Thanks everyone for your thoughts. We're having a "meeting" tomorrow to discuss options.

She's 15 now with a very late December birthday, so she wouldn't be that young should she graduate a year early. She is planning on studying abroad at least one semester during undergraduate years---potential majors basically require it! We have seen a distinct change in her attitudes and behavior since spending a month away this summer. She has matured greatly :) The plan is for her to start university Russian next year while continuing with Arabic (200 level). If that won't fit in her schedule, she'll choose a different language, most likely an Asian one.

She's trying to decide if her odds would be better applying for a summer first. It seems like most of the year students are older, with many deferring college for a gap year (dd and I read nsliy's social media feeds).

We don't have any friends or family abroad. We do have good friends who are from Beijing, but I don't think dd would want to live there for any period of time (we traveled there w our friends in June 2014). She would want to become fluent in another language during a gap year, whether that is through studying or volunteering. Being with a group of English-speakers (or those wanting to improve their English) would not appeal.

I have a weekend list as well :) --gardening: pick, weed, water seedlings (lettuce, spinach, broccoli rabe) --yard work: weed fruit garden, clean up from summer, deadhead perennials in front yard --errands: pick up Rx, new pointe shoes for dd, Costco, a few items from grocery store, a few things from Lowe's, farmers' market, natural foods store --school: prep bio for week, write psych test, write Comp Gov test --personal: bunch of emails, exercise twice --family: brunch out on Sunday w friends, talk over various options for future w dd (see thread on hs board) Good thing I have three days :lol:

The AP classes offered here at the high-achieving public/private/charter schools are much harder than the DE classes offered at the CC. I don't know how the classes at the lower-achieving schools compare. My dd will be/is competing against the students who attend the high-achieving schools for summer programs, college admission, and scholarships. She is capable of doing well, so why would I essentially handicap her by having her take classes at the CC instead of AP? (We live on the east coast in a competitive area which colors our experiences.)

:eek: Hold me. :lol: So. We have nixed the request for an international boarding school for junior and senior years because (1) she's way past that in some subjects (2) she couldn't deal with high school restrictions, (3) price :lol: and (4) dh and I both have friends who attended boarding schools in various countries and their stories are just.... Options • going ahead as we had planned with application for a competitive summer-abroad program followed by junior and senior years with classes with me and at the university • graduating a year early and heading straight to college • graduating a year early and taking a gap year theough a competitive State Department program (read: essentially free) • graduating a year early and taking a gap year abroad (to work on languages and be exposed ti different cultures) through something like AFS (read: $$$) For those who don't follow our saga ;), dd is kind of advanced. We could easily graduate her a year early. We decided not to (last conversation was in May) because she would be even more competitive for scholarship monies and for admission to lottery schools by staying in high school until traditional age. Our EFC is quite high but we cannot pay it. At this point, dd would like to work for the government (FBI/CIA/NSA/alphabet soup or State Dept) or an NGO after college graduation. This post is partially a vent, partially a request for support, and partially a cry for any been-there-done-that experience. If we graduate her a year early, this would be the PSAT year. She has a testing site. She would have to prep for the new format (her score last year as a ninth grader showed that with targeted prep, she could hit the (past) NMSF level for our high-number state). We had kinda counted on the extra year to get her all set, yk? Anyone familiar with AFS or other year-abroad programs? My experience is from 30 years ago when I had friends go away through AFS and new friends come to our town through AFS (one from India, one from Germany). Anyone have a kid do a gap yeat abroad? Did you use a program or did you arrange it privately? I would not want dd to spend her "senior year" abroad. I would want her to apply to colleges, figure out where she's going, request the gap year (of course, she'll make sure this a 'normal' thing for her target schools), and then turn for college. I cannot imagine trying to have her apply to schools from a differemt country omgosh. (Pleae excuse any incoherence. I stress-weeded, cooked dinner, and then had an adult beverage. I may need a second.)

The "Pre-AP" term seems to be a regional thing. Here in the Mid-Atlantic megalopolis, land of competitiveness, kids in public/private/charter school take a year of "honors" bio or chem before moving to the AP class. AP physics of any type (algebra 1/2, calculus C) is taken without any prior physics class but is dependent on math level. AP Envi Sci requires either bio or chem or both, depending on the school. My ds took AP Physics C, both flavors, without any prior physics class (he had physical science in 8, bio in 9, chem in 10). He scored a 5 and 4 :)

Joining you! Sheesh.

Holding your family in thought :grouphug:

Wait a year and I'll have one :lol:

What have you used so far?

Tired, alas. --daily and Friday things --classes w dd --exercise at gym while she's at Arabic class --emails --bake rolls for dinner --pick up prescription --gardening

Exactly. My response to "where does she go to school?" is to say in a matter-of-fact way "actually, we homeschool and have since she was in fifth grade" with a pleasant look on my face. The only negative comment I have ever received about homeschooling was from the principal of dd's former school. She wanted to know how on earth I would manage to learn enough to teach all the different subjects. I may have mentioned a PhD and how I was more qualified to teach at her school than most of the teachers ;)

Preach it, neighbor. I just keep my mouth shut about certain topics when we're doing Science Olympiad things.

A day of appointments: --dd allergist 10am --me contacts fitting 2:30 (new brand as mine are no longer being made) --me physical therapy 4pm --dh kickboxing 7pm In between: --daily and Thursday things --classes w dd --bake baguettes --orchard run for apples --emails to send and return --exercise? may take today off Anything else would be a bonus :)

Heaney :)

I'm excited that we may have actually (finally) reached a level of all-round appropriate challenge for dd15 :)

My day: --daily and Wednesday things --classes w dd --drive dd to campus for Arabic --work out at gym --pick up dd --prep lab for tomorrow --some planning emails --prep dinner so dh can cook it --pick up holds at library --physical therapy at 5 --stop at store for liver and hydrogen peroxide (lab supplies) --pick up dd and dniece after Model UN 8ish

A :grouphug: and a :party: for you, Lizzie!

Aw shucks *blushes* You're welcome :)

Hi, that's me :) I'll answer your PM now :)

And don't be put off by the "competitive" header----a bit down the page are links to the National Merit Finalist and automatic merit scholarship compliations! I read the three pages a few times a year :lol:

Thanks Lisa! Enjoy your last year :party:

Today is my dh's birthday :) Dd started her online English class last week, her classes with me yesterday, and her university Arabic class in two hours :D