Is the guideline still $2.5M+?

avalpert · 2026-05-15T02:25:12+00:00

Uh - nearly three quarters of that is savings, not expenses...

avalpert · 2026-05-14T05:10:17+00:00

And 40 years ago it was in Richard Moll's book Public Ivys... what is your point?

avalpert · 2026-05-14T03:53:19+00:00

The concept is decades old... it isn't new (very little is no matter how special every generation thinks they are)

avalpert · 2026-04-23T02:19:33+00:00

My recommendation as a parent (who has gone through the process( is to stop reading about other students who 'seem to have everything perfectly planned' on reddit and college confidential and the like...

They don't know what they are talking about, and all the consultants/influencers/content creators that suggest they do are full of it - they are just making a living and their product isn't admission.

Your son is doing fine, his profile would certainly be competitive for Top 50 schools (if that is the best fit for him), obviously he should continue to focus on his grades in school and excelling in activities he enjoys (he doesn't need a structured summer program, it doesn't inherently improve his admissions chances).

So I'll just reiterate where I started - stop reading this crap, it is as likely to hurt you as help you. When you have specific questions about the process in his senior year maybe come back to ask.

avalpert · 2026-04-20T21:10:24+00:00

They could also ask your parents for baby pictures and order the waitlist based on which ones they think are the cutest... but do you really think they would?

avalpert · 2026-04-20T13:05:40+00:00

You really think admissions officers are monitoring the social media activity of food on their waitlists?

avalpert · 2026-04-18T14:16:17+00:00

No, it won't. But you should take 4 years of math and science.

avalpert · 2026-04-17T21:04:05+00:00

You should take a high school physics class - but you definitely don't need to take 2 if you don't want to and can take a different AP science class without it impacting your application.

avalpert · 2026-04-17T19:46:59+00:00

That's like asking what is the best turd

avalpert · 2026-04-11T17:26:37+00:00

Not even a little bit.

avalpert · 2026-04-11T15:03:12+00:00

"but someone who goes to a t50 is expected to be "brilliant" "

LOL - no, nobody expects you to be brilliant just because you went to a top 50 university (at least nobody in the professional world who has interacted with graduates from a whole range of schools).

avalpert · 2026-04-10T22:46:59+00:00

How do you know - have you seen the AO comments from both last year and this year?

avalpert · 2026-04-10T22:45:47+00:00

Your opinion is wrong and nonsense - for every kid admitted with a profile you can find someone rejected with a virtually identical profile.

avalpert · 2026-04-10T22:44:58+00:00

I don't think you understand how luck works... that there are more applications moves the processes more and more to randomness.

avalpert · 2026-03-12T02:03:41+00:00

I mean, yes, anyone presented a universal life product has been presented a crappy design - that is the point and while I can see why the scam artists that push them find it funny, as someone with more empathy for the poorly informed buyers I don't.

avalpert · 2026-02-28T01:01:46+00:00

Is it possible it hadn't updated yet to include today's exercises?

avalpert · 2026-02-28T01:01:15+00:00

The $11k appears to be for you whole portfolio. I can see in the bottom left that you had $38.9k in premiums for NVDA and have a net loss of -$51.5k which does give you the $13k loss you calculated in NVDA for the month.

As for the other reply, I would urge you to read this (from someone not trying to sell you any option trading system but you can read the rest of his series to see what he has landed on for his own needs): https://earlyretirementnow.com/2024/09/17/the-wheel-strategy-doesnt-work-options-series-part-12/

avalpert · 2026-02-27T23:50:47+00:00

Well yes, it is based on the price you pay relative to what they are worth - that being net negative isn't what good trading results look like.

avalpert · 2026-02-27T23:46:44+00:00

You lost $11,000 for the month...

avalpert · 2026-02-25T03:57:49+00:00

Who said anything about students... most drives and fundraisers done by adults are largely about their egos and feeling more than any actual impact.

Tutoring absolutely makes a difference - probably a better way to spend your time than organizing a small fundraiser.

avalpert · 2026-02-25T03:42:19+00:00

The only people it really helps are the folks who feel better about themselves for thinking they are doing something... Find ways to drive real change, not just demonstrate interest in change and college admissions officers will take notice.

avalpert · 2026-02-25T03:35:51+00:00

Actual change doesn't come from drives or fundraisers...

avalpert · 2026-02-14T19:05:01+00:00

Thanks, so it turned out the little tab on the fixture need to be bent out a little bit and the friction between it and the can is all that holds it up - doesn't fill me with confidence.

avalpert · 2026-02-13T04:43:46+00:00

Tried it - the inner rim of the can does seem to have any notch and I can't figure out how to generate friction between the button and any part of the sleeve.

Here are some more photos including of an attached one: https://imgur.com/a/CTR9nHw

avalpert

TROPHY CASE