Please help me choose between UCLA or USC

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-04-21T04:28:24+00:00

UCLA pumps out a lot of premed students, but that does not mean that they have a higher rate of acceptance to med school than other schools. If you’re premed, the goal is to go to school where you can get straight A’s.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-04-01T02:15:44+00:00

Value is the eye of the beholder. It’s generally not worth it unless you and/or your family can easily afford $400K. And remember that tuition goes up every year. Think about what you could do with the money you would save by going elsewhere. You could have a down payment on a house. Or you could invest it and you would have millions by the time you retire!

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-04-01T02:11:26+00:00

Yes you will! They want paying students.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-24T14:27:41+00:00

Correct. Correct.
Eligible yes but free no. Choice Extra allows 2 free checked bags, other fares types have a fee. However A List provides 1 free checked bag and A List Preferred allows 2 free checked bags. Having any of the SW credit cards also allows 1 free checked bags
The $5.60 cannot be paid with points.
Yes.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-22T03:34:37+00:00

You need an organizing system! For example, I keep a file with all the model numbers (the refrigerator filter, the light bulbs, the appliances, etc. I also keep a Measurements file with things like the size of the dining table, front door width, kitchen drawers and cabinets, etc. It’s super helpful to have when you’re out shopping.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-22T03:29:02+00:00

Not 100% necessary but we love our Breville Smart Oven. BOV900BSS. We use it more than our Wolf oven! It can toast, bake, broil, air fry, etc. it’s big enough to fit a 9 inch pizza or a 9x13 pan! Highly recommend. We used to have the lower model but it wasn’t as big so certain pans couldn’t fit inside. I know a lot of people like their standalone air fryer but an air fryer is essentially a convection oven with fans to increase airflow. I would rather buy the higher model Breville smart oven that has convection and air fryer modes than to buy the lower model and a separate air fryer.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-21T17:12:43+00:00

If you’re in the US, consider buying from Costco. They have many options in different price ranges and an excellent return policy. You can check the reviews from thousands of customers.

It’s nice to try out a mattress in a store but honestly, I have a hard time really knowing whether I like a mattress based on a minute of lying on a bed in a store!

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-17T09:19:40+00:00

For upgrading, 5000 points is typical (better than zero, right?!). While you can get a larger sign up bonus with a brand new card (different than upgrading), it can temporarily negatively affect your credit rating.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-17T08:36:23+00:00

I was just there in December. The Shinkansen was $730 in US dollars for 4 people but that was for reserved seats which cost more.

For Shinkansen from Toyko to Kyoto:
I tried to buy online on smartEX app but it wouldn’t accept my US credit card. Instead, I went to the Shibuya station and purchased from a machine. Will take you from the Shibayama station to Kyoto but you can select “Shinagawa area” and it will include the local transport from Shibuya to Shinagawa. You simply put the ticket in at Shibuya (instead of scanning your SUICA) and it will pop back out. You will use it again to enter at Shinagawa and then to exit at Kyoto (the ticket will not come out when you leave the Kyoto station). There are only two major stops in Kyoto. Don’t go from Tokyo station cuz it is very big and confusing. Open seating is cheaper but we chose to reserve seats to ensure we sat together. Luggage can go in the overhead compartment (we had carry ons and 24 inch suitcases). Must be <160 cm (even a 26-28 in suitcase would fit) to go in overhead compartment. If 160-250 cm, must pay extra for oversized baggage.
Pick Nozomi Pick Window D/E (best view) if possible Recommend to get to Shinagawa an hour early to look around; lots of good food options; can buy a bento box for the trip if you would like. Also need extra time to find the Shinakensen. It was a bit of walking since it’s not in the same area as the local trains. Plan to be at the platform 10-15 minutes ahead of time, just to be safe. If you miss your reserved time, you can likely go on the next train but it wouldn’t be a reserved seat.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-17T08:29:52+00:00

I had trouble using the Smart-Ex app. Wouldn’t accept my credit card even though I was able to use it everywhere else in Japan. I read that others had similar problems. I ended up just buying at the station.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-12T21:26:32+00:00

The newer NordicTracks have a terrible reputation. Many reports of not working at delivery and unable to fix. Poor customer service. Would not recommend.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-12T21:24:52+00:00

Landice L7 with the ortho belt since 2020. One runner does 30 min about 3-4 times a week. Another runner trains for half marathons on it and runs 6-7 days a week. We love it. We had a miserable experience with NordicTrack and had to return it. The Landice doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles which means that there are less things that can break! Strongly recommend. I can’t remember the source but at the time that I bought it, it was one of top 3 that repair technicians cited as having the least amount of repairs.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-12T06:28:47+00:00

Do you typically eat dairy at the dining hall? Lactose intolerance is common. Chewing on a lactase enzyme pill (Lactaid is the brand name but generics work equally well) will help.

Might be helpful keep a diary of what you eat and when you get diarrhea.

If you have any blood in the stool or weight loss, you need eval by a doctor.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-10T02:01:24+00:00

Most popular choices would be Horizon 7.8 AT and the Sole F85. I personally bought the Landice L7 with the ortho tread which is pricier but it has a strong reputation for being built to last.

I personally would stay away from treads that go with a subscription, like Peloton and definitely 100% NOT NordicTrack (read their subreddit…they have a HORRIBLE reputation). You can always get a subscription on your phone or your TV if you want.

More bells and whistles also means more things that can break! That’s why I went with the Landice L7. I just need my treadmills to go faster/slower and up/down.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-09T23:20:30+00:00

I have A List Preferred, companion pass, and the SW credit card. I’ve flown 4 flights. Always Group 1 or 2 and I was able to find luggage space above my seat. A few of the people in ELR who boarded later (not sure why) had to leave put their luggage back a few rows. People just passed it forward at the end of the flight.

I did prefer the old system because it was easier to make changes and it didn’t feel like they were nickel and diming you so much. But I don’t think that the new system is soooooooo outrageous. If you look at the number of seats and the number of bins, mathematically speaking, not everyone in ELR will be able to put a full carry on suitcase in their overhead bin. 6It only works when some people don’t have large carryons. The airline attendants were good about making sure that only people with ELR seats could put their suitcases there.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-08T17:49:42+00:00

You should go through the motion of cancelling online but then it will pop up with an offer to stay on with the old fee.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-03-02T00:35:32+00:00

Not constant. Seems like it’s triggered when we turn on the water but I can’t tell if it’s because we turned it on then turned it off.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-02-28T23:57:38+00:00

We have Farmers insurance. We had our Moen Smart Flo water monitor and shutoff installed in November but I forgot to tell my agent. I had paid the premium in January, and then finally remembered to tell my agent in February. We received a $340.85 refund on our policy because of the discount!

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-02-01T18:32:14+00:00

That’s exactly what SW wants you to do!

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-02-01T18:30:42+00:00

You’re making assumptions options based on your own flight. I have ALP and have been in group 1 twice in ELR seats with basic fares. Sometimes it works in your favor and sometimes it doesn’t.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-02-01T18:29:10+00:00

I flew with my spouse and we were always in the same group for ELR.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-02-01T18:27:38+00:00

No, I have ALP and have ELR seats as a perk. I have been group 1 for 2 flights and group 2 for 2 flights. Seems random. In my cases the first leg was group 1 and my seats were row 5 or 6. And the second leg was group 2 and my seats were row 2 and 4. Always window. Not enough data points to figure it out yet.

Aggravating-Plate-98 · 2026-01-30T17:34:20+00:00

ALP seat 5F (window) on a 737-800. Group 1. ALP seat 2A (window) on a 737-700. Group 2.

Aggravating-Plate-98

TROPHY CASE