FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

Nor will i walk on HJ Blvd after----well any time!


Florida- FA packages are done prior to admittance in a majority if not all schools.

[Sir Spiedie]

Visited the Union campus this past summer, beautiful campus, then you leave and are in...............Schenectady.

[Jonny Utah]

I obviously don't know N.Y. crappy as well as you guys (although I did live in the Bronx), but I must say that having been from place to place in NY, you can tell that the bloom is of the rose in a lot of places. I will tell you that I was very impressed with the Saratoga area, and some parts of Albany are really nice. From a Florida perspective, Albany and environs make sense for Florida kids wanting to go to school in NY state because you can fly Southeast non-stop from Tampa or Orlando into Albany cheap. I will also say that Oneonta looked like a very nice place to go to school, but I wouldn't want to try and make a living there. What's up with St. Lawrence University? It seems like a beautiful place but very remote. What sort of kid (besides one with some money.) goes there? Do they have a competitive football team? I am kind of mystified  as to how the school is able to carry on. It must have alot going for it to overcome its location.

St. Lawrence is an old school, semi-preppy type school that is one of the best small liberal arts schools in the country.  A degree from St. Lawrence is pretty impressive in the grand scheme of things but like you say, its a long way from ANYTHING and its cold, snows and probably has crappy weather more than anywhere else in the country.  Probably not too much different than anywhere else upstate, but its just that much farther from everywhere else (New York City, Boston, and even Syracuse and Rochester.)  But it carries on because it is a great school with some old money.  Kind of like Hobart or Union.  The kid that goes there is the same kid that would go to a school like Hobart, Union, Alfred or any Nescac school.  Im assuming they give plenty of financial aid, as I know some kids that went there that werent rich perse (they werent paying the full tuition by themselves anyway)

[Jonny Utah]

You guys never did answer my original question. Do kids only know the schools aid package until after admittance? Thanks.

No, you will not know your official financial aid package until after admittance, and even if you apply early, you can change your choice based on your package.  you can usually ask the official FAFSA questions and guidelines regarding admittance and most schools FA office can give you some definitive answers regarding those packages.

[Jonny Utah]

There are very very nice parts of the Capital Distict...  Saratoga is an incredible place to visit...not sure if I would want to live there year round because it becomes tourist invested over the summer....CERTAIN PARTS of Albany are nice...I double dog dare you to walk into Arbor Hill or Hamilton Hill at night...

I live right in the heart of Saratoga and it's the most favorite place i've lived....and I won't take 57 up on the dare....

RT, I usually try to go up there once a year for the races.  Whats the best steak place in Saratoga?  Whenever we go up we end up at some place downtown (dont remember the name).  But its the place where you walk in, the bar is to your right, and the tables are kind of straight ahead up some stairs, and there is some seating outside to the right?  Anyway, that place is ok, but Im getting tired of it and  Im thinking there might be a better place for steaks.

Any idea what place Im talking about?

[superman57]

Longfellows is a great resuturant where you can find a great prime rib... here is a link to saratoga resuturants

http://www.discoversaratoga.org/asppages/ListByCategory.asp?NAME=Restaurant

[superman57]

The Schenectady area the Union is in is not bad at all....and some great food....If your ever in the area and in the mood for Sushi-Mari's is great and the best Italian in the county is at Cornell's on Jay St.

[Senor RedTackle]

There are very very nice parts of the Capital Distict...  Saratoga is an incredible place to visit...not sure if I would want to live there year round because it becomes tourist invested over the summer....CERTAIN PARTS of Albany are nice...I double dog dare you to walk into Arbor Hill or Hamilton Hill at night...

I live right in the heart of Saratoga and it's the most favorite place i've lived....and I won't take 57 up on the dare....

RT, I usually try to go up there once a year for the races.  Whats the best steak place in Saratoga?  Whenever we go up we end up at some place downtown (dont remember the name).  But its the place where you walk in, the bar is to your right, and the tables are kind of straight ahead up some stairs, and there is some seating outside to the right?  Anyway, that place is ok, but Im getting tired of it and  Im thinking there might be a better place for steaks.

