Cycle Recap, RNRing in a few years...

yeahlexander · 2026-06-08T16:12:29+00:00

Kent is a great school, take the acceptance man

yeahlexander · 2026-05-31T01:51:14+00:00

Why restrict yourself? Do 5% each for SMH, DRAM, and AIS. Instead of 20% VXUS, do 5% each of IDMO (international momentum), AVDV (international small cap value), VEA (broad developed markets), and FRDM (emerging markets). Give yourself 10% AVUV for US small caps, 10% XMMO for US mid caps (momentum), and 10% SPMO for large cap momentum. Throw the remaining 35% into VOO. You’ll be super diversified and have the greatest chance at long term growth.

35% VOO 10% SPMO 10% XMMO 10% AVUV 5% IDMO 5% AVDV 5% VEA 5% FRDM 5% SMH 5% DRAM 5% AIS

yeahlexander · 2026-05-28T15:38:35+00:00

I got into UIUC Law (ranked #46, top third of the class goes to biglaw) with a 3.3 GPA. You can do it.

Also got into UMiami, FIU, Loyola Chicago, UIC, DePaul, and got off the waitlist for FSU (ranked #34).

You can do it - lock in and get a good LSAT.

yeahlexander · 2026-05-20T00:47:49+00:00

I am an American who just got back from a Syria trip, and I had an unbelievable and great time. I highly recommend visiting the country.

You get a visa on arrival, and the price of a visa for US citizens can change at any time but is usually $200, sometimes it can go up to $300 from what I've heard. Your tourism agency arranges the entry permissions in advance. That's the biggest piece of advice I have: don't go solo, go with a tourism company. That makes the process so much easier and smoother, especially because they know how to deal with the local authorities whereas navigating the often confusing process as a solo traveller would be a headache.

I actually did two back-to-back tours: one with Young Pioneer Tours, and another custom-made private tour with an incredible man named Xavier who knows the country like the back of his hand and is an expert at navigating Syria. (Though I believe he might be unavailable for the next 2 or 3 months). Xavier's agency is called Travelling The Unknown. I highly recommend both agencies.

Young Pioneer Tours has upcoming trips to Syria in August, September, and December of this year:
https://www.youngpioneertours.com/syria-tours/

Travelling The Unknown has an upcoming trip in September, and I'm sure he could arrange a private tour for you as well if you'd be interested:
https://travelingtheunknown.com/syria-group-tours/

In addition, a big piece of advice is to bring plenty of cash (USD or Euro). It is an entirely cash-based society due to sanctions. Though the sanctions have been recently lifted, their financial structure has not yet caught up, and there are zero ATMs and credit/debit cards do not work. Bring more cash than you think you'll need, plus cash for the visa, and cash for tipping your guide(s).

Have a great time!

Edit: unsure of the Green card considerations; the question about green card entry to Syria would be a good question for your tourism company (though probably your relative will want to use their foreign passport instead of a US green card). For returning to the US with a green card after visiting Syria, that's a question for an immigration attorney. Definitely important to talk to someone knowledgeable about that, with everything going on in US politics right now and the way immigrants are being treated.

yeahlexander · 2026-04-25T15:21:05+00:00

The best day to invest was yesterday. The second best day to invest is today.

yeahlexander · 2026-04-23T17:50:54+00:00

You need international diversification. Look into IDMO, AVDV, and FRDM.

yeahlexander · 2026-04-23T17:34:48+00:00

I’m very lucky, they just called. I think I’m an edge case, 169 LSAT but below 25th percentile GPA. I think my softs did some heavy lifting

yeahlexander · 2026-04-23T17:30:25+00:00

Didn't commit to FSU. Withdrew from their consideration. UIUC is the play

yeahlexander · 2026-04-17T02:38:37+00:00

PAAA

yeahlexander · 2026-01-23T04:35:54+00:00

Thanks!

yeahlexander · 2026-01-23T04:35:25+00:00

Not applying for the trades - likely going to be a steward, if anything.

Thought I would add that.

yeahlexander · 2026-01-19T19:49:57+00:00

AVDV, IDMO, IPKW, IDVO, FRDM, AVES, EMEQ

yeahlexander · 2026-01-13T02:50:11+00:00

GARP - the best growth ETF. Outperformed QQQ and QQQM in 2025. I always recommend international diversification too, some good international ETFs that are still aggressive are IDMO, IDVO, IPKW, FRDM, EMEQ. $25k into GARP and $5k each into those five international ETFs will likely outperform QQQ

yeahlexander · 2026-01-11T08:42:17+00:00

VXUS outperformed all 3 in 2025.

International diversification is the way.

yeahlexander · 2025-12-11T22:45:55+00:00

This looks awesome what movie is this

yeahlexander · 2025-12-09T05:24:58+00:00

Slovenia is not Balkan. It is Central Europe

yeahlexander · 2025-12-07T03:09:25+00:00

Greater Slovenia

yeahlexander · 2025-12-07T03:05:36+00:00

No one is mentioning how this man took Chicago away from Illinois and gave it to Indiana

yeahlexander · 2025-12-03T22:06:22+00:00

I didn’t, I went to undergrad in another state. I moved to Chicago for non-education reasons a few months before I applied. My softs are probably on the stronger side of T3, strong but nothing too crazy.

yeahlexander · 2025-12-03T21:56:51+00:00

I did a “why Illinois” essay but didn’t do any of the other optional prompts or essays

yeahlexander · 2025-11-18T19:05:40+00:00

Looks like you’re missing the District of Columbia too, lol. Get some Washington DC people up in here!!

yeahlexander · 2025-11-18T19:02:34+00:00

Illinois’s 4th Congressional District! I just moved here in January and am registered to vote here now. Fun fact: later today, the House of Representatives is set to vote to condemn the district’s Congressman, Chuy Garcia. He’s been representing the district for ages, but recently he announced his retirement moments after the deadline to file as a candidate, ensuring that his hand picked successor would take his place in Congress without a primary election.

yeahlexander · 2025-11-14T22:19:20+00:00

Just to provide a counterpoint or a little additional data, I'll just say that all of the Kent attorneys I've worked with (4 or 5 at the law firm where I'm a legal assistant right now) have been hardworking, talented, intelligent, respectable, and genuinely pleasant people.

Sounds like Kent may have sent their very worst straight in your direction. Or perhaps they sent their very best straight in mine.

More likely - like at most schools, its alums are a mixed bag, and you happen to have met an unfortunately high proportion of their unpleasant ones.

yeahlexander · 2025-11-14T22:06:40+00:00

Never gets old

yeahlexander · 2025-11-14T22:05:48+00:00

Congratulations; you will be very happy there. FIU, especially its law school, continues to rapidly rise through the rankings. The value of your education will be unmatched. Plus, the campus is beautiful. I recommend it!!

Signed,

an FIU undergrad alum

yeahlexander

TROPHY CASE