Is PA depressing? (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown: chapel, neighborhoods, school district)

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by zenguy21

Ready to bite ones head off, nasty guy.

Well after a while, the NEPA-bashers tend to get very aggravating....people who want everything handed to them and who expect the other side to always be greener.

I thought the same thing when I graduated from college. Everybody just automatically assumes that you have to leave to make anything of themselves. I started looking out of the area, specifically south (NC), and really did not find much other than salaries that were about the same as NEPA with much more expensive cost-of-living. The funny thing is that the exact same job that I hold in Wilkes-Barre, PA pays $16,000 less per year in Raleigh, NC, and you can buy homes in NEPA for a third of what they cost in the Raleigh area.

And I will agree about the job-finding resources and recruiters being much better at the main campus....that was the only drawback of staying at the local campus, in my opinion. But overall, I would rate the education at the smaller campuses to be better, if only for the fact that the classes are much smaller and you're on a first-name basis with all of your professors. Other than that, the level and quality of education is the same. Its Penn State, no matter which campus you're at.

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by conorsdad

Oh, and "go gators??" Is this the same University of Florida that accepts illiterate people as long as they can run and throw or catch a football (like most southern schools)?

Whoooooooooooooa!!! Chris Leak is an honor grad from Independence High School and would have qualified for an academic scholarship and currently is on track to graduate.
Other than that, Penn State rocks!!!!!

[mm_mary73]

[quote=conorsdad;252105]
I thought the same thing when I graduated from college. Everybody just automatically assumes that you have to leave to make anything of themselves. I started looking out of the area, specifically south (NC), and really did not find much other than salaries that were about the same as NEPA with much more expensive cost-of-living. The funny thing is that the exact same job that I hold in Wilkes-Barre, PA pays $16,000 less per year in Raleigh, NC, and you can buy homes in NEPA for a third of what they cost in the Raleigh area. QUOTE]

Yes, you probably could buy a home for less in NEPA, but that would depend on where you looked in Raleigh, probably one of the most expensive areas in our great state. As for the salary, when I moved here (back when the earth was cooling ), I took about a 50% cut in pay. I do not, and would not live in Raleigh / Wake County, but am still struggling to decide if I can survive the move back......

[zenguy21]

Originally Posted by clearwaterlargodude

haha give me a break i almost fell out of my chair laughing

I see what you mean Mary. I would imagine it would be tiring. Wow I'm actually surprised-- you would have thought the job would pay more in Raleigh but if you can get that same job and better living standard in Wilkes Barre thats pretty good isnt it. I'd like to see more economic development though in these places. I'd imagine there would be a higher unemployment rate up there than in Raleigh.

[carolinajack]

it can be. I live in Philly downtown and while we have a few more things to do here in the city, it can get rather boring in SE Pa finding things to do.

I often have to drive to Maryland Eastern Shore, or the NJ shore for beach and birding and fishing. The mainline doesnt seem to have much of anything to do but a few shops and eating, but nothing really exciting. Bucks County is a bit better with Doylestown museums and shops, along the river at Peddlers Village, New Hope area. and I think parts of Chester county has a few things. There are some arborteums in the area, a few parks, and there is Chestnut Hill with the park and shops and museum there but thats in the city.

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by clearwaterlargodude

even cowher couldnt take it anymore

And Nick Saban wasn't too thrilled with Florida. Cowher obviously liked it here enough to stick around a long time. What's your point?

The last time I was in Florida, the beaches were full of wrinkled old ladies and old men in speedos. Give me the Jersey beaches anyday.

[zenguy21]

Trials-- everyone wants to live up here and we have good schools. Yeah try my old school district-- Conestoga. That's probably really hard to get a teaching job with and its really good. You can go elsewhere and there are good school districts. Sorry its hard for you up here. Teaching is a hard field doesnt pay well and subject to cuts.

As for the Jersey shore I could fall down laughing too like clearwater. The water is frigid and the prices are ridiculously out of wack in comparison to a place like the Outer Banks or the Carolina coast. Florida is out of whack on price too but has nice warm water beaches. At the jersey shore its crowded, you overpay for absolutely everything and you cant swim until mid august. You might as well head up further to the coast to Nova Scotia if you want a beach where you cant really swim much but a great kind of vacation. I just love goin "down-a-shoah" said with a gritty new jersey accent. Some of the jersey shore isnt bad like Sea Isle City or Stone Harbor/Avalon-- more room to play volleyball or beach soccer, nicer beaches (still need tags ) more breathing space but you pay a lot more too something to keep in mind.

[YouKnowWhatItIs212]

PA is not depressing at all. I have been all around PA. The only depressing places in PA I have been to are Chester and Harrisburg.

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by trialsinlife

Another thing about PA its like impossible getting a job in ones field! Try Teaching for example. I live in the Philly area and I just graduated with a Masters in education from Temple and its like impossible; You have to be into politics here. I could move to Florida, Arizona or Nevada and get a job tommorrow and the rent appears cheaper than say like in Philly, Allentown or Harrisburg. I could see why all of these 20 somethings are leaving.

NORTH CAROLINA!!!!!!! especially if you're certified! Not Raleigh tho http://www.ncpublicschools.org/employment/
http://www.ncgov.com/

[claremarie]

I'm sorry, but there IS a difference between PSU at University Park and the branch campuses. The admissions standards at UP are higher, and so is the quality of the faculty. It is much more difficult to land a tenure-track position there than at the branch campuses. The UP course offerings are much more extensive, and the facilities are better. You might get a decent education at the branch campuses, but there is no question that the academic opportunities are much better at the main campus, particularly for the stronger students who intend to apply to graduate or professional schools.