You were smart to handle the GI Bill that way. I was fairly ignorant about how it would work, and always tell people now to investigate the ins and outs well ahead of time, including how the benefits might be divided among dependents. I have known many people who simply divide the years of benefits among the kids not realizing that might not make the most fiscal sense, especially if parents are covering educational costs anyway.

Except on the Navajo reservation! The most confusing time in my life was when we lived on the Navajo reservation, which observed DST, and across the highway from the Hopi reservation, which stayed on Standard time, along with the rest of Arizona. Hopis who owned businesses on the Navajo side typically kept the business on Standard time. Trying to figure out appointment times out in Flagstaff (or keep college class times straight!) was a bit of a puzzle

Not the case here. Our entire community uses the cans, and they do work. They don't open when turned over but that creates a challenge for the company when it comes time to pick up. Not sure what specialized equipment is used here, but it is an automated system. Editing to add, that it is not true that the entire community uses them. There's an extra charge to have one, but it does seem like the majority of people choose the cans because it cuts down on bear encounters in the neighborhoods.

We use a bear-proof can. It works beautifully but I do think the company has to be equipped to work with the can (if they have an automated pick up system.

MIT celebrates by releasing admission decisions that day as those of us frequenting College Confidential know well 😉

Personally, I've known few kids who I thought really benefited holistically from grade level acceleration, though I've known plenty who graduated "early". It's generally simple enough to do advanced subjects even when one is technically at a lower grade level, though that becomes more complicated if one is using a building based school. My quick read on your situation is that it would not necessarily be a bad thing to delay high school a year, but it will be fine, however you decide to proceed 🙂

I have not read through all replies, so my apologies if I repeat something said later. I'm about to graduate my third, and the older two have both completed undergrad and are in grad school now. Both studied a language in college (Turkish was a primary focus for one, the other earned a minor in Mandarin), though they are not doing that in grad school. I think early visits are a great idea if one can swing it, primarily for seeing different types of schools. It gives some students a chance to reflect and they still have time to change some things around in their high school plans if desired. High school flies by quickly, and it's tough to change gears as senior year is starting. That said, because of our geographical location, we did not do much in the way of early visits. As far as scholarships, I don't find the NPC helpful, because I already know we are not getting much for aid past the loan. I do find looking at the list of scholarships offered quite useful generally. It gives one a sense of automatic scholarships for certain stats and if there are competitive scholarships that might be a possibility. The exception to my NPC philosophy is certain selective schools known for exceptional need-based aid (a few Ivy schools and Stanford). They offer quite a bit more to the typical middle class student (though obviously, the difficulty there is admission.) I will say, based on my experience with my current applicant, that I am finding that schools seem to still be relying quite a bit on test scores for merit allocation. My daughter is getting a fair amount based on top GPA, but I'm seeing the students with the test scores are being offered more., even in situations where scores are optional. I do believe that essays and speaking skills can change the course a bit, so if that's a strength of your student, I'd encourage him to hone his writing and interviewing skills in the coming years. Try not to stress too much about any of this. In the end, these things do work themselves out.

I can commiserate to an extent/ My current senior's college search has definitely been impacted by her relationship. They have been dating longer than your son and his girlfriend have, since the beginning of high school. But, still, it's a high school relationship. I also have an older daughter who did marry her high school boyfriend, and though that relationship did not impact her college decision, I would say that it did alter the way her college years played out. As for my current senior, thankfully they are not trying to be at the same college. They have focused on being in the same general part of the country. I have encouraged her to apply widely though and in a variety of geographical areas, and she has done so. It appears that they will end up being a 3-5 hour drive apart, though things aren't completely finalized yet.

I am just now seeing this. I graduated two homeschoolers, who are both now college grads and in grad school. Working on my last senior. My answer is that it depends on the student. One of mine required no oversight past selecting her courses and making sure she was set up with supplies. Another needed a fair amount of oversight, but it was tricky balancing her fierce desire for privacy/reactions to some learning challenges with responsible education. 🙂 My current student can be fairly independent but also tends to blow off work. I do a weekly "homeschool meeting" with her to see what she accomplished during the week, what her grades are in courses with outside grading, and look at what is coming up.

I think the AP Bio would be fine. Don't get scared off by the label. It sounds like she has the ability. That said, many colleges will want her to have physics, esp if she is applying as a science major. Either junior or senior year is fine, It's not a hard and fast rule, but it's a base I'd want covered for my kids. I never felt the need to align high school curric to potential future majors. A solid, broad education is what I try to do. Vet schools will not ask about high school courses or activities, but general solid preparation will set them up for success.

