Living in MA questions

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
I have some questions for those of you who live in MA. Around June of next year I'll be moving up to MA to establish in state residence. After I do that, I plan on enrolling in Stockbridge for their arboriculture program.

Anyways, I'm hyped about moving up there, but Mom has many reservations about it. She likes to know it all in advance, have all her ducks in a row, where as Dad and I like the prospect of the unknown and traveling to new places. So I'm trying to gather some info to try and calm Mom's nerves a bit.

I'm looking into various job options right now, but I'm looking for info on things like:

The average cost of living
Minimum wage
Where to look for an apartment
etc

If anyone on here knows of any good sites or has any personal knowledge of anything I should know feel free to post it.

Thanks for the help and advice!
 
if you want to go to my alma mater, than move up to the Amherst area. Its great! Im still around the area. A lot of fun. Rents range, but is usually in the $400- $500 range. I think the minimum wage is $8, not sure though.

Apts:
Puffton Village
Brandywine Apts
Presidential Apts
Townhouse Apts
All these are very close to campus

Mill Valley
Rolling Green
Boulder Apts
Sugarloaf Estates
These are farther away

there are more, I just cant think of any more. If you type these names with amherst MA into google, you can get contact info.

If you want anything else, feel free to ask!
 
I think you will be impressed with the quality of the tree care companies in Mass, and with your experience I think you'll be gainfully employed without much trouble, at least during the Summer.

I'll post more things as I think of them... Good luck with the move! Hopefully we'll meet at a future arbor event up this way!

-Tom
 
Tell your mom not to worry. New England is the best part of the country, bar none. Assure her that even though we seem mean and often are, we are actually very nice people. New Englanders aren't fake friendly, we let you know where you stand. Seriously though, don't worry about minimum wage, you'll be making more. You grew up in the industry and Ma. companies have the money to pay you. If someone offers you minimum wage for doing tree work laugh and walk away. If you're are going to Stockbridge you'll be in the Amherst area, look for apartments there. There is more money to be made in the Boston area so you may want to make a friend who is from around there so you can make more money in the summer.

What's your Mom worried about anyway?
 
You'll save a ton on rent by looking in surrounding areas as opposed to right in Amherst. Gets a little pricier there. Look in Sunderland, parts of Northampton away from downtown, Leverett (very rural), Hadley, North Amherst, Hatfield, Whately. Some of the areas especially Northampton and Sunderland have great bus service to the college, so if you are in need of transportation, you'd at least be ok on getting to school. Best of luck to you man! Its a great area, I love being here. I work in Northampton personally, drop a line and I'd give you a place to put in an application, we always take on summer help!
 
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Thanks guys.

Mom is just worried about normal Mom stuff really. Me being so far away from home and all that. Just all kinds of crap. Gets frustrating at time.

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I get the worried Mom thing. Mine worries about me all the time, and I'm 31. Parents always get nervous when kids leave home. I know you'll have a positive experience in Ma. You are obviously committed to arboriculture and Ma is a hell of a place to get experience. As far as I'm concerned its among the very best places in the country to learn all the skills you need. Good luck and I look forward to meeting you!
 
Join the frat out there and live in their house, problem solved! ATG is the one you want to look into, you will make friends for life and have connections in the industry forever. Lots of my close personal friends have gone through there and they are all succesful.

Except for that one communist guy who works for city of Boston.....hes an odd duck!
 
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Except for that one communist guy who works for city of Boston.....hes an odd duck!

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Does he look like this?
 

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You guys are HILARIOUS!

Adrian, sorry I missed you. I am meeting with a guy on thursday that runs a company in the Berkshires...he already expressed some interest in giving you an interview.

How'd your tour go?
 
No problem Greg.

The tour went extremely well. Met Brian Kane and Dennis Ryan, and talked with them both. Got to sit in on Intro To Arbor and Climbing Techinques, so I got an idea of what the program is like, and we took a campus tour, so I have an idea of the campus. Met up with Jim yesterday and checked out the Mayer Power Products store and bought a few goodies in there. Hopefully going to come back up here in April during Spring Break and do an interview with Mayer.


Now it's time to figure out housing, and try to get my CDL and become a Certified Arborist. The CDL especially Jim said could help when interviewing for jobs.
 
You are certainly meeting some quality people. Well, except for Jim.
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-Tom
 
Yea its all good...you got to do what you got to do..i just thought I would raz you a little bit. Good Luck with all that man...school is annoying at times and you just want to get out there and do it. Be patient and look at the big picture.
 
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