Summer plans

So there is a lot up in the air right with summer. Originally Marc and I had started making plans to spend 6 weeks backpacking through Europe...we had pretty much all but bought the tickets. Well about a month ago Prescott (architecture director and my studio professor) approached the 3+ students about doing an accelerated program. What that would mean is that I go this summer, fall & spring, and then next summer and I'm done. That means I would be graduating in August 2011 instead of May 2012.

So this definitely threw us through a loop. The chance to graduate earlier is awesome in the fact that it would allow Marc more options for his PhD next fall if he decides he would rather go back east or to Europe, also it means we could have a baby a lot sooner. So right now it looks as if our trip has gone out the window. Right now there is a lot of confusion about how many spots there will be and who will be offered the spots, etc. But so far I am the only 3+ (meaning we are graduate students with an undergraduate in a non-architecture field there about 8 of this year coming from about 40 applicants) that is willing to take this on. Many of us right now our doing our 4th consecutive semester (spring, summer, fall, spring) and if I do the accelerated I will have done 8 semesters consecutively that's like doing 4 years of college in 3...extremely difficult to say the least. If it wasn't so demanding it wouldn't be nearly as bad but when you put 12 hours a day into something day-in-day-out it gets overwhelming very quickly. Everyone else is needing a break, but I think I can do it if I can just keep my mental sanity.

This semester I have really focused on exercising everyday and keeping personal time a priority (Marc has made a house rule that I have to shower at least every other day!). It also helps that I have Marc. Honestly, there is no way I could do this without him. The hard part is not knowing. So I'm hoping by this week we will have it all straightened around, so that we can make some plans. Right now they know I'm interested but only if they will offer me a full tuition scholarship. I may be the first (and maybe the only) graduate student to do the long program in such a short time frame.I just hope they can get the financial part of it in line and they will be able to offer me what I want. ahhhhh I'm such a planner!!!!!!!!!!