For a school with long-established term-length programs, with associated internships, in both D.C. and NYC, look into Hamilton:
https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/offcampusstudy/washington-program
https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/offcampusstudy/nyc
Additionally, Hamilton’s public policy program is the strongest from among those of the Northeastern LACs.
Suffice it to say, this is all tongue-in-cheek. All of these colleges have enviable strengths.
Lots of love for NESCAC and other very small schools. My daughter wanted something a bit bigger. She was also looking for a more apolitical campus. She’s been very happy at Colgate. Pros and cons? Similar pros as some great LACs. Small classes, caring professors, strong alumni network, beautiful campus. Cons are very cold weather (but not much worse than other northern New England options) and cute town, but very remote. Some love the Greek system, some find that to be a negative. They give fantastic financial aid (free tuition if parents make under $175k), but don’t give merit aid.
Wesleyan, Swarthmore and Haverford are the closest to NYC with the two Quaker schools edging out the NESCAC in terms of actual commuting distance (driving time is about the same for all three.)
Vassar?
Completely forgot to add Vassar to the mix. At 75 miles up up river, it wins the prize.
Interestingly, according to ChatGPT, Conn College at 90 miles, is not much better than Wesleyan at 120 miles, in terms of commuting distance.
Yes, but Amtrak and some commuter rail connects New London easily to NYC. It’s more difficult to get to NYC from Wesleyan.
Seems to be approximately 3 and a half hours from either college:
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/New-York/45-Wyllys-Ave-Middletown-CT-06459-USA
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Connecticut-College/New-York
It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if there were many more stops along the Long Island Sound shore than between inland Connecticut and Penn Station.
There is only one stop between New London and New Haven on the high speed express train, which Conn College students would take. There is also just one stop between Meriden and New Haven on the express train for Wesleyan students. From New Haven to NYC, both would take the same high speed express train, preferably the Amtrak Acela which makes only 1 stop between New Haven and Penn Station in NYC. The number of stops on other trains varies, depending on whether it is local or express service.
The difference is that Conn College students are only 5 minutes from the train station. The time to get to the train station for Wesleyan students varies greatly depending on whether they take very limited campus provided transportation, uber, or free regional bus service.
The Middletown bus service (which is indeed free for Wes students) has a stop on campus, arrives hourly and will get you to the Meriden train station in under 30 minutes.
But let’s be real. If you’re booking the Acela, you’re much more likely to Uber it to New Haven.
I think ChatGPT was thinking in terms of kids on a budget.
Kids in college in CT don’t take the Acela. They take MetroNorth to GCT, from Shoreline line if they are past New Haven, or catch a train from one of the other lines. Acela is much more expensive!
Maybe this kid does regardless of what other kids do. But the point was the Amtrak and Metro North trains don’t necessarily make all the stops. Sorry if I wasn’t clear about that.
Even without Acela there are express trains which bypass many stops and there are locals which do make every stop. And that’s the case whether you’re on a shore line or the Hartford line through interior CT.
It seems that the OP’s interest in proximity to, say, New York City or D.C. is oriented around the potential for internship positions. I don’t think that being located a few hours away would enhance the feasibility for such opportunities.