Here, it starts with everyone who "opened a file" http://www.usma.edu/admissions/SitePages/Class%20Profiles.aspx The admission rate for those who get a nomination varies by area. If you do the math, after every Senator and Representative gets 5 slots to each academy, spread over the four years, there are about two thousand leftover. Each Rep/Sen gets to nominate 10 candidates for each slot. The other 9 nominations compete for these leftover slots. Some areas have high stats and low demand (and they get lots of these) while other areas are lower stats (and they get few of these). When I grew up in MI, almost everyone who got a nomination also got an appointment (high stat area); where I live now, I have heard of several people who got a nomination but didn't get an appointment (really, only one "competitive" high school in the area). A nomination by itself is not a guarantee of an appointment - you still have to meet all the minimum standards (medical, physical and academic).

We used huge sand tables in college. Civil War battles (or Thermopylae or Normandy) come to life on sand tables.

What is the mortality rate at BMI 18? Do you have a link?

The GRE is online, not on paper, so the most representative practice test is the free one on their website. http://www.takethegre.com/try-gre-free

The store bought bread could be made with a different flour (ie. a different variety of wheat). There really are a ton of different things in store bought bread that doesn't belong there. Try Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day, if you don't have time for the real thing.

Seems to me there were threads last year about making sunscreen, using just zinc oxide and olive oil.

Just in case you haven't googled, http://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/ready/choose/howto.html http://www.pilottricks.com/how-to-choose-a-flight-instructor/ http://www.flyingmag.com/training/learn-fly/flight-school-finding-right-instructor http://www.flyingmag.com/training/learn-fly/flight-school-finding-right-instructor I read somewhere on the 'Net (back when ds started flying) to be wary of CFIs that didn't believe in simulators (in addition to flight time, not instead of) but I can't find that article. The gist of it was that the 40 required hours was bare minimum, most people take longer and if you don't use a simulator, you could take a lot longer. Yes, flying the real thing is better but since simulators have gotten so much cheaper, is flying the real thing for an hour better than flying the simulator for a 100 hours? Especially if you buy one and hook it up to your PC and have it always available. When dd did ground school, there were 10 people but she was the only one to take the written test promptly. Two years later, none of the others have and now they probably won't

If you're going to cover it anyway, get cloth seats and covers you can throw in the washer. I've had leather seats stain. And crack. (Cloth seats don't need "moisturized".) And they're too hot when it's hot and too cold when it's cold. The ONLY thing I like about leather seats is that they slide nicely when you're wearing a skirt.

The one "near" me is not so lucky.

The article is misleading, implying that there are areas all over the country where a beautiful house can be had for $150,000. Essentially, for $150,000 you can have a nice house, in an area with no jobs, or a house within commuting distance of a reasonable job market that needs another $150,000 to bring it up to code. It's quite predictable what a lack of employment will do to an areas housing market. You cannot get nice houses, in nice areas, with good jobs and schools, for $150,000. Supply and demand raises the price.

Congratulations to her!! Will the shoulders get a rest for a bit now? We have a good month off, after the last championship meet (that only a few swimmers qualified for) before the "summer" season starts.

Not if what she is selling belongs to someone else. Think of it as a consignment sale.

I've been told they won't cash it after 6 months. That's assuming they even look at it. We've had them cash checks that weren't even signed.

Unless you're trying to BUY that used car. I was looked at Foresters a few weeks ago. They had a 2012 that was only $1000 less than the new Foresters!

If they are selling it for 50%, that means the original buyer only got 25% from them. The "normal" mark up (to cover overhead) is to double what they had to pay for it.

Driving worked for dh. He had gotten nearsighted while at grad school (yes, too much reading but not in childhood) and it went back to normal when he started a job a few years later that had a hour or two commute twice a day. Apparently, staring at the horizon helps even if it's not on a cruise!

Coloring, drawing, art, calligraphy Beeswax, modeling clay, kneading bread Grip strengthener stuff http://www.captainsofcrushgrippers.com/ http://www.rei.com/c/hand-strengtheners?ir=category%3Ahand-strengtheners&r=c&page=1&version=v6 Finger games (like Live Long and Prosper)

Half (or more) of the original value is the warranty and the ability to call Apologia/LOF/ AOPS and ask questions. When you buy used, you don't get that. Selling half the value at half the price,even if the text is pristine, isn't really a savings.

It never occurred to me that "Do you have a high school diploma?" was referring to the actual piece of paper. I have no idea where mine is and no one has asked for it since I applied to college (undergrad) eons ago. I printed one out on regular paper for the NCAA for ds; they are apparently the only people interested in it.

:iagree: Your high school has internships? You may want to look into schools for animation/ art / graphic arts and see what their requirements are. http://www.scad.edu/admission/admission-information/undergraduate/home-school-applicants

Are you talking about this one? https://courses.edx.org/courses/MITx/6.00.1_4x/3T2014/info I started it but was overcome by events (and had no reason to do it outside of my own entertainment). It's archived now, so you can go at your own pace. The first few lessons were OK. I did this one with dd last summer: https://www.coursera.org/course/cs101 It was a quick and easy intro to programming and discussion of how computers work (and come apart). It was in no way equivalent to a semester long college course but might be just right for a first introduction to computers for middle school. If he's been doing Scratch, Raspberry Pi, etc, it will be too easy.

I would limit my choice of chem labs if I didn't have an outdoor space (no toxic fumes, etc) but there are plenty to choose from. Yes, it can be done.

The other thing I wanted to add is that all of the state requirements do not have to be the same standards as your other classes, or even listed on your transcript. My state requires a "state topic" EVERY YEAR, 1-12. I have reported state children's literature, state history, state voting laws, state driving laws, state flora (ie gardening), state fauna (wildlife in our yard), etc. None of it has gone on their transcripts. Just because NY requires econ does not mean you have to do AP Econ.

Sell it to them instead of renting it to them. You will be too far away to supervise or stage the house for sale after they leave. Housing in Boston is ridiculous. Rental housing is even more ridiculous. You are going to need your down payment.

Isn't NY the state that doesn't even recognize a homeschool diploma? And even the NCAA requires a GED from NY residents because of it? What can they do to you if dc never gets around to the 1/2 unit of econ?