I know exactly where you were, have lots of friends at that race 🙂 One of my daughters was a serious Nordic skier, went to JNs :-) I agree with you that it is somewhat sport dependent, and parent dependent. I know one of the Olympic figure skaters and I would say he had a somewhat normal life because of exceptionally grounded parents. My daughters were quite involved in figure skating, and I would say he is the exception rather than the rule there, as far as skaters that commit their childhoods to the sport. It's pretty toxic.

Maybe Atypical on Netflix

My daughter was severely impacted for a time. Needed help from the disability office at college to finish out the year. Required a notetaker for class and extra time for exams. Had to leave her position as keyboardist in a band. She went to her summer engineering internship, but it was quite a challenge to accomplish the needed tasks. The program I mentioned above, located in Michigan, turned everything around. She can do all her normal tasks now. It was quite dramatic.

Yes, my then-20 year old developed tremors, seemingly overnight, about 2 years ago. First in the hands, but legs became involved as well. Google functional neurological disorder. It's relatively common, but poorly understood, and presents in a number of ways. The bad news is that it is really hard to get help for it, and even a movement disorder specialist at a major urban medical centerwas useless as far as helping find a solution. We did find help though, at The Recovery Project in Livonia, Michigan. A five day intensive outpatient program taught her how to manage her symptoms. There are a couple of FND groups on Facebook with some decent information. FND Hope is one.

My experience is that people can be very slow to see the truth, if the scenario at hand is really something they want or a person they trust (and sometimes there is no good reason for them to trust the person, they just do.)

For the person I referenced above who faked cancer, his fiancee was not the only person he fooled. The entire swim team (he had time to coach despite his busy schedule as a neurologist and military secret agent) received an e mail detailing his rare cancer that required treatment out of state, and everyone was sending prayers and well wishes. There were three of us with kids on the team who didn't buy this (because we had researched the situation) and we were told to stop being busybodies. The guy left for a month or so for "treatment" and his fiancee did not question the oddness of the situation, nor did many other otherwise responsible people. I just googled the guy, and apparently after he left here, he fooled another group of people/swim team with similar stories, and briefly made the local news when he was caught again. All that to say, I completely understand why the OP is dealing with the situation as she is.

The age of the guy is different than what you mentioned, he's about 20 years younger. I was thinking for a bit it could be the same one. He also claimed to be a neurologist and Olympic swimmer and military officer. All things easily researched. His mother even had an active blog! Made no difference. Every fact was explained away.

Believe it or not, I was in a very similar position with a close acquaintance several years ago, down to the person in question faking cancer. So bizarre, and efforts to speak directly to her about the deception were met with complete unwillingness to see the truth. The guy had told this person that because of his high level security position with the government that any efforts to Google him would result in danger at his job. This was an intelligent, though young and naive, person who believed these outrageous stories he would tell. She eventually had to learn on her own but it took a couple years. Once the truth came out, he disappeared for the most part. I entirely believe he is still out there scamming people though.

Be aware, those ceilings can contain asbestos. You might want to test before stirring things up there. Ours had asbestos and we ultimately removed it.

I'm in Alaska. The most important factor with winter boots is making sure they are roomy enough. Tight boots (and tight socks) will ensure cold feet. I've used various boots through the years. This year I have used my OOFOS boots quite a bit because I'm fighting plantar fasciitis. 🙂 I like Bogs pretty well, Stegers are okay. In the end, it's really about the fit. Editing to add ice cleat opinion: Kahtoolas are very popular for hiking here. I just wore them yesterday with my Hoka hiking boots on a four mile snowy trail hike. 🙂

I totally get it. I hate celebrating my birthday, and it's not about getting older. I just don't care for the fuss. Oddly enough, this inclination makes people more likely to want to "surprise" me with a celebration, so I don't know. Accepting the cake might be your best bet. Give some to the kids, freeze the rest.

We have done it. For a one day visit, I highly suggest getting the Express Passes. Expensive, but will mean you can see more of the park during your time there. Get there as early as you can.

Such a clever young woman, and the topic really did give a sense of her intelligence and personality. I was helping a young man that year with college apps, and showed him the article. I did not read his essay, but he did get into Yale 🙂

I was wearing some for a while last spring as part of recovery from a broken ankle. Check out the options at Duluth Trading Company. I also bought some from a running store. Cannot remember brand, but higher end online running sites might have recs.

I tend to agree that it is the writing that is important in the essay, not the topic so much. There was a story a few years back about a girl who wrote about her love of a certain type of pizza in a compelling manner. :-)