This is what the service we use costs.

I sent you a PM with details, Jean, in case you have any more advice. Thanks!

Thanks for all the well-wishes! This looks like the evolution of an autoimmune thing for me. I mainly wanted to make sure that everyone thinks about what they'd do if it happens to them. This experience has really woken me up to how bad it could have been.

Yep, depending on the type of cardiac event, blood pressure could be high or low (or normal). Same with pulse. The good news is the main diagnostic tests are non-invasive: Cardiac enzymes (a blood test), EKG, and Echocardiogram (ultrasound). The bad news is they can't be done at home.

Ugh, I've been laid up for two weeks recovering from the heart cath and even with all the meds I'm still in pain and winded if I *do* anything. They are trying to figure out what to do next.

Even if it has passed I would definitely be seen as soon as possible. See my Little Heart Attack post: Just a Little Heart Attack

It seemed like a good time to share this: It's funny, but seriously we really do that. I waited for dh to get home, though I did do some straightening and packed a bag. Then it was so late, I took some more pills, so that he could get a good night's rest (he had a stressful day coming up the next). THEN at 4am, when I admitted it was so bad that I needed to be seen, I insisted he go ahead and shower and get ready for work so he could drop me off at the ER on his way in rather than having to come back home. On the upside, we didn't have to wait for the cardiac enzymes to go up, they were already there! Fortunately, it is acute pericarditis and not a blockage, or my stubbornness would have likely done me in.

:grouphug: I'm so, so sorry. That's just heart-breaking. :grouphug:

And she was a teenager! Can you imagine one of our teens trying to navigate a tragedy of that proportion and being treated like that!! It makes my blood boil!!

Yes, many of us are just following the wisdom of those that have gone before. If I haven't said it before: "Thank you to all who helped me get through the application process last year!!!"

Yes, I provided a "Supplemental Transcript" that listed all of the courses on the actual transcript with descriptions. It was required by most of the colleges that we applied to, since we are unaccredited homeschoolers. Yes, the grading scale was in the school profile, but there was something in most course descriptions about evaluation, like if the class included a project, research paper, papers, tests, labs, etc. The course descriptions didn't have an evaluation section, I just mentioned things in the paragraph. If AP or SAT II scores were part of the grade they were mentioned, too. I could see the document getting long so I tried to focus on information that I wanted to share and not be too wordy. I would be really surprised to find out that anyone read it all the way through :-) There was no consistency in length of descriptions. For some classes, he did so much outside work and cool things, they were worth mentioning. For others, it was a basic class where not much needed to be said. I did include textbook, outside resources and other readings. Yes, everything on my transcript was on the supplemental. For DE, I just copied and pasted the course catalog information from the university, so they'd have everything in one place. I would do the same for Lukeion if that was the entirety of the class. Most of the unaccredited outside things ds did were a portion of his homeschool credit, so they were mentioned in the paragraph describing the overall class.

I did this, too, on advice from here. The transcript was a one page document that can stand alone. The supplemental transcript was about a dozen pages. I just stapled them together where I had to send paper copies.

Our state schools give letter grades for all elective classes, but then the transcripts have a separate "core" GPA and "overall" GPA. I did the same. It may not work for everyone, but I made most of my choices based on what our state does. It just seemed easier to say, "That's the way Georgia does it," than give so much detailed explanation of why I chose a specific method. YMMV, if you are applying to highly selective or lottery schools. I think there is more of a game to be played there.

Yes, I calculated weighted and unweighted GPA in a table at the bottom of the transcript. Our state schools also break out "core" and "overall" GPAs, so it made a 2x2 table.

I did designate two kinds of classes as Honors. Some of the dual enrollment classes were honors classes, so they kept their designation on my transcript. (Our state puts DE on both high school and college transcript, so I followed that.) Second, ds had several English classes that an outside class (not accredited) was a portion of the class. He not only took that class in addition to his homeschool work, but went above and beyond working with the instructor and the literature. Though all of his high school classes were college prep, these went so much further, I felt like it should be acknowledged and rewarded. Our state schools only give an extra quality point in GPA for AP and DE, so I chose to do the same. Those Honors classes that I designated are just the word on the transcript and an explanation in the course description. I don't know about the scholarship. Honestly, he's a science major, so it probably looked weird that he ended up with honors credit for English classes instead of science ones. (He got scholarship offers and acceptance at all schools, except only conditional acceptance (with additional DE required) at the highly selective one he applied to.)

