oh ok, if i must

Initially my plan was to start studying a Masters of Counselling in semester 2. Then they told me I didn't have enough counselling experience to enroll in the Masters, but I could look at studying a Grad Dip in Counselling if I liked. And since the government is willing to pay half the cost of a Grad Dip (as opposed to none of the Masters) and it was all the same subjects as a Masters, meaning I would have to study less for a Masters later and I could even take a break before starting the Masters if I wanted, I did like and accepted a position in the Grad Dip.

Just one problem, I had to start in semester 1 with 18 credit points. Ha! No way.

If there's one thing I learned from last year it was not to overcommit.
Actually I've been learning that my whole life.
One day I might remember.

So I said 'no, I will not study this year, I will defer until next year'. Then a letter arrived in the post today: you have been granted advanced standing for 12 credit points. Which means I might only need to study one unit this semester. Instead of three. Woopee!

I'm still working out how to study half a subject, since they only granted me advanced standing for 6 credit points of a 12 credit point subject. I'm hoping they just made a typo and I really have advanced standing for the whole subject.

Which would mean I could start my Grad Dip in Counselling without opening a single book or doing any study for a whole semester!

And I didn't even ask for this, the course coordinator just figured it all out while I was blissfully unaware! How cool is that?

And, even more exciting, I met someone yesterday who knows of an opportunity to start counselling without jumping through 100,000 loops. I just need to find a supervisor so I don't do anything dangerous! Things are looking up for my counselling aspirations.

UPDATE: It's official. I have been granted advanced standing in both first semester subjects and don't need to study until second semester! I am one happy girl.