Random non-MCAT and only peripherally related to the MCAT thread - Part XXIV

Boost your MCAT score by 12 points or more.
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Dr Durden

Dr Durden

Full Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
4,259
Reaction score
1
Members do not see this ad.
Let's get this party started. :banana:

B0009XIEVK.01-ALVYE3T5WL0WT._SCLZZZZZZZ_V1118773961_.jpg

Our lovely Randames.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
ARGH! I want my grade for the orgo final!!!!


When I wrote the midterm, I think it took like 12 days.....gahhh. I hope I don't have to wait this long again! This is Day 5.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
What credit cards do you all use that have good incentives/rates?

I just signed up for the Southwest Student Rapid Rewards and I need a credit card to compliment it.
Click to expand...
i use citi master card platinum and american express jet blue
the rates are high for both because of my relatively low credit compared to estabilshed people
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
What credit cards do you all use that have good incentives/rates?

I just signed up for the Southwest Student Rapid Rewards and I need a credit card to compliment it.
Click to expand...
I just went with my bank's, because I have (had) a low income, so I wouldn't have much luck elsewhere. I had the option of either paying an annual fee and collecting AirMiles for WestJet or getting 0.5% cash back and paying no fee. I went with 0.5% cashback.....considering how much I use this credit card, I expect to have like $150 cashback by the end of the year.

WestJet only flies around Canada and in the US it's just several areas in Florida and Las Vegas....I'm not applying to any med schools there, so it didn't make much sense. And if I have an interview at UWO in Ontario, I think I'll have collected enough AirMiles with my debit card by then (their interviews are in Feb/March).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
Any real difference between Am Ex, Discover, Visa, Mastercard?

My debit is backed by MC, but I feel no loyalty.
Click to expand...
the difference is
amex isnt received by amcas 🙄

otherwise, shop based on APR. I have credit cards with 12-16% APR range. The key is to pay them off quickly or else you'll be in debt for a while.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DocFunk said:
i use citi master card platinum and american express jet blue
the rates are high for both because of my relatively low credit compared to estabilshed people
Click to expand...
I think my rate is like 17.5% or 18.9% - smth like that. But I'm pretty good at paying it off - I just pay it off and then use it again right away. With the 21-day grace period, I've put like $10,000 worth of charges through it in the last 5 months, but only paid about $40 in interest.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
jochi1543 said:
I think my rate is like 17.5% or 18.9% - smth like that. But I'm pretty good at paying it off - I just pay it off and then use it again right away. With the 21-day grace period, I've put like $10,000 worth of charges through it in the last 5 months, but only paid about $40 in interest.
Click to expand...
interest only accumlates if you don't pay it off quickly. remember that APR is over a year
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DocFunk said:
the difference is
amex isnt received by amcas 🙄

otherwise, shop based on APR. I have credit cards with 12-16% APR range. The key is to pay them off quickly or else you'll be in debt for a while.
Click to expand...
I'll be paying it off every time. I just need something to help me build credit.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DocFunk said:
I'm already paranoid that I made a mistake somewhere even though i quaduple checked. :scared:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I remember that well. It is so scary. :scared:

I think what was even worse was my match list. Every time I went to "confirm" it, I was afraid I somehow messed it up. (And yes, you can confirm it, and then unconfirm, and then confirm again... argh)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DocFunk said:
the difference is
amex isnt received by amcas 🙄

otherwise, shop based on APR. I have credit cards with 12-16% APR range. The key is to pay them off quickly or else you'll be in debt for a while.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think Visa and Mastercard are better options, because they are accepted everywhere, unlike the other 2.


Besides, I thought AmEx wasn't really a credit card, but a charge card? As in, it has no limit, but the interest is crazy - from what I've heard, it's basically for rich people who suddenly decide they wanna rent a yacht for a week or something.:laugh:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
What credit cards do you all use that have good incentives/rates?

