Ooh, look at me, I'm Columbia, I'm too cool to offer Bridgett any money

So a few of you out there have been on the receiving end of a number of emails from me charting the stressful twists and turns of applying to grad school, then interviewing, then (at last, the good part) receiving letters of acceptance. Most recently I was being literally kept up at night -- and doing some major damage to my poor cuticles -- over the question of which of two schools to choose. Even though I knew that going to grad school was about trying to receive the best education possible, at the institution which is the best fit for my interests and goals, I received an acceptance that I never truly expected from Columbia, and all these thoughts were thrown out the window. My endless internal debate went something like this:

"Go to U Penn. You like their curriculum better, they have a domestic violence research center, the cost of living is lower, their faculty conducts research that interests you."
"Yeah, but I got accepted to Columbia."
"Yes, that's all well and good, but you don't really like the classes they offer, and it's hella expensive."
"Yeah, but it's New York City. And they're ranked third. Third!"
"Philly is cool too."
"Pfff."

Friends asked me, all things being equal, where would I prefer to go? And I had to admit to myself that it had become less a question of school than location and prestige. Had they both been located in the same city, I'd choose Penn, hands down. My preference for their school was rooted in so many things, from the program strengths I mentioned above to even the little things, like the friendliness and responsiveness of their staff any time I have called or emailed them, compared to the (cough) lack of these same qualities in Columbia.

So, I sent my wish out to the universe: Columbia, I need you to force my hand. You had better offer me a crap ton of money, or none at all, and let it be decided there.

Well, as of two days ago, it done been decided. I received my humorously named "award" letter from Columbia at long last. I find the term "award" funny, as the letter -- after reminding me that while graduate school is expensive, "it's an investment in you" -- detailed not scholarships but the various loans I can apply for, in order to amass the needed sum of $53,000 per year.

Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I don't think so, homie!

While this was disappointing, given all my hip NYC life fantasies of late, the disappointment rather quickly gave way to cocky annoyance ("do you know who I am?") and I mentally shifted back to getting excited about the amazing opportunities that await me at Penn and in Philly.

Then, icing on the cake: last night I received an email notifying me that my "outstanding" essay which I wrote to apply to Penn had been recognized with an Overlook Fellowship of $3,000! Added to the other scholarships they had offered me upon acceptance, this means I will be receiving not only what I think will be the ideal education for me, but also $18,000 in free money! All this, and cheesesteaks? What more could a girl ask for?! I'm so thrilled, I might just buy me a statue of Ben Franklin and start keeping a shrine to the joys of his school in his city. Ben and Penn, here I come!!!