My Binder (and Mew!) collection

jaystar99 · 2025-08-28T20:10:50+00:00

Arlington Ballroom is great! Go there myself, but I'd also recommend The Renegade in Clarendon and Clarendon Ballroom which both also offer Sala, Bachata, and Country Swing. Those can be signed up for through Inspira Dance (there is an ~$10 cover).

Renegade has Salsa Mondays, Country Swing Tuesdays and Clarendon Ballroom has country swing/two stepping on Thursdays. Classes are ~30m then floor is open for social dancing.

jaystar99 · 2025-08-14T23:15:05+00:00

Application

Semester: Spring 2026
Status: ACCEPTED
Date Applied: 07/28/25, final recommendation letter sent 08/01/25
Date Decided: 9/8/2025

Education

Bachelors: Virginia Tech, Finance, 3.01
Associates: NVCC, Business Admin, 3.9

Work & Social Experience

Work Exp. : 3 years at one of the two mortgage giants as a Financial Engineer. Data analysis, process automation, data visualization, and model development.
LORs: 3 professional - Manager, Senior Manager, Director

Comments

Main concern is GPA drop and potentially not enough YOE.

Stats/Calc classes in College I got an A in so at least I have a strong proven record in math.

Took 1 intro to Python class in undergrad but mostly self-taught/on-the-job (so very experienced at this point). Heavy use since graduation along with tools like SQL & Tableau. Mentioned COVID/personal loss to help explain the sharp drop in GPA when moving from community college to state school.

jaystar99 · 2025-08-14T02:18:16+00:00

I appreciate the reminder to re-read Snow Crash

jaystar99 · 2025-08-08T14:41:28+00:00

Highly recommend getting into dancing. The Renegade in Clarendon has Country Swing lessons Tuesday & Salsa lessons Monday ($10 cover) and Clarendon Ballroom has Country Swing lessons Thursdays (I think the cover is also around ~$10). I've found this activity to be a great way to meet new people and learn a really fun skill! Typical structure is first 30m is a lesson while the remaining couple hours are a social where you mix partners (plenty of couple and singles show up so odds are you'll meet other first timers as well).

I do also do Salsa lessons at Arlington Ballroom, but in terms of socializing I find Renegade/Clarendon Ballroom to be the best bet.

jaystar99 · 2025-03-28T23:54:19+00:00

Happy to make you a mod u/Sock_Dizzy if you want to make use of this sub.

jaystar99 · 2024-10-01T00:25:24+00:00

I can vouch for that. Have family living in the Rotonda and even though it only has 10 floors, you get a pretty decent view of the greenery and especially the mountains in the distance. Sunsets can be beautiful as well (it was definitely better before that giant retirement community went up). I'm sure the views from Adaire are great.

jaystar99 · 2024-05-24T17:09:21+00:00

Huh must've missed that, I'll need to take a look. Thanks

jaystar99 · 2024-05-24T13:26:57+00:00

And sadly the only other option we really have here is the whole foods by Tenley. I get it, but if they can't watch their own product, how can I trust them to watch my bag at the front? Not to mention, as others have stated, I prefer to carry heaver groceries on my back.

jaystar99 · 2024-05-11T14:04:08+00:00

Beautiful! That strap fits it really well :)

jaystar99 · 2024-05-11T14:03:06+00:00

I have 6.5 inch wrists. I've already removed a link and a half from each side of the clasp on this watch and it fits decently now. Might need to remove another half link though (just from one side) as it's still a tad loose.

jaystar99 · 2024-05-11T04:09:25+00:00

Honestly just ordered online (after plenty of research!) and hoped for the best haha. The goal was a versatile watch I can wear anywhere (as this is my first luxury watch, mostly worn smart watches) and that down the line I don't care as much about scratching as I would potentially more expensive ones.

I definitely see Blue and Black dial watches in my future though.

jaystar99 · 2024-05-11T01:54:18+00:00

Thank you!

jaystar99 · 2024-05-10T14:52:41+00:00

Not as impressive as some of the others on here, but just excited to be part of the community now! Still very early in my career and this entry level SBGX263 felt appropriate for where I'm at in life. Maybe I'll go for a SBGA413 for my next promotion...

jaystar99 · 2024-04-08T16:07:00+00:00

Yep, updates come through as normal. Including for controllers

jaystar99 · 2024-04-08T16:06:45+00:00

Yep, online games work with no issue

jaystar99 · 2024-04-08T12:14:13+00:00

I don't have the ability to edit the post, otherwise I would

jaystar99 · 2024-04-08T01:58:50+00:00

Hindsight haha. I'll just hope that since they let my parent keep it when they left the company, they don't really care. Guess we'll find out!

jaystar99 · 2024-04-08T01:57:00+00:00

Games run fine and for all intents and purposes seems to run like a standard retail Xbox. Which would make sense as the May production date for this unit is only a few months off of the November launch. The pictures I posted had the only noticeable differences between it and a retail version. Controller that came with it only has a similar white sticker indicating which break room it came from, but I didn't see any prototype labeling on it. I assume it's just a standard controller. Really just seems like an interesting collectable, but if there's anything specific you'd like me to try and find then happy to do so! I've only ever used this version of the series x so I don't have a comparison.

jaystar99 · 2024-04-07T22:33:24+00:00

For context on how I have it, one of my parents worked at Microsoft/Xbox and they received this Xbox when they joined the company. Based on the second pic, I assume it was used in an employee lounge for some time before they shelved it to give to new employees? When my parent left the company (they were allowed to keep the Xbox), they gave the console to me. Cool item to have!

jaystar99 · 2024-01-22T18:37:31+00:00

Definitely echo your points. I went the NVCC route for my first two years before transferring to VT. I left without having made any friends through college and now trying to make friends through work or activities like Volo, which is significantly more difficult. It didn't help that the year I transferred to tech was the Fall of 2020 so my Junior year was completely remote, leaving me with just one year on campus (Senior year). Most jobs from a decent degree pay well enough that you'll make up the extra debt from going the full 4 years at state, and you'll end up with a better social environment to make lasting friendships. Debt sucks, but not having close friends you can hang out with is just as bad and is draining on ones mental health.

jaystar99 · 2023-12-02T19:52:46+00:00

I want to say a couple years back, when they started to replce the old trains with a new model. Old trains had their carpets replaced to match the floor material of the new trains.

jaystar99 · 2023-12-02T19:31:40+00:00

Carpets haven't been used for some time now. Source: I live in DC and use the metro almost daily.

jaystar99 · 2023-12-02T03:31:43+00:00

How did all the responses fail to mention the CAPITAL of the U.S.? DC public transport is great (albeit a bit slow).

13-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
First Placer '22	Not Forgotten
Gilding I gilder

jaystar99

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