And the Winner Is...

Many of you have been wondering where I am going to grad school.

I myself have been wondering the same thing.

For a few months, I was set on going to Pennsylvania. I was really excited about the program there: it's the shortest, I don't have to do an ounce of research, I can do international rotations to wherever I want to go, I would get the chance to travel all over the east coast, and they have had the highest test scores in the nation for several years running. (When they consistently achieve a 100% first-time pass rate with the average score in the 98th percentile you know they're doing something right!)

Unfortunately, things just weren't working out. The roommate I had lined up fell through unexpectedly and I was having a hard time finding another one. (Housing was so expensive I was even seriously considering living with two unknown males... I don't know, but I'm pretty sure my bishop might have a problem with that.)

I was also becoming increasingly discouraged by the fact that I was committing social suicide. (Because let's be honest, I've already hit social rock-bottom after all the drama I've been through over the last couple years and I really can't afford to sacrifice any more of my "youth" to the inevitable isolation of being the only single LDS adult within a 40 mile radius. My personality already started to shrivel years ago and I'm really not so sure how much of it is still salvageable at this point.)

Add those factors to several other unmentioned concerns and I was starting to feel pretty darn discouraged.

That's when the school in Arizona called to offer me a spot in their program.

Now, you would think I would have been excited... But no sir-ee. Not me. I totally started crying. I didn't want to have to make a decision between the two schools. I liked the program in Pennsylvania better, but was it really worth it if I was miserable and alone? Not to mention the fact that we all know how hard it is to distinguish between what we want to do and what we're supposed to do.

Finally, after five drama-filled days, I made my final decision. And the winner is.....



ARIZONA!

I am moving to Mesa next month to start the program the first week of June! I am so excited to be starting sooner and to be living closer to friends and family. I'm also looking forward to warmer weather (okay, probably a little too warm,) la comida mexicana, cold cadavers, and above all, the fact that I get to drop Bio 100. (Hence the reason the aforementioned "flurry of posts" never came to pass. You might have to wait until I start grad school for that event to take place.)