Don’t know about Providence, but I think the preferred way to get from NY to Boston on a budget is Bolt Bus and similar services - will cost you around $20, a fraction of Amtrak. Takes longer, though, and the travel time is less predictable because it’s subject to traffic conditions. Some baggage limitations, too, I believe - check the website.
My kiddo (Yale grad) now lives in Boston and has decided never to take the bus to NH or NYC because it’s so unpredictable. She springs for Amtrak now. But you’re right the bus is much cheaper.
Question for parents of sons…
My son has two Blazers and a suit. Thinking of just sending him with the Blazers and leaving the suit at home or is a suit necessary for any Yale events?
He should be fine with just blazers.
You’d think so…until the on-campus recruiting for investment banking internships starts (if that’s a direction your son wants to go). That’s some time in the future, though (and who knows if they even wear suits for that sort of thing anymore). We need a parent of a finance-bound upperclassman to weigh in here…
My son brought a blazer and a suit and wore the suit at least a few times in the first semester. A blazer might be fine, but since you are far away, I’d send the suit so he has it.
Not IB, but DS was flown in to Chicago for a hedge fund interview, took a blazer and nice khakis, was sufficiently dressed. Khakis and a nice button shirt would have been sufficient, probably, but he did not want to risk it.
JPMC has a bank wide business casual policy as of this year, but I would not suggest interviewing in a polo shirt.
As far as on campus, a blazer is more than enough. Apparently, there’s something called a frat party jacket, which launders well. Don’t ask.
@tonymom He can always bring the suit and other stuff on his visit home during XMas. Two blazers is fine for the first few months.
Thanks all! Will probably send the suit at Xmas although he will be making his way back to NH via Florida as part of break is spent at winter training in Florida. Actually…I have visions of the suit being left in Florida…may just send via FedEx.
He has plenty of button up dress shirts and ties all complements of his monthly Catholic school mass dress up day. 
Is anyone else finding the communication between ACS and the Yale payment accounts less than seamless? I’ve found ACS is not updating my Yale account with payments made but they are reflected on the ACS account…totally annoying as how am I to know what the current amout is?..
And it’s impossible to speak to a person on the phone from ACS…
Sorry to rant…maybe I’m missing some magical step 
@tonymom I’ve found that credits (including ACS and outside scholarships) can take 3 - 4 business days or more to show up. If you have any concerns, call student account services. They have been helpful in resolving any concerns.
Not a son but my daughter got to school and found out that she needed several specific dresses and a black gown for performing. Luckily I was local so I could just take care of it but I wondered what the other girls do on short notice. I would send the suit and a blazer and just know that you are covered if that last min he needs it, its there. It wont take up that much space and will alleviate so much stress if it should happen to be needed.
My son is a rising junior in consulting/business oriented major and clubs. and just now feeling the need for a suit. He has gotten by fine with a blazer (maybe two?) and a handful of dress shirts for many semi-formal dances and dinners, and a spring internship with a local consulting firm. His internship this summer was obtained through phone interview, so no suit needed for that either, though I do think he’ll need one for the more serious rounds of interviews that will happen this year. . Personally I’d hold off on the suit and send when/if it’s needed.
I would opt for the suit over the 2nd blazer. I would never interview for a summer position in a blazer. YMMV.
^ Same and same.
DW has informed me that it’s a good thing my kids have better cognitive function than I do. DS wore a nice navy suit in Chcago. My apologies for the misinformation. D’Oh.
@IxnayBob
To err is parental, to suit is divine!
@tonymom
Yale is aware of the lag. Frustrating but they say they can’t do anything about it.
Does anyone have thoughts on the best way to tap a 529 plan for paying tuition - it looks like I can send money straight to Yale, to me or to my student.
The simplest I think would be send it to me, and then I pay Yale. As far as I can see there’s not a compelling reason to go with one of the other two options.
Any thoughts from your experience?
My 529 has a section for “qualified institution”. As I understand it, and my understanding is imperfect, you can disburse to an individual but this creates an extra step with the IRS in that you need to show receipts from the institution. Not a big deal but still an extra step. On the other hand the transfer process from my 529 “provider” -Merrill Lynch in my case- is very antiquated (they require submission by fax!) but I suppose that I would have to do this regardless of the payee. The only trick is to make sure that the payment stub accompanies payment from the account. I pay Yale directly, so there are no IRS issues.