Sims 3: Crashing issue on Mac

satansfavspawn  The Sims 3 travel transition is fragile and breaks easily even if you don't do anything wrong.  And traveling home from University seems to be a particular problem in the 64-bit Mac version of the game.

Are you willing to try a few mods? If so, I would suggest installing NRaas ErrorTrap, Overwatch, Traveler, Register, and MasterController.  MC doesn't do anything on its own but is helpful for its ability to reset the world; the others fix various issues in the background, with no need for user input.  More information is here:

Sims 3 - Common Game Fixing Mods - Hero Approved | EA Forums - 8291748

If you're not willing to try mods, at least not yet, try lowering the stress on the game engine during the travel transition:

• Empty out your sim's inventory as much as is reasonable.  Having a few items is fine, but not much more.
• Save the game immediately before you want your sim to travel.
• Exit to the Main Menu and lower all the graphics settings to the minimum.  Turn off the in-game shopping experience and the interactive loading screens as well, then quit to desktop.
• Delete the five cache files in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3: CASPartCache, compositorCache, scriptCache, simCompositorCache, socialCache
• Take your computer completely offline.  You can sign into the EA App and put it in offline mode, then disable wifi before pressing Play.
• Load the game, and once the clock has run for a few sim-minutes, send your sim home right away.
• If this works, be sure to "save as" and rename the save, then quit and delete the cache files again before continuing to play.

You can restore your usual graphics settings after your sim has returned home and you've saved—just exit to the Main Menu, change the settings, and quit.