College visit transportation suggestions needed
 

DD would like to visit Lehigh, Bucknell, RPI, and BU following a summer program in NYC. The question is that, when I come to pick her up from NYC, where do we go from there, we would like to depart out of Boston. I would prefer public transportation, because I don't care for driving in new places, but if it's the only option, I could do it. Time is not really an issue as we have no schedule. Any suggestions?

Train or bus to Boston.
Train or bus to Albany; taxi to Troy.
Train to NYC.
Bus or rental car to PA schools?

The trip from Albany to NYC is gorgeous.

I used to live a few miles west of Lewisburg (Bucknell).
The best way to get there by public transport is to take a Keystone Service train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.
The bus station is upstairs in the train station.
http://www.susquehannabus.com/
If you take the 9:00AM Keystone out of PHL you will get to HAR in time to catch the 11:30 (27) bus north to Lewisbuurg. The bus drops off about 1PM in a parking lot next to the RR tracks.
Don't forget there is another great University in Selinsgrove (Susquehanna).

Don't take the train between Boston and Albany -- its too slow. Take the Peter Pan bus (Peter Pan is the regional bus company).

If you want to finish up in Boston: PA first, then back to NYC; then take the train to Albany/Troy for RPI, then bus from Albany to Boston.

To get to Lehigh (Bethlehem PA) you will have to rent a car somewhere in New Jersey, maybe at the Newark (EWR) airport.
The airport has it's own Amtrak Station for the trip to Harrisburg.
Capxxx is right about the bus being faster from Albany-Rennsaeleer to Boston 4 hours vs. 6 hours.

Thanks everyone,
It does seem like Bucknell is out of the way, I'm wondering if it's worth it, RPI is DD's first choice, so maybe we should leave out Bucknell, but who knows what she will like when she actually sees the schools.

I think I convinced a friend to join us, which may ease my driving fears. I do like the idea of driving PA first and then back to NY for the train to Albany, and bus to Boston.

Susquehanna looks like a cute school, just the sort I would want, but DD wants engineering. Any other suggestions for small engineering schools along this corridor?

OP, former college dean here.

If a college is hard to get to for a visit, how will your student get to and from there for college vacations?

When in Boston, look at MIT and Northeastern if she's interested in engineering, and maybe Wentworth.

My son will be graduating from Bucknell next month. We have found the best way to get to campus is by car. Driving is very easy in PA. The campus at Bucknell is beautiful...we will be back for graduation in 4 weeks!

I agree, Bucknell is beautiful. We drove there easily from New England.
RPI is a very good school but location , Troy, isn't great. She needs to decide if she wants to be in an urban or more rural setting.

Rent a car and see the countryside--no matter where.