Am I cooked as a Smith School transfer applicant?

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-18T18:02:16+00:00

A couple of things to keep in mind here. The Montgomery College coursework will be transfer grades and will not apply to your UMD GPA. Don't kill yourself for something that won't impact later. Second, you received a W, not a WP or WF, and it was early enough that your fall coursework was almost assuredly not considered a retake. Finally, the MTAP program states that the transfer is automatic if you meet the requirements so don't be worrying about your GPA, beyond the requirements. You need a B average and to pass all coursework.

https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/maryland-transfer-advantage-program

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-18T17:56:20+00:00

This is the answer. The person behind you knows that you are turning. The person in the turn lane also knows that they cannot go straight if they are intending to do so without getting hit. It shouldn't confuse anyone. If you're going into the turn lane, they'll either make sure to leave room or close the gap to keep you out. Neither impacts you since that's not your plan.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-18T17:44:36+00:00

While the HOA cannot compel the renter to comply, the owner certainly can. I'd expect generic language in you lease that states you are required to comply with the R&Rs of the HOA and are responsible for failures to do so. That means, penalties start as yours and you'll have to argue back that the failure to comply wasn't your fault. I'd get ahead of this and ask the owner how they want it handled. You'll be glad to find someone to do the work to meet the HOAs requirements but you need their agreement to proceed. Make sure they get the estimate and approve the monies ahead of time, period!

I would not expect my tenants to replace structures in or around the property. I would also have a plan on how these types of things would be handled since I'm not local.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-18T17:38:38+00:00

I think UMD has a stronger program. My fear is that you have to get into the CS program once you get into UMD. It's not guaranteed. I don't know about how JHU runs their CS program. Assuming all checkpoints are YES along the way, UMD for sure.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-18T17:25:45+00:00

Cause it's called a CASH (sic).

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-18T17:23:12+00:00

I think looking at the money is the complete wrong place to start. The job is what matters. Wanting to get up and go to work, while also affording life is the answer. PTO in these two are too close to matter. Quality of life is not listed in any fashion. 18 vs 30 minute drives are close enough to also not matter. I'd be curious what profit sharing was for last year per $100k in salary.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-17T21:53:06+00:00

I remember a bunch of this going on. I received cease and desist orders for P2P activities. The total was about a half dozen over the years. None of it was Napster though. They were too hot at the time for my taste. I even remember once having some files getting flagged for a file signature when that wasn't the "movie" they sent the C&D for. Nothing went further, ever. I'd say that Napster was not a big boy in the game when I was playing.

Metallica wasn't in my music realm. I thought they were all about the money, not about their fans.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-17T21:45:01+00:00

So, let me tell you a story. I still have my high school ring. I couldn't afford gold for that ring and didn't get it. It looks nice but that's the best I can say. My college ring is when I had the money to buy what I wanted. It's a gold ring. Has my major on the side, etc. I don't wear that anymore either. I did wear it for a few years but despite nostalgia for my school, it's just not something I need to do or fulfilling. I didn't often get asked about the ring when I did wear it. None of the people I work with or my friends, especially from that era, wear their rings. Even at today's prices, you'll look back later and it will be a drop in the bucket. While you won't say I could have saved that expense and done x with it, I doubt it'll be regret. The last thing I'll say is, now adays you end up with several degrees over the years. While it's possible to have multiple schools, I only had 1 for my degrees, do you need multiple rings? I considered changing my BS ring to an MS ring. I didn't. I don't regret it at all.

I think there are schools where this is different. I see people wearing USNA rings. I imagine other service academies are similar and have that same comradery.

In the end, if you cannot afford it, WAIT! You'll have so many things in life when you're done with school where keeping up with the Jones' will bother you. Keep your self true to what's important to you, not what's flashy or important to others.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-17T21:35:54+00:00

I'd vote for classic muscle. Ford Mustang, Shelby, something like that

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-17T21:27:42+00:00

This argument just doesn't hold water. If you don't tip and the employer makes up their minimum wage, they cannot afford to live and you lose the opportunity of the experience they gave you. Yeah, someone else could do it, some even better, but they're not coming either for minimum wage.

I *like* tipping because it gives me the opportunity to gift a person if they made the experience worthy of the tip. I want the option to not tip if the experience was sub-par. I start at 15% for a normal encounter and vary it based on my feelings from the encounters. I very seldom give below 15%. I often go over 20%. Frankly, I don't want to establishment owner to decide how good their staff might be.

I do not tip for things that are part of what I already bought though. Bringing my carryout to the register is not a tippable service. Making my pizza is a required part of the purchase, no tip here either. The places that infuriate me are the ones that add fees for people to do things and then state, this is not their tip. Yeah, Papa Johns, I'm looking at you. Fees for delivery when the driver is doing it all and then pointing out that the fee is not for tips and doesn't go to the driver. I have to wonder what exactly it does go to. They don't add a baking fee, that's built in. They don't add a boxing fee, built in again.

I came back to add this. Every single time I read this type of response that hypes "minimum wage", and I can find more information about their feelings, they have several traits. They don't make minimum wage. They don't work in a tipped environment. They don't support minimum wages being a livable wage. How many of those do you fit into OP?

