I called Pomona to ask why I wasn't accepted. The woman on the phone said, "It says here that you didn't complete your speech class requirement."

"Oh," I said, feeling relieved. "I am taking that now." Problem solved, right?

"Okay!" she said cheerfully. "Just make sure all your transcripts are in by September 30."

"Oh," I said, deflated. "Class doesn't actually end until October 30."

"Then that doesn't look good. All the official transcripts need to be received by September 30. I'm sorry." She didn't sound sorry.

"So is that the only reason I was denied?"

"Yep, that's it. If you'd taken this class in the summer, you would have been accepted." I sensed a hint of scolding in her voice. Okay, lady. If I'd known I was going to a CSU in the summer, I just might have done that, but I didn't, so lay off. I thanked her and got off the phone.

I'd applied for Winter 2004. However, I applied for Spring 2004 at Long Beach. Maybe their deadline was later, and I'd be home free! I called them up. As I waited for a human to answer the automated system, I browsed through their website. I hung up when I read this:

Spring Semester Applications:

- You must complete requirements for the Spring semester by the last day of the previous Summer semester. Courses taken in the Fall semester prior to transfer will NOT be used in the Spring admission decision.

- You may receive a final admission offer for the Spring semester while the prior Fall semester is still in progress.

- Final documents are required no later than October 21.

My current speech class is a fall class. Not summer. And, if you'll recall, class ends October 30. That would be after the deadline.

I cannot believe I didn't find that out sooner. I cannot believe I won't be in school until next Fall at the earliest (a YEAR from now!), and only if I go through an entire application process all over again.

I.. I just.. GAH!!!

Okay. The NEW Plan, DAMN IT... (sigh)... is that I'll apply to UCLA (for the fourteenth million time) as a Psychology major for next Fall. 2004. A year from now. I'll get a letter from them in May. God, that's so far away.

In the meantime, I haven't the faintest idea what to do. Move? Stay? Keep taking community college classes? Work? I don't know. I just... I don't know.