The four clues that need to be connected are:

• NIGHTLIFE, CARDS, GOLF, EXTRACURRICULARS
• FINANCE, SNOW, RIVERS, "AMERICAS NEXT TOP MODEL"
• LOOSE, SPLIT, DEAD, BOOK

The answer to the first set of clues is "CLUBS". The answer to the second set of clues is "BANKS". The answer to the third set of clues is "ENDS". Therefore, the connection between these four NYT crossword clues is that they all have a four-letter word that can be added to the end to form a new word: CLUBS, BANKS, ENDS.