Any idea what place Im talking about?

The place you speak of is Doc's and the bar is on the left when you walk in but otherwise, everything else is correct. I am so-so on Longfellow's...to be honest, the Old Bryan Inn is actually very good for beef/steak.

Surprisingly, I think that the quality of the restaurants in town could be a little better. Some of them are just overrated...I'd say Doc's is good but for other steak choices in town, Old Bryan Inn, Lemoncello, The Grey Gelding, and Paradisio are good.

RT will plan a LLPP track day this year (E8 guys can come too)

[Jonny Utah]

There are very very nice parts of the Capital Distict...  Saratoga is an incredible place to visit...not sure if I would want to live there year round because it becomes tourist invested over the summer....CERTAIN PARTS of Albany are nice...I double dog dare you to walk into Arbor Hill or Hamilton Hill at night...

I live right in the heart of Saratoga and it's the most favorite place i've lived....and I won't take 57 up on the dare....

RT, I usually try to go up there once a year for the races.  Whats the best steak place in Saratoga?  Whenever we go up we end up at some place downtown (dont remember the name).  But its the place where you walk in, the bar is to your right, and the tables are kind of straight ahead up some stairs, and there is some seating outside to the right?  Anyway, that place is ok, but Im getting tired of it and  Im thinking there might be a better place for steaks.

Any idea what place Im talking about?

The place you speak of is Doc's and the bar is on the left when you walk in but otherwise, everything else is correct. I am so-so on Longfellow's...to be honest, the Old Bryan Inn is actually very good for beef/steak.

Surprisingly, I think that the quality of the restaurants in town could be a little better. Some of them are just overrated...I'd say Doc's is good but for other steak choices in town, Old Bryan Inn, Lemoncello, The Grey Gelding, and Paradisio are good.

RT will plan a LLPP track day this year (E8 guys can come too)

You are right, the bar was on the left, I typed it wrong.  Ill have to try those other places.

Yea the races are great but there are still WAY too many guys at the bars at night that month.  Fantastic time at the track though.  Bring your own beer, food, cards, chairs......You can't beat that.

Yea the good thing about living in that area is that its not too rural, but you can still buy a cheap house.  My buddy lives in Balston Spa, and bought a 5 year old house 3 years ago for like 250K.  Its not MTV cribs eligible, but its a great big house with a big yard and all that.  All those towns in that area have good schools too.

Anyone ever been to Ballston Spa?  Theres this townie bar (again, I dont know the name) at the bottom of hill kind of downtown that my buddy bet me I wouldnt go in for a beer.  So I took him up on his bet and went in for a beer.  Needless to say when I walked in it was exactly like the scene in "American Werewolf in London" when the two Americans went into the slaughtered lamb for the first time.  The bartender ended up being friendly though and it was kind of a cool place.

[labart96]

You guys never did answer my original question. Do kids only know the schools aid package until after admittance? Thanks.

No, you will not know your official financial aid package until after admittance, and even if you apply early, you can change your choice based on your package.  you can usually ask the official FAFSA questions and guidelines regarding admittance and most schools FA office can give you some definitive answers regarding those packages.

Makes sense considering that there would be no aid if your kid gets rejected from the school, right?  Just kidding.

TGP's first ever job post college was in the admissions dept.  As far as TGP can recall, aid and decision letters were mailed either together or just a couple of days apart. 

After letters were received, it seemed to TGP like things turned into one big negotiation session that could last most of the summer.  There were several occassions when TGP would hear the Dean sigh after receiving yet another fax that read "Hey, College X offered us $X more in FA, but my kid really wants to go to your school.  Can you match it?"

Keep in mind, some FA depts are willing to "play" - others are one and done.  Typically leeway on adjusting the package depends on the student and their particular situation. 

The one's TGP recalls the best were the letters from parents who shouldn't even be getting aid in the first place.

