hong Kong, but was presently in China and the CU officer said āOh, I can see that on your itinerary that I have in front of me.ā My son explaining that that was why he gave them the itinerary did not seem to reach the officerās comprehension, but AFAIK he had no further problems for the rest of the trip.</p>
<p>Regarding phone service, my son used an iPhone during his time at Harvard, but it was always AT&T. He had no problems with service that I know of.</p>
<p>@iluvbooks: I think most students have Verizon and have no problem. I donāt know many that have Sprint so canāt comment on that, sorry!</p>
<p>Question for parents with continuing students on Financial Aid: </p>
<p>Has anyone received their studentās financial aid package for the 2013-2014 school year? We havenāt heard anything yet from Harvardās FA office for my daughter, while we received our FA package for my son from Yale a month ago. I was wondering if this was just an issue for our family. Has anyone heard yet?</p>