<p>Check out thrift stores for cheap almost new prep books. Or 1/2 price books can mark them down to $2. I think many people buy them and then donate them after the kids go off to college. Flip through them to see if they're not marked too much, (you can erase a few marks) Even if they are used, usually only the first part. I don't know about brands as I shop for condition and price. There can be mistakes however, so don't be troubled if you find an answer that doesn't make sense. Also work hard on vocabulary- 5 or 10 words per day. Vocabulary will be useful all through out your life, so why not do it now, and get immediate benefit?</p>
<p>What's a thrift shop? Is that like a pawn shop?</p>
<p>like goodwill, amvets, the salvation army...? a thrift shop is a 2nd-hand store. :)</p>
<p>Never heard of any of them, sorry. Salvation army yes, but isn't that a place where you can donate stuff.</p>
<p>Salvation Army and Goodwill have stores typically attached to the donation site. Just out of curiosity how do you have a 3.4, but less than a 900 SAT score...is it test fear or are you not taking higher level courses? People have problems with the Math if they do not have advance courses, such as Calc or Discrete Math. I can understand your Verbal being lower because you are 1st generation, which could make it more difficult. Remember you will take a lot of Mathmatical courses and you will need a good basis under your belt.</p>
<p>Back to the Thrift stores-Goodwill, and St. Vincent de Paul have the classics section for .69 for paperbacks and also Cliff Notes (.69). Salvation Army didn't seem like they had the nice organizational system. If you go every so often you can get a nice collection of the normal assigned literature, usually untouched. ie, Russian authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austin and other English novels, a lot of Shakespeare paperbacks, Mark Twain, comes to mind. Honestly, its cheaper than library fines, and you are free to mark up the books since you own them. Since I don't have to worry about losing them, I always carry one with me to read if I have to wait. A small dictionary is nice to carry to look up words. Additionally our goodwill has a lot of textbooks, (people that go to private schools I guess), or even Community college, if they can't sell them back they get donated. Our whole family enjoys the randomness of the "finds" I usually find some obsure military book for my husband, foreign language novels for the kids, also sometimes computer books. (they are outdated but only $2-3.--instead of $40) My daughter at the AFA has benefitted by reading a lot in highschool. I would provide her with books (in paperback) that she would take on the bus or wherever and get in extra reading. (no tragedy if the book gets lost) She says writing papers comes a lot easier and faster for her, she's noticed, and she attributes it to a lot of reading. </p>
<p>Have you noticed people going through with the wands in the book section-scanning the ISBN to find books that are sellable online? The gadget goes "beep" if its a good deal. Normally the textbooks have fixed prices, but the different colors of price tags rotate through 1/2 price, if there's something you want to wait for. (I see many nice old dictionaries, but I can't give all of them a home!)</p>
<p>If you ask some of the workers about the books they can show you the sections, they can tell you when shipments come in, and when big 1/2 price sales will be coming. They seem to be pretty helpful people!</p>
<p>AFPJ I spoke with an admission rep for KAPLAN testing services. If you call 800-527-8378 and explain your financial difficulties they will provide you with some paperwork, and may be able to get you some SAT test prep assistance.</p>
<p>AFPJ I also contacted the YMCA in NYC. If you go to the nearest YMCA and speak with the Athletic Programs director they will help you with your other issue. Now get to it....</p>
<p>concerning with the average, that is outdated. Back when my average was like in the low 90s. My school does not give a average on a 4 point scale, it's on a 100 point scale. My avearage now is 84. I do not know what that on a 4 point scale. I did some reasearch and it has come out differently. For example one school a 90 average is a 3.0 while others a 90 is a 3.5. I guess i would have to clarify this with the Academy. Also my school does not weight honor and AP courses. All my classes are honor classes and I have have taken two AP classes, one in which I failed and was dropped from the course.</p>
<p>The AFA does not weight, it will actually tell you that your GPA may be re-weighted by their standards. You do not need to explain it the gc and transcript will show it and they will re-weight. The bigger issue is having an F (sorry, but we are all here to help you in a truthful manner) I believe you have a great resume, and I would not be surprised if you did get an appt., however, you need to realize how hard classes are at the AFA and take a long hard look at yourself regarding your scholastic ability. </p>
<p>I am impressed that you have taken APs, but then it begs the question why did the school allow you to take it if you didn't have the foundation. At most hs you need to sit down with the gc for schedules.</p>
<p>I agree it is interesting how every school district is different across the nation, as an example, an 84 in ours would be a C, our A cut-off is a 93. </p>
<p>If you want to know your GPA it is 4 X 84, however you state that your school does not weight so your GPA might change. Also if you look on your SAT score results that they sent you, you will see a gpa based on your school and how it is seen on a national view. Remember Universities have the same problem, so they will re-weight you also.</p>
<p>Since you are in JROTC, my best suggestion is to ask your commander the name of your ALO. Your ALO will be the one who can give you a true evaluation of how you stand. Realize the ALO rec is part of your WCS. Also start preparing your essays for your MOC's and the AFA. You will definetly write and re-write them several times, it is not as if you can sit down in 1 night and belt it out! Our DS worked on his essays for months, if I recall the AFA wanted 2, and each MOC wanted 2, so he had to write 8 essays on top of the ones for college admission purposes, all by Oct. 15, when you add in 4 or 5 more colleges you maybe looking at @15 essays of 500 words, on prompted questions.</p>
<p>BTW to add onto that note, if you will be in South America this summer how will you meet with your ALO?</p>
<p>I don't mind it when people tell me the truth, I don't like sugarcoating either. =]~ I appreicate everyones imput. And I stopped making exuceses. I met with my ALO personally in my freshman year of high school and we have been keeping contact ever since. Don't think it would be much of a problem.</p>
<p>That's great, remember to also start your AFROTC scholarship application for you back-up plans. You do realize the Dodmerb physical has to be performed within a specific time period from when you receive the letter...I think 30 days, so you may want to get ahead of the ball on that to state to AFA you will be out of country</p>
<p>I think what is best for me is as follows
plan a- USAFA
plan b- AFROTC scholarship/USAFA prep school
plan c- prep school on falcon foundation scholarship
plan d- ANG and college</p>
<p>Sounds pretty good to me.</p>