How Bad is Wilkes-Barre? (Scranton, Swoyersville: appliances, houses, high school)

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by Chefkey

Kings has become a bedrock along with Wilkes to keep the city afloat and it really has been a godsend for the city to have them.

When we toured Wilkes with our elder son I really liked it. And Kings hosts the annual Merit Badge College over winter break where local Boy Scouts can knock out a few badges over a weekend. I've seen Elvis Costello at the Kirby Center which is a very nice classic venue that I believe dates back to the days when W-B was a big time Vaudeville destination. All that plus Boscov's and Barnes & Noble anchor a walkable downtown. There is nothing specifically "bad" about W-B although you see certain things on the news now and then that you see in every city unfortunately.

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Actually, jtab4994 was being facetious with his "ack" comment.

I'm pretty sure if you polled the regulars here, they would all support the colleges/universities regardless of affiliation.

Indeed, I was. In fact we toured U of S with our elder son and I wanted him to go there, but he chose to commute to ESU instead and that's OK.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by Ell9677

I once drove by Marywood or Misericordia (sorry, I can't remember which) and it looked beautiful. If you maintain a B average in high school you go to college for free in Georgia (HOPE). If you are homeschooled you get to do free dual enrollment at a college during your high school years and two free years when you graduate high school. I love this about Georgia. But, I haven't seen many campuses that are beautiful like you have there.

That is good! I'm originally from NYS and all SUNY (State University of New York) colleges are free for residents. With a "B" average, you would most likely be accepted to a mid-level 4 year college. With a "C" there are several 2 year colleges with dormitories that are available. An "A" would get you into one of the four university centers. Geneseo is also highly competitive.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by sheena12

That is good! I'm originally from NYS and all SUNY (State University of New York) colleges are free for residents. With a "B" average, you would most likely be accepted to a mid-level 4 year college. With a "C" there are several 2 year colleges with dormitories that are available. An "A" would get you into one of the four university centers. Geneseo is also highly competitive.

I’m originally from NYC and Your information is only partially correct. Certain SUNYs are now “free” under a scholarship program in combination with Tap and Pell grants. Housing and fees are not covered under the scholarship. Based on the parameters many kids applying to SUNY (and CUNY) do not attend for “free” as they don’t qualify for all the benefits to ensure a “free” tuition.

Family income can not exceed a certain threshold and a commitment by the student to stay the minimum number of years that they received the scholarship after graduation. Should the student not stay the minimum the state will seek restitution as the monies are considered legally a loan.

Currently less than 40% of NYC residents attending SUNY qualifies for the scholarship program. And not all SUNYs are included, for example SUNY Maritime is not part of the program.

[Ell9677]

It's pretty awesome that close to 40% of NYC residents attending State colleges get free tuition. I googled TAP grant and that looks pretty good too. My mother's family is from GA and my dad's family is in upstate NY. I have some friends in NY from my time spent there and a friend of mine has a son at a SUNY school this year and is indeed attending college tuition free. It's a huge help for parents today!

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by Ell9677

It's pretty awesome that close to 40% of NYC residents attending State colleges get free tuition. I googled TAP grant and that looks pretty good too. My mother's family is from GA and my dad's family is in upstate NY. I have some friends in NY from my time spent there and a friend of mine has a son at a SUNY school this year and is indeed attending college tuition free. It's a huge help for parents today!

Most middle class kids are not eligible for TAP or Pell grants. I wasn’t back in the late 90s and my parents combined grossincome was around 70k. The thresholds haven’t changed much in all these years either.
Meta: wait, that’s not true. I got Tap one semester for $200 since my older sister was in college at the time. THe following year she dropped out and I lost the small amount awarded. I think it covered like 2 textbooks anyway. ��

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

... I got Tap one semester for $200 since my older sister was in college at the time. THe following year she dropped out and I lost the small amount awarded. I think it covered like 2 textbooks anyway. ��

Sounds exactly like the PHEAA grants in Pennsylvania. Our elder son never qualified for it, but lo and behold our younger son did. It amounted to a few hundred bucks which as you say pays for a couple of textbooks. Better than nothing.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by jtab4994

Sounds exactly like the PHEAA grants in Pennsylvania. Our elder son never qualified for it, but lo and behold our younger son did. It amounted to a few hundred bucks which as you say pays for a couple of textbooks. Better than nothing.

Yes, TAP is the equivalent of PHEAA grants. I’m always curious as to the formula used to determine the award. In NYS those guidelines haven’t changed substantially in 30 years.

[Ell9677]

We'l be looking at four homes in Clarks Summit on Sunday. I am hoping the autumn leaves will be in full color. We don't get that in Coastal Georgia. We are looking forward to trying the NEPA Italian food while we are there

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by Ell9677

It's pretty awesome that close to 40% of NYC residents attending State colleges get free tuition. I googled TAP grant and that looks pretty good too. My mother's family is from GA and my dad's family is in upstate NY. I have some friends in NY from my time spent there and a friend of mine has a son at a SUNY school this year and is indeed attending college tuition free. It's a huge help for parents today!

Yes it is. My nephew is a Freshman at SUNY Buffalo, one of the four university centers. He was in the National Honors Society in high school, and his SATs were very high. He applied to both state and non-state colleges in NY and New England. The best deal for him, and for my sister, was SUNY.

Since your dad lives in NY, I am wondering why you have not thought about NYS? Specifically, any of the college towns up there.

They are more accustomed to out of state people moving in. Both places have cold winters, but I think your reception will be warmer in NY State.

I began college at a highly selective New England university. I left right before my senior year because my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. When I returned to complete my degree a few years after she died, I decided to go to Stony Brook University, one of SUNY's four flagship universities.
My education, while not free, was a good deal less costly and was as rigorous as the private college that I originally attended.

Now, with free tuition, it really is a bargain. Yet another reason why I'd consider NYS over NEPA.

Of course, I never intimated that the dorms were included in the free tuition. I will also add that if your son is a vegetarian, the food (also not included - I'll say it before someone points that out) is very vegetarian friendly.


At the end of the day, you would be hard pressed to find a better university system than SUNY. And the deal is quite sweet with free tuition.