I know I'm a few years away from college but lately I've been doing my research. And by research I obviously mean Naviance and Google searching which college has the best whatever program. I'm not stupid enough to believe everything I read on Yahoo Answers but I at least get leads to schools which I can more thoroughly research and occasionally get a link or two.

But really this is nothing interesting. I only bring it up because I suddenly have an amazing opportunity coming up, one which satisfies both my interest in music and in physics. The situation couldn't be more perfect, see.

Apparently I've been invited back to NYC to perform in another opera, this time Fidelio by Beethoven. Beefin' up the college apps. Of course, this isolated event won't get me into college. Interestingly, though, one of the people in my section happens to be Donald Quest, a professor at Columbia University and the head of various neurosurgical institutions.

Columbia is widely regarded here in the States as one of the most selective schools. It's also one of the top physics schools in the nation. For that matter it's one of the top everything schools. It's tough to get into, so perhaps leaving a favorable impression on Dr. Quest will help me. Maybe he puts in a word with the physics department for me when I tell him my interests. Maybe he knows what the admissions officers are looking for in an application.

I know that where I go for my undergrad isn't nearly as important as where I go as a grad, but NYC is such a cool fucking city. The main reason I'm considering it, however, is a special program it has with Juilliard, one of the top music schools in the nation. Again, a selective program, this one only accepting about ten students a year. Setting my heart on the exchange, or more generally Columbia as a whole, wouldn't be a good idea. That's not gonna stop me from trying.

And of course if I don't ultimately make it to Columbia (I probably won't), it's not the end of the world.