the reality is starting to set in

Classes start tomorrow. I'm not actually enrolled yet (I'm not technically accepted yet...) but a lot of grad students in the program I'm applying to started taking their classes early, which is somewhat cheaper. Plus both classes I'm taking are taught by the PI of the lab I'm applying to, so it'll give me more opportunities to make a good impression.

I think I stand a much better chance of getting in now (I'm going to apply for Spring semester admission). Which means: holy crap, I'm really going to go to grad school. Eep!

I'm taking one class on marine birds and mammals and another on statistics that a couple of friends from the scientific diving class are also taking. I heard there's going to be a ridiculous amount of reading for the bird & mammal class. Some people got the reading list a few weeks ago so they could get a head start but with Prophecy and then the diving class, I didn't think I'd have time so I didn't bother.