TGP will never forget a father of one applicant from Colorado hemming and hawing over Hobart's (at the time $25-30K price tag) when during the course of the FA review, our guys discovered this guy earned somewhere in the neighborhood of $300K a year.  He then pulled the "well, we got $X in aid from XYZ College - why can't you guys pony up?"  The fact he even managed to get an aid package offered by some other school was unbelievable.

You may also need to review the CSS Profile guidelines as well.  Many of the Upstate and NE private colleges require this app as well as the FAFSA. 

Regardless, if you think you'll require/want some aid - establish contact with a member of the FA dept at each school early on in the process. 

[labart96]

There are very very nice parts of the Capital Distict...  Saratoga is an incredible place to visit...not sure if I would want to live there year round because it becomes tourist invested over the summer....CERTAIN PARTS of Albany are nice...I double dog dare you to walk into Arbor Hill or Hamilton Hill at night...

I live right in the heart of Saratoga and it's the most favorite place i've lived....and I won't take 57 up on the dare....

RT, I usually try to go up there once a year for the races.  Whats the best steak place in Saratoga?  Whenever we go up we end up at some place downtown (dont remember the name).  But its the place where you walk in, the bar is to your right, and the tables are kind of straight ahead up some stairs, and there is some seating outside to the right?  Anyway, that place is ok, but Im getting tired of it and  Im thinking there might be a better place for steaks.

Any idea what place Im talking about?

The place you speak of is Doc's and the bar is on the left when you walk in but otherwise, everything else is correct. I am so-so on Longfellow's...to be honest, the Old Bryan Inn is actually very good for beef/steak.

Surprisingly, I think that the quality of the restaurants in town could be a little better. Some of them are just overrated...I'd say Doc's is good but for other steak choices in town, Old Bryan Inn, Lemoncello, The Grey Gelding, and Paradisio are good.

RT will plan a LLPP track day this year (E8 guys can come too)

TGP agrees on the Longfellows call.  Good, but not great.

[labart96]

Anyone ever been to Ballston Spa?  Theres this townie bar (again, I dont know the name) at the bottom of hill kind of downtown that my buddy bet me I wouldnt go in for a beer.  So I took him up on his bet and went in for a beer.  Needless to say when I walked in it was exactly like the scene in "American Werewolf in London" when the two Americans went into the slaughtered lamb for the first time.  The bartender ended up being friendly though and it was kind of a cool place.
[/quote]

Have not, but a former teammate of TGP's was from there and TGP believes he returned there to live and work post graduation.

[labart96]

RT -

Very interesting run down on the dumpiest places in Upstate. 

Kinda hurts you threw Geneva in there, but there is some truth to that.  Haven't been back in many years so TGP is not sure whether or not G-Town has improved it's game.

TGP would nominate Auburn, NY to the dumpy list.  Once played a gig (filling in for a buddy on bass) at this bar DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FEDERAL PEN!  The mullets, mesh trucker hats and black leather jackets were in full effect at this joint.  No joke.

As far as quality spots go, it's tough to beat all that Saratoga offers.  Still, TGP thinks his all time fave for Upstate towns is Skaneateles.

[Jonny Utah]

RT -

Very interesting run down on the dumpiest places in Upstate. 

Kinda hurts you threw Geneva in there, but there is some truth to that.  Haven't been back in many years so TGP is not sure whether or not G-Town has improved it's game.

TGP would nominate Auburn, NY to the dumpy list.  Once played a gig (filling in for a buddy on bass) at this bar DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FEDERAL PEN!  The mullets, mesh trucker hats and black leather jackets were in full effect at this joint.  No joke.

As far as quality spots go, it's tough to beat all that Saratoga offers.  Still, TGP thinks his all time fave for Upstate towns is Skaneateles.

Yea Auburns a wierd town.  I went to a minor league baseball game there a few summers ago, and it kind of reminds me of Cortland minus the school. 

It is funny how a lot of those medium size upstate towns like Auburn have main streets lined with huge old mansions that are probably some of the biggest houses in the country.  I actually kind of liked Auburn.

[superman57]

Ballston Spa is a little wierd