Crisis Averted

I mentioned a somewhat recent post that I've been studying to take the LSATS, which are actually offered here in Buenos Aires. I took the test back in December of 2007, but did not invest the necessary time and effort to reach my potential score. I knew I could do much better, and always planned on taking them again if I were to apply to law school. Apparently, there are enough expats, (children of) diplomats, and/or Argentines like me looking to attend law school in the States to administer a test this September, but not enough for a December date, too. Regardless of which date, taking them on either would allow me to apply to law school for the fall of 2010, even on the chance I don't enroll at that time. Upon figuring out I could take the test down here and not have to wait until I return to the States, I dispatched a messenger (Nick) to North America to fetch me prep materials so I could commence my studies. I've been going strong for the past month or so, making visible progress in the turd sandwich of all turd sandwiches, the Analytical Reasoning section of the test, better known as puzzles or games. But this boludo of all boludos stupidly put off actually signing up for the test until Tuesday night, assuming it would be fine as long as I did so before the first deadline, after which they tack on a hefty fee. As such foreshadowing may give away, it was not all fine and well: the test center had filled up, so I put my name on the waiting list and hoped for the best.

Honestly, my hopes were not too high. I've never had good luck with waitlists, getting rejected from two different school's waitlists while applying to college. Plus, who the hell signs up for the LSATS in Buenos Aires unless they intend on taking them? While retelling my predicament to Nick, he told me that one of his friends informed him he or she might be coming to Buenos Aires just to take the LSATS. I didn't like my odds one bit, and my other options weren't much better. The test is available on both dates in Honduras, but I'm guessing those who signed up for either of those will be getting a rain check sometime soon. Potential lawyers in training can also take the test in Brasil in September and December, yet that would require purchasing a tourist visa that will run you $150.oo USD, which combined with the fee to take the test would add up to nearly $300.00 USD, and that's without even thinking about airfare. I'm financially restricted from traveling to Brasil as it is, much less while paying an extra $135.000 USD, so that option was not feasible, the same went for going back to the US to take the test.

I was telling my student about my situation this morning and it afforded me the chance to teach him a good phrase: game changer. If I can't take the test in September of December, I can only apply to law school with my previous, underachieving scores from almost two years ago, something I was not ready to do, which would eliminate a possible call back date, which would definitely alter the nature of my stay in Argentina. Fall 2010 could turn into fall 2011, which could turn into fall 2012...you see where this is going. My future was in the balance, I was face to face with a serious crisis.

I've kept studying for the past few days, hoping some good fortune would eventually come my way and that I would get in. And again, as such foreshadowing may give away, my luck changed shortly after explaining the situation to my student this morning. I wandered into McDonalds for my regular inter-class reading/coffee/breakfast sandwich break when I got an email telling me I had come off the wait list and had a spot in the test room. McDonald's coffee has never tasted better, I assure you, since I skyrocketed to Cloud Nineteen, feeling so much better about my future which once held more restricted options. Who knows what will happen, but now I'm back to playing with a full hand. Add to that the fact