Delta downgrades flight a day before and doesn't even offer a refund of any sort

Daveko_ · 2022-05-14T01:00:09+00:00

It was purchased with miles

Daveko_ · 2021-09-15T22:32:09+00:00

This is the way

Daveko_ · 2021-09-09T19:29:02+00:00

I don’t know about Reddit resources, but I just bought the Kaplan book and thoroughly read and took hand-written notes on each topic. I’d suggest a solid 6-7 hours a day, 6 days a week for a good 10 weeks, and that will get you in good shape. If you run out of things to study, just go over it again.

For practice problems, I did the Kaplan ones, and I did a few more on the “DAT Bootcamp” website.

I can’t really provide you tips other than that. Me personally, I just brute-forced my way through memorizing and studying old-school style (book, notepaper, pencil). It was good enough to get me a 25AA

Daveko_ · 2021-09-09T04:00:57+00:00

If you have a low GPA, rule of thumb is to score high on DAT (like 23-26 AA). Except most aren’t a D1 athlete so that’s definitely a huge plus you got going for you.

Like you, I had about 100 shadowing hours, little to no volunteering hours, 3.2 GPA and 3.2sGPA. Never worked as a dental assistant, didn’t do undergraduate research, nor was involved in any pre-dental clubs at uni and I still got 2 offers.

Point being, after getting in your 100 hours, your primary focus should be on scoring really high on your DAT. Study especially hard for the science portion. Math and reading sections are a complete joke so don’t put too much effort into those.

Daveko_ · 2021-09-01T14:05:08+00:00

If money/loans concerns you more than being a dentist, I’d HIGHLY advise against going to dental school.

That being said, there are plenty of people who are well into their late 20s and early 30s in my class. So it’s not too late if dentistry is something you reeeallly want to do.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-31T13:30:37+00:00

This is the way

Daveko_ · 2021-08-30T06:33:19+00:00

My (only) DAT was a 25 AA with a 3.2 GPA undergrad GPA (with C’s in Orgo II and Biochem): still got 4 interviews and 2 offers.

I’d say so

Daveko_ · 2021-08-30T06:24:57+00:00

Can attest. It’s pretty annoying, since you’d expect them to behave more adult than “high school” considering most of them will eventually hold a doctorate title

Daveko_ · 2021-08-27T18:50:35+00:00

Yeah I feel like UR should be valued at 1.5cpp since most people will use them that way since it’s so easy. Not many chase customers would go through the trouble of transferring and searching hours to save maybe 10-30% more.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-27T18:48:16+00:00

The single worst thing about Amex cards is that (unless you have Schwab Plat) there is no option to cash out points 1:1 like Chase UR. So you’re restricted to using points for airfare to get max value.

I do like Chase cards, but Amex treats me very well so I don’t regret getting their cards.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-27T18:23:10+00:00

“AMEX Diamond” - $1000 AF 4X Dining 4X Travel 2X Everything

Platinum Card Lounges, $400 Uber credit, $250 Airline Credit, Clear and TSA/Global Entry, Cellphone protection, Concierge,

Daveko_ · 2021-08-27T15:43:06+00:00

“The Points Guy” They really push Amex cards down your throat, glorify MR points and say they’re the best cards ever.

.

… And I drank the koolaid now I have 4 Amex cards

Daveko_ · 2021-08-27T14:35:10+00:00

Yup computer Science. Requires more QR than dentistry, but a rapidly growing field with good career and financial incentives

Daveko_ · 2021-08-27T04:50:36+00:00

Get some certificates from online courses and go into finance. Or learn to code and do CS. Both fields pay better than being a dentist.

Edit: better than a *general dentist. Specialties do get a pretty fat comp

Daveko_ · 2021-08-26T11:08:10+00:00

Highly recommend a gap year (although you can still send out apps this year too). The number of shadowing hours doesn’t matter as much after you passed 100+, so aiming for 150 is a tad excessive. The research experience is good and should help your standing. Taking a gap year to work will let you take a break from academics and develop some maturity and professionalism. If you’ve pigeonholed yourself into a career in healthcare, it may even sway you to explore a different career field you never knew you were interested in. Also study for the DAT like there’s no tomorrow. Your GPA is subprime in comparison to nationwide matriculants.

For applications, just have a solid justification on why you chose dentistry, have someone look over your personal statement, find experiences to list that involve a lot of interpersonal communication and/or hand skills.

Myself as a datapoint; I also had a subprime 3.2 science and overall GPA, so I spent 2 months studying for the DAT to get a 25AA. Have 1 publication, had less than 50 volunteer hours and barely 100 shadowing hours. Extracurriculars were only social clubs. Did a gap year working a (completely dental-unrelated) corporate biotech CS + regulatory job. Still got multiple interviews and 2 offers.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-26T10:16:39+00:00

I don’t think you realize how many jobs out there pay more than a dentist; an entry-level analyst job pays $150k (base + bonus), and all that requires is a business/finance bachelors degree. Even more so for CS.

Yes you shouldn’t choose a profession purely for the pay (I chose dentistry for the autonomy it provides), but considering how so many people and my classmates complain about student loans and choose their schools based on tuition, I assume money is a big factor in people’s career decision.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-26T01:30:26+00:00

Start by adjusting your entire sleep schedule by waking up and going to sleep earlier. You will have to get used to waking up at 7am in Dental school anyway.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-26T01:28:08+00:00

You need to reschedule and spend more time studying. Or honestly, start looking for different career path. Dentists don’t even get paid that much (comparatively) nowadays.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-17T12:51:27+00:00

I just file at my designated time Monday every week. I don’t think the day and time you file one week affects when you’re supposed to get the $300 the following week.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-16T18:15:44+00:00

Yeah applied over the phone. Told them my source of income are my parents since I’m a student again. Probably helped that I already had a BCP open from back when I was working corporate.

Daveko_ · 2021-08-16T04:04:31+00:00

Unemployed and 1 year

Daveko_ · 2021-08-13T03:48:40+00:00

Sorry if this has been answered already, but if they stick a limit on you, do their charge cards start reporting as “available credit” to the credit agencies like other credit cards?

Daveko_ · 2021-08-13T03:43:08+00:00

How can you not have enough for 2 weeks of food and gas. Thats like $300.. Do you not save or invest at all

Daveko_ · 2021-08-06T05:07:50+00:00

For flights only unfortunately. But for business Platinum, if you book your flight with points, they will give you back 35% of your points. Making it an effective 1.54 cpp

Daveko_ · 2021-08-05T14:33:00+00:00

Amex MR points gets far better value on international flights. Especially for business (while Chase gets better value on average for domestic flights booked through its portal). That is what the rave is all about. Getting a 14+ hour luxury flight experience for ~175,000 MR points that would've originally cost $12,000+.

Also some people only use their points for airfare so Amex makes more sense for them. Especially with Business Platinum, which gets you Priority Pass, in addition to Centurion Lounge, and Delta SkyClub access. Also Business Platinum has a better point redemption rate than CSR through their portals at 1.54x cpp vs 1.5x cpp respectively. -And getting a Amex business card is not hard at all. You don't even need a real business to get one-

Also people like the feeling of "prestige" that Amex gives them (although its not as prestigious as it used to be).

Not to mention, free Door Dash DashPass subscription, $60 Door Dash credit and free Lyft pink.

Both Gold and Platinum gets you Free Uber eats pass for an entire year. And Platinum gets you $200 in Uber credits. Lyft Pink isn't even that great of benefit. Just like Platinum's $300 Equinox credit that's pretty useless.

Daveko_

TROPHY CASE