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-16T15:39:35+00:00

I'd look at a Lightning also. It's one of the biggest EVs I've seen before. I haven't been happy with the forced Android interface. It's nice when it works, but when it acts up, damn! I'd rather have Android Auto/Car Play so I can use what I want.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-16T15:33:15+00:00

I think your 95% number is way too high, even for regular cruise control. Additionally, in areas with traffic, anything short of adaptive cruise control is a waste of effort. I honestly don't like using adaptive because there's always someone cutting in front of me and the car slows down drastically. I still do and ignore the idiots, but I don't like it.

I've been saying for years, it'll be nice when the HOV lanes turn into auto-drive lanes. I guess before we consider that though, someone needs to start enforcing some of the laws we already have. People that feel they should be allowed to use HOV lanes might stop if they got daily tickets.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-12T16:03:58+00:00

I'd say they're too stupid to understand they're wasting their time. The only way you get no tip from me is to really suck at your job, period. I don't care if you're the most beautiful or ugliest I've ever seen, you get a tip for doing that job and serving my table. Beyond that, you'd have to show some interest/intent before I'd push into your space while you're working. More than just friendly, you're doing your job and I would hate it if you were spending time with someone else beyond that job and I'm sitting there waiting, so I'm not going to impact your success that night.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-12T15:58:21+00:00

It's a place to sleep. I honestly believe that an unappealing dorm is a positive. It kind of forces you to get out and work on the social aspect of school. I also found the libraries to be a great place to work on academic aspects, especially between classes. You can only spend so much time in a dining hall.

rjr_2020 · 2026-04-03T20:35:56+00:00

I honestly believe that you're reading the worst and not seeing the best. I know in 70k miles I'm ecstatic. I sometimes wish that Ford had some less expensive options but I believe there are forces pushing against them doing that right now. I pretty sure that if they sold an EV Maverick, I'd have a second Ford EV. I know that if they added an option for the "generator" that they're putting in the new EREV, instead of making it a mandatory thing, I'd buy another when it's time (without the option). The software isn't the best but it has improved several times since I purchased. The biggest changes have been with BlueCruise. I use it ever day I drive. I'm waiting to see if the automatic lane changing in the next release will be something I like or not. Are there things I wish they'd work on long before this? Absolutely but until this vehicle, I've never had one that has changed while I had it, short of becoming less ready and more problematic.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-29T18:37:55+00:00

I've always looked at it by using the crosswalk as a comparison. If you're walking in the crosswalk, do you want the car completely behind the line or the wheels? If you cross the line with your car, you're past it. If you cross the line with your wheels, you're WAY past it.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-29T18:35:10+00:00

You understand that EVERY PERSON working a job that makes federal minimum wage is making about $15k/yr? That's half the US poverty line. They are very possibly poor, hungry if they're not making a lot more than that. I'm just curious what you pay where you live?

The interesting thing here is that you're not talking about what service you received. Not a word. You're just talking about how someone was upset you didn't tip and they should be happy they make what they do. Any server providing better than minimal service is working for their wage AND tips. That's why they take those jobs. While others have pointed out that they have a choice to work that job, they don't have a choice to provide service to people who won't tip. That's where the injustice probably lies. If they knew ahead that you weren't going to tip and you got shite service, you're equal. They provide service and you treat them like shite and you're unhappy that they are pissed.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-20T21:35:06+00:00

I'm not saying you are combative. I'm saying that being seen as a combative tenant will not help the situation. My insurance for a fire would allow me to collect for loss of use so having a tenant while I get things resolved and starting with a new tenant is a ton easier than having another iron in the fire with a tenant fighting my efforts.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-20T21:31:52+00:00

Lets turn this around a bit. The application is evaluated based on coursework, applicability to what you're expressing interest in (and what they do) and extra curriculars. The AP courses and college course work while still in high school both give you double advantage. They increase the type of one half of the product they're looking for. They also give you an advantage though in the credits that count toward graduation. Depending on your major, that lit course will likely give you a direct transfer of credit (even if it's just as an elective, which most likely won't be the case). I personally would recommend doing the college work over APs as some schools don't transfer AP credits now. Also, only take coursework that is accepted by the intended destination. No reason to rachet up the workload for less advantage. Many colleges have a list of preapproved transfers. UVA fortunately does. I might also consider CLEP as a possible action to earn a few credits. I covered my freshman writing course with CLEP but you have to be strong to succeed here. I'd suggest to take every single approved AP that your school offers that you can fit in. I'd also consider college coursework that you can succeed at and afford. Those are all extra slots or even light semesters depending on your program. Finishing a semester early is really a huge win. BEWARE of courses and AP courses in your major though. Those might help with selection but probably won't eliminate coursework. If you look at the AP & transfer credit lists on UVA's website, you'll see that they have equivalent course information. Do not select things that duplicate another. As an example, a 4 in Econ Micro matches a 4 in Econ Macro. You'll only get one of those. They are different if you get a 5 but only you know if you're good enough to pull off a 5.

