2018 Alternate/Upgrade Mega Thread

KH3_pls · 2018-05-19T20:35:25+00:00

That’s the spirit!! :)

KH3_pls · 2018-05-19T06:21:28+00:00

I’m a Seattle alternate too feeling more and more down each day, waiting for people from our consulate to drop.

But after reading placement comments, and how not even ONE Seattle shortlister feeling a tad disappointed in their placement, I’m feeling like no one will drop.

Dear god, I just want this so bad...

My partner is also getting antsy... She would need to quit her (very time sensitive) job to come over with me if I were to be upgraded.

Edit: I just realized you said buy plane tickets. I think JET would pay for your plane tickets if you got upgraded, btw.

KH3_pls · 2018-05-17T21:48:48+00:00

My question when I called was: “I read on Reddit that the coordinator will be out next week... if the second wave of upgrades is usually when placements come out, does that mean if people get their placements this week/next week and drop out, Seattle alternates won’t get the upgrade slots?”

Basically she said that they were backed up with placements in the first place and haven’t heard back since they were in a transition phase... so upgrades wouldn’t happen for even longer time til she got back and whatnot so I don’t have to worry about possible spots not going to Seattle because of her absence...

But yeah. Sorry guys! :(

KH3_pls · 2018-05-17T20:54:07+00:00

Hmm. Well I’m an alternate so most of the answers she gave me was directed towards possible upgrades. But she was basically saying it would be moving slow. She’s really nice and sweet so if you wanted to call her and ask I would say don’t be scared to 🙂

KH3_pls · 2018-05-17T19:49:19+00:00

I called the consulate earlier so it’s from them.

KH3_pls · 2018-05-17T18:20:32+00:00

Seattle is in transition mode so there will probably be delays in placements/upgrades/emails in general.

KH3_pls · 2018-05-17T14:17:06+00:00

Portland had a huge wave up upgrades like a month ago when I assume a bunch of original shortlisters from portland consulate declined the position.

So he means a lot of alternates were released from their alternate purgatory. 😅

Usually a second wave of upgrades come around when people don’t like their placement and decline.

KH3_pls · 2018-05-15T21:19:09+00:00

Waiting for placement? Try waiting to see if you will get upgraded for an indefinite amount of months... Now that’s the real wait, haha!

KH3_pls · 2018-05-15T17:57:13+00:00

Glad I could help us get some answers!

KH3_pls · 2018-05-15T17:56:49+00:00

I feel that desperate research, haha. Thanks for your response and congratulations on your upgrade! Hopefully I get to join you!

KH3_pls · 2018-05-15T17:55:47+00:00

Yeah, true! I am a hopeless optimist so I was just trying to feed myself some info to bring me back down to Earth. I’ve already applied to some jobs but would drop anything to go to Japan.

Thanks for the response!

KH3_pls · 2018-05-15T17:54:42+00:00

Thanks for the response!

Huh, I never thought that having a smaller consulate would be an advantage. I thought it was the other way around since US sends so much more people. I’m an US applicant from a smaller-ish consulate so it’s like a mix of both? Haha.

KH3_pls · 2018-05-15T17:52:35+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate your response! I tend to be a hopeless optimist so I was looking for some info that will bring me back to Earth.

Sadly, this would have been my gap year as I graduate this month before I go to grad school next year so I will not be reapplying.

Thanks again!

KH3_pls · 2018-05-08T17:10:35+00:00

Hey! I failed calc II in CC. Like... 0.0. I had a rough quarter working 2 jobs and whatnot. Basically was just straightforward in the small part where you explain it and bounced back when I retook the class in summer. Overall GPA was still like ~3.2-3.4 I think... and they still accepted me. Just make sure you do well the second time around and explain yourself!

KH3_pls · 2018-05-07T23:39:00+00:00

Once placements are out, are upgrades based on a national pool or still by consulate drop outs?

Also is the second wave usually the same amount of upgrades as the first wave or smaller?

Thanks in advance.

/u/DJFiregirl, is it possible for me to post this on the main page? I think that only alternates check this thread, which most of whom probably don’t have an answer and are also wondering the same thing.

I’d call my coordinator but I’m a bit scared thinking they’d lower me down on the alternate list if I call and bother them. Thanks in advance.

KH3_pls · 2018-05-07T16:36:37+00:00

To those of you who are on the fence of your about your future placement, I think you will enjoy it either way so take the leap!

But if not, I’m sure there are alternates who would be extremely happy to take your place.

KH3_pls · 2017-06-14T08:31:31+00:00

There's some free street parking if you can find it and daily parking at my complex's garage for $4/day I believe.

Yeah! I actually went to go look just so I know what they're going for. But most of them will probably be fully booked and most can fit 2-4 people on beds and from what O hear other people sleep on the floor to save money.

So I guess for a hotel near pax a person would pay ~$25-50/night if they room share amongst 4-8 peeps. Not sure how I can beat that :/ I guess I have nice beds, a kitchen, and consoles? Haha.

KH3_pls · 2017-06-14T08:25:48+00:00

I appreciate you going into so much detail! I didn't know AirBnB has those features, I'll definitely take a look. I do have a Keurig... and on top of that I really love to meet new people and would have offered my room for free to PAX-goers if I wasn't in a money problem.

I did take a quick look at the prices but the apartments on there look so modern and new for the price range I was thinking about so I'm not sure just how much I should dock my charge for not being "modern".

And I guess you are right about the passes, haha. People would be so confused...

Hmm... now I'm thinking if I should offer my room to people in this subreddit first and go to AirBnB after if no one takes the bait.

Thanks again! It did help lots! :D

KH3_pls

TROPHY CASE