I just signed up for the Southwest Student Rapid Rewards and I need a credit card to compliment it.
Click to expand...

Borders Rewards has a good one if you like to shop at Borders. 🙂 (You can get free stuff at Borders pretty easily from any purchases and you get extra rewards for gas and groceries).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
I'll be paying it off every time. I just need something to help me build credit.
Click to expand...
"famous last words..."

:laugh:



Building credit is a b!tch!



It took me forever to build credit in the US, then I became homeless, missed some payments, and now I have a US credit score of 550 - I couldn't even get a cellphone now. But I just left all my debt running and decided that I'm only gonna deal with it if I end up getting accepted in the US and have to move there. If I stay in Canada, I'll just let it run until 7 years pass. The 2 credit histories are unrelated, so there's no point in my paying off debt in the US if I live in Canada.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
jochi1543 said:
"famous last words..."

:laugh:



Building credit is a b!tch!



It took me forever to build credit in the US, then I became homeless, missed some payments, and now I have a US credit score of 550 - I couldn't even get a cellphone now. But I just left all my debt running and decided that I'm only gonna deal with it if I end up getting accepted in the US and have to move there. If I stay in Canada, I'll just let it run until 7 years pass. The 2 credit histories are unrelated, so there's no point in my paying off debt in the US if I live in Canada.
Click to expand...

I love how everyone wants you to have credit. How the heck are you supposed to get it to begin with??
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gradu8in2003 said:
Thinking about talking to the advisor makes my stomach hurt. UGH.
Click to expand...

🙁 😍

I definitely know what you mean. Do you have a nervous stomach too like me? I have been feeling great and then woke up with a killer tummy ache this morning (suspiciously, the day I return to work from vacation. 🙄 )
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
beary said:
🙁 😍

I definitely know what you mean. Do you have a nervous stomach too like me? I have been feeling great and then woke up with a killer tummy ache this morning (suspiciously, the day I return to work from vacation. 🙄 )
Click to expand...

Yup, sure do... 🙁 Thanks for the 😍. If I wasn't sure of myself, i'd shy away from him and follow his advice. But right now, he's not believing in me nearly as much as I am (or the rest of the world, for that matter), and I choose to follow my own path.

The fact that he's practically a woman-hater doesn't help. He has never sent a female to MD I dont think.. he always wants "us" to go D.O. BLEH.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
Yeah...I don't have any utilities in my name so it hasn't been building on that.
Click to expand...
You know, I had utilities, cell, car insurance, blah-blah, it did NOTHING for my credit. Despite all that, it just showed up as if nothing were there. I had a lower credit score with all my insurance and utility payments than people with serious debt. So don't get that just for the purpose of building your credit, because it won't do anything for it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gradu8in2003 said:
Yup, sure do... 🙁 Thanks for the 😍. If I wasn't sure of myself, i'd shy away from him and follow his advice. But right now, he's not believing in me nearly as much as I am (or the rest of the world, for that matter), and I choose to follow my own path.

The fact that he's practically a woman-hater doesn't help. He has never sent a female to MD I dont think.. he always wants "us" to go D.O. BLEH.
Click to expand...

My pre-med advisor really screwed me over (not out of maliciousness I don't think, just being a total airhead). All my letters of rec had to go through the "pre-med committee" (i.e. him) and then he sent them onto the schools. I did my AMCAS really early and he told me my letters were sent but then quite a bit later (like in the fall) I was getting notices from schools that my app was incomplete. Turned out he actually hadn't sent my letters after all. 😡 (All worked out ok).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
jochi1543 said:
"Hon, have you ever thought of being a CNA?" :laugh:
Click to expand...

It's like "umm...NO." He even told me "three lab classes might be too much for you". Yeah, I'm sure. After taking 14.7 hours here (on trimester system) and a lab class and math class at the junior college (thats... 21.7 hours if anyone's counting) And making A's in ALL 21.7 hours.

I THINK I can handle 3 classes.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gradu8in2003 said:
I just found the "grammer" funny in the grammar conversation.. lol 😉
Click to expand...
Right on.:laugh: You should've seen his "spellang.":laugh:


CNA is a certified nursing assistant....I think they are the lowest on the totem pole in a hospital, in terms of the staff that deals with patients directly. I think it's like a 2-month course to get certified or something like that, so it's a job of choice for many recent immigrants, at least in Minnesota.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
jochi1543 said:
"famous last words..."

:laugh:



Building credit is a b!tch!



It took me forever to build credit in the US, then I became homeless, missed some payments, and now I have a US credit score of 550 - I couldn't even get a cellphone now. But I just left all my debt running and decided that I'm only gonna deal with it if I end up getting accepted in the US and have to move there. If I stay in Canada, I'll just let it run until 7 years pass. The 2 credit histories are unrelated, so there's no point in my paying off debt in the US if I live in Canada.
Click to expand...

Credit laws have changed now so be careful how you approach this.

Your credit can follow you internationally, too. I had credit checks on my American finance when I lived in New Zealand.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
I'll be paying it off every time. I just need something to help me build credit.
Click to expand...

To build credit you can buy an inexpensive car or motorcycle with cash up front (then turn around and sell it).

Or every 6 months call your credit card company and ask them to increase your limit.

To all in general:
And for goodness sakes don't miss payments! If you can't afford it, don't buy it! I established my credit my freshman year of college with an AT&T universal mastercard with a $500 limit. Now my credit score is 800. I never missed payments and tried not to carry high debt for very long.

Plus I've bought several cars (and paid all but my current off) and now am a home-owner to boot.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrBowtie said:
Any real difference between Am Ex, Discover, Visa, Mastercard?

My debit is backed by MC, but I feel no loyalty.
Click to expand...

Visa and MC are the most widely accepted, but there are several web sites that let you compare cards based on APRs and benefits.

If you do a lot of driving and pay off your balances each month, a card that gives a gas discount is a good idea.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
megboo said:
Credit laws have changed now so be careful how you approach this.

Your credit can follow you internationally, too. I had credit checks on my American finance when I lived in New Zealand.
Click to expand...
Nah, I was worried about this first, but then I had credit checks run on me when I got my car, and she said all that was on there were my Canadian student loans and nothing else.



I think they may have introduced this for FBI/Interpol purposes. One of my old supervisors told me that she had this French couple move in across the street and they just spent and spent and spent - they bought 6 expensive cars in one year. Then one day they just took off and left, and then like a week later FBI came to her door and asked if she knew anything about them...turned out they took out $2 million in credit, bought that house, bought all this crap, chilled for a year, then once the legal trouble started, they just took off to France. :laugh: I thought it was hilarious.:laugh:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gradu8in2003 said:
Now THAT was funny... LOL...

Just home from work. Wore these insane heels, then gave tours all day.OMG.. :scared: it HURTS!!:scared:

Didn't talk to the advisor. Decided I'm probably just going to go for it. By the time he finds out, it'll be done.
Click to expand...

you give tours for work? cool

guess who's working late!

:hello:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
gradu8in2003 said:
Yeah, I work in the admissions office at my university and give tours to kids that want to come to school there.

Sorry you're working late again 🙁
Click to expand...
at least i get OT pay
and I guess I really could use the cash 😳
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

mjo9943
MCAT Advice
Replies
2
Views
2K
Janilla
J
S
Should I retake the MCAT?
Replies
4
Views
3K
babySimba
B
LMAGZ
MCAT Advice
Replies
2
Views
1K
Rachapkis
Rachapkis
N
Seeking Honest Review with Kaplan Online Self-Paced MCAT package. Open to other suggestions as well.
Replies
2
Views
536
nobadwaves
N
Lifeanddreams
  • Question Question
MCAT Study Guide
Replies
1
Views
2K
SenatorTractor
SenatorTractor
Top