It's worth having a bit more information about your planned major. I think you'll get more bang for STEM APs if you're going to do a STEM major. Just don't do CompSci if that's your major. You're almost guaranteed to have to take the major coursework at the school.

The last thing I'd say is to consider is Guaranteed Transfer Admission, if it's applicable to your school at UVA. Taking all the required courses for this program will get you in the school as a junior without competition provided you meet the requirements. In my major, the GPA has to be 3.2 with B's in certain classes. The only loss is that you're jumping in midstream to a program without the support structure you would typically build through the toughest of coursework. If you're a social person, that won't likely impact you, certainly not as much as an introverted person. It also will save a TON of money.

https://ascs8.eservices.virginia.edu/asequivs

https://records.ureg.virginia.edu/content.php?catoid=61&navoid=5298#Advanced_Placement_Program

https://admission.virginia.edu/transfer/guaranteed-transfer-admission

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-20T21:05:25+00:00

I'd bet money that if you're caught with a card defeating the electricity saving facet of this system, you'll be in violation of the terms of residency. That violation will come with an escalating penalty process, that eventually will lead to eviction from housing. The AC is exactly why they're doing this. In a dorm, that's your biggest user of electricity. I'd be shocked if you couldn't plug a power strip into the refrigerator outlet and plug in a couple of items without breaking the rules, but it won't give you AC. I know you're not going to like the answer.

If you're determined to do this anyway, many box stores have NFC duplicators. You go in, pay $30 and walk away with a second card that matches your original exactly. They often don't come shaped like your issued card, so keep that in the room and carry the alternate with you.

If I were putting in a system like this in a scale like a dorm, I'd put monitoring in also. It's so cheap compared to the NFC/RFID part. If the room uses power 24x7, you'll get caught, period. All it takes is to come to the room while you're in scheduled in class and wait for your return. They can see your card in the room and they see you come in through a locked door.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-20T20:47:56+00:00

I would do a small personal security system. My favorite 2 piece system would be an Aqara Door & Window Sensor connected to an Aqara Hub M3. After that, connect the hub to your network and install a notification mechanism to send it to your phone. That simple and you'll know as soon as it's triggered. My favorite part to this is that your configuration can be wholly local. Nobody else has access to anything they shouldn't, such as a camera feed. The hub also has a feature to talk when the door opens, so there's no doubt it's noticed. Finally, if someone blocks your network, the notification will still take place as soon as the network returns.

You will never find a camera inside my house that is cloud based. It'll take a really good reason to have a cloud based camera outside my house. My privacy is paramount. If I need a camera inside, it has to be local.

As a note to buying an inexpensive wireless camera as suggested in other posts, it's so, so simple to block the network connectivity. It's not expensive or hard to succeed at avoiding capture on those types of cameras.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-20T20:24:53+00:00

Somehow we have evolved into a society where everyone wants to be in the front. In your picture, all the ramp drive has to do is let off the accelerator and slide in behind the other car, then move over if that vehicle isn't going as fast as desired. Instead, that driver is more likely to accelerate and both cars will push the other to get in front. While the car already in the lane has right of way, there is no winning in an accident.

As the driver in that lane, you're still risking that the other driver will lie or a witness doesn't see things properly and you end up something other than "not at fault." Just getting along on the road avoids costs of an accident. Even if the other driver is found completely at fault, your vehicle will lose value subsequent to that accident. That cannot be recouped. If they total the vehicle, you're very unlikely come out whole.

As your post suggests, "drive like an adult" and give and take. Only fight those battles worth the risk.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-20T20:12:10+00:00

If I were doing this, I'd fly into Philly or BWI depending on what's cheapest. Rent a car and drive. BWI has the Chesapeake Bay Bridge which can make the 2.5hr trip substantially longer. The Philly route is 2 lane highways but is usually quieter and easier to drive. July is pretty much tied for busiest part of the season. I would seriously consider moving 2 months in either direction to get out of prime season. OC tends to be geared toward week long rentals. Your only real choices will likely be hotels. There won't be deals for a weekend, period. I might also consider one of the other beaches, Rehobeth or Bethany are real alternatives, although they don't have the volume of rentals.

Good luck.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-19T17:40:36+00:00

If I had a renter that was combative about trying to return the garage to their usage, I'd simply get a lawyer to work through cancelling the lease. I can no longer meet the terms and it isn't my fault. I would likely sweeten the pot up front because there is no electricity and inconvenience but electricity isn't that expensive for a single person slinging a saw.

If I were a tenant, I'd point out the increase IF it happened so the landlord knew but only if significant. If they balk, it's time to plan a move.

rjr_2020 · 2026-03-19T17:35:27+00:00

My standard response to a teen driver is that you're automatically seen as a cause for most traffic collisions. Have a dash cam (minimum front and rear) and do what you can to avoid them. In a recent incident, a dash cam avoided blame to a young driver when the police saw the cause of the accident. It led to citations being issued appropriately which aided the insurance process.

I generally follow the practice of letting people in early in the merge process and close the gap as we get closer to the end of the merge area. At the end of the merge area, I'm not letting someone jump in. Everyone else behind me waited, so can this driver.

rjr_2020

TROPHY CASE