[ETA: This is heartfelt and important so I want to leave it for a while, but probably TMI. Please don't quote the personal details] Yes, please, please listen to Kelly. If you can't afford all of the options, just go for as much 30-year term as you can get. I was already having some health problems when we bought mine when ds was a baby, so it was more expensive. We decided on 20 year term (I've got 1 1/2 years left). This year with the autoimmune attacking the heart and lungs, I'm feeling like a washing machine that is going to expire right after the warranty runs out, so I wish I'd gotten 30. It would be nice to know dh could pay off the house and ds could finish through grad school without money worries, particularly since I haven't been able to work the past few years like we thought. You can't imagine how much it will cost for your spouse to replace everything you do for free. Even if your life insurance only covers a year of that, it gives a spouse a chance to catch their bearings and maybe take some time off with the kids to help with the kids. For most people, it's torture to lose a spouse and have to go back to work in a couple of weeks, because you need the money. I've just seen it happen to too many families in the past 10 years. Also, to add, I'm considering getting ds a 30 year term policy next time we do financial stuff. Though my health problems mostly seem to be through the female line, I can see how devastating it might be for a young man to not be able to get insurance for his family, if he suddenly develops a long term illness.

I totally agree. Having been through it all caring for my mom, I can say, "Hindsight is 20/20." I know now exactly what we should and shouldn't have done, but it's not easy to know in the moment. Some things were true quality of life issues...if the treatment had worked, what was left of her life would have been more comfortable. When it didn't, it was a waste of her energy and her time, and in essence, made things worse, but all you have is "odds," no crystal ball.

I don't do it a whole lot, I tend to always be searching for something new. But those I have: Firefly Buffy Fringe

I think it's fine to count that type of study for history. If you delve into each article, there is usually history background that has to be learned and understood. I'd say with most of those magazines, it's recent history, so maybe a credit for 20th Century History or Modern History or Post-WWII History. I would google search for syllabi or sample exams for courses with those names and see if his study and knowledge cover most of what's taught.

Just like a regular high school student, ds had one official transcript that I sent to every university. I did not alter it for each school based on their needs. I did provide a second document of whatever they wanted...cover sheet of portfolio, list of courses by year, weird core-course forms, etc, but I didn't consider that the transcript. It was more, "This is an extra thing for your university." It took some pressure off having to make multiple types of transcripts all look good. Having worked in high schools and universities, every school has a different format and somehow the universities manage that. You are being nice to provide all the additional stuff they need. I'd just type up an official letter with what they want and attach the official transcript to it. (But then again I got less and less tolerant with the process as time went on.)

Dress codes irritate me beyond reason. I'm fine with closed toe shoes or non-loose clothing for safety in labs, or no shoes that will ruin the gym floor. But if there are good reasons, it's just ridiculous. If people can't get over their hang-ups, I vote for uniforms-unisex pants, shorts, and kilts and t-shirts, polos, and pullovers. How about this dress code - Please wear something comfortable so that you can focus in class. Being too hot, too cold, or constantly tugging at your clothes is distracting. Students who are distracted by the clothes of others will be provided with blinders for the day and asked to keep their heads directed to the lesson.

Not rude at all. We do pot-lucks and they work really well, particularly with people who have dietary issues and need to bring their own anyway. I do think it's right to let people know at the outset, rather than inviting them to a "party" and then follow-up with a food request. I also prefer to be relaxed rather than proscriptive about what people bring...no one will die if the sides aren't matched or there is too much of one thing.

Another possibility, could he self study now and take the AP Calc AB test in May? He might be able to get credit for Calc II and then take Physics next year. If he doesn't get the score, it's no loss (except the money), he just changes his spring semester plan.

I second the idea of pick the best professors. In complex subjects like Calc and Physics, someone who can explain the concepts clearly is a gem. He could also do Physics I and then Calc II next year and then take Physics II and Calc III first semester of the following year?

I think it is brilliant and I'm going to introduce ds to the idea. He always just wants to send e-mail Thank You notes, and some older people just don't think that is enough.