Who'd've thought it?

Well, this is awkward.

After the histrionics of my previous post, I got an email from UCAS the next day.  It said, ominously, "Something has changed," which is UCAS-code speak for, "You've received a rejection".

I logged into UCAS with a heavy heart, knowing that the only reason they'd got back to me so quickly was because I was clearly not a suitable candidate.

And then I screamed the house down.

Because I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amber came rushing out of her bedroom, Dogbreath started barking at the excitement, I bearhugged Amber and jumped up and down screaming.   I made Amber come downstairs and check the screen to make sure it was really true.

It was.  They've made me a conditional offer.  I have to get 22 distinctions and 12 merits.  I'm extremely close to having already achieved that and there's still 5 months of course left to go.  I already have all the distinctions I need.  So the pressure is officially off.  I absolutely could not believe my eyes.

Two minutes later Carlos walked in from work.  More excitement followed.  I phoned everyone, I put a post on Facebook, I sent texts to the people who'd wished me good luck in my interview.  We put champagne in the fridge and decided to go out to dinner.  I had fillet steak which cost a small fortune.  I came home and drank more champagne.   After a month of abstinence, I had such a hangover the next day that I had to bunk off Chemistry to recover.

Since then it's gradually begun to sink in.  I discovered that the other girl from my course who was there on the same day as me hasn't had an offer, and I feel a bit bad for her.  I had been worried that she'd get in and I wouldn't and the irony isn't lost on me that our roles have been reversed.

I can't wait to tell the dietitians that I'm volunteering with.   I'm so much less worried about my other interviews.  I'm just SO relieved that I will definitely be able to do my degree somewhere.

And slightly astounded that they picked me for one of 34 places out of FOUR HUNDRED applicants.

So... this is my happy ending after all.  Phew!  The stress and the relief have both been exhausting.  Today, I went to meditation and I went for a run and I made soup and key lime pie and Quorn mince tortillas.   It's been so lovely to be able to give myself a day's respite from college.  I'll get back to it of course - and I'll still try my best... but no longer do I have to excel at everything.  

I'm only slightly embarrassed at what a state I got myself into.  I still think I made mistakes in the interview and I'm amazed that she obviously didn't think so - usually I'm good at detecting rapport.  But I'm not going to worry about that now.  I'm in, and that's what matters.  YIPPEE!