I think you are right that it's very regional. Based on the comments I've read, it seems some people in their 30s and 40s had access to AP in high school, while others in their 20s and 30s recall if first being implemented while they were in school.

First of all, condolences on Middlebury (although I'm sure you are over it by now). Who knows what adcoms look for...

I have to admit, I'm confused by your reply. I'm not defending the author, his college admission status, or his history knowledge.

Honors/AP classes now run on a 5.0 scale in order to demonstrate that some course loads are harder than others.

I definitely wasn't trying to imply that AP tests weren't around or fairly well known back then, but there is no arguing that they have become dramatically more widespread in recent years.

I didn't mean to imply that schools were intentionally considering it a requirement, but that because how many kids have AP credit on their resumes now, that it's kind of a default requirement.

We also had a 4.0 scale (at least until 2003, but I heard rumors they were talking about changing it a few years ago). One of my cousins went to a school that doesn't offer any AP or honors classes. There are fewer than 20 kids per grade, so splitting those kids up into smaller classes would be insane.

As other people have noted, the author did come from a fancy prep school.

The answer is in the title, he's 38. NOW AP classes are required for a lot of colleges to even look at you, but 20 years ago, they weren't nearly as prevalent.

I'm also from SD, and while I wasn't on the debate team, I was on a couple other academic competition teams. I wasn't in a situation where I was asked how I wanted my meat cooked until after college. This story made me cringe a little, because that's how I might have responded to the question. Also the difference…

Feel free! I'm sure I picked it up somewhere, I'm not that clever on my own!

I think it's specific to these people...like each one is such a good patriotic American on their own that this union with just be the best example of American-ness? I don't know...

OH MY GOSH! I didn't even think of that.

My rabidly-conservative Facebook friends (who I keep both out of a sense of loyalty b/c of family friendships and also because it keeps me informed about the gross stuff being said about various topics) are all over this as "so American!" and wishing them the best. I have a feeling if Bristol was a different race,…

I've also known dogs that "bury" food/bones in furniture cushions

I agree that there are a lot more options for girl's dressy clothes than boys. Ultimately though, the part most people are upset about is all the unnecessary opining about it. "Think modesty; don't draw attention to your body; show you are a lady; etc." That's not a word count issue, that's an issue of turning a…

I'm...confused.

I still don't understand how the original give them more options...the original says "Skirts and dresses should be no shorter than your fingertips when your arms are at your sides." and "Shoulders must be covered" So how does mine give them fewer options?

There must have been a low bar set for that honor roll.

The directions I gave give them exactly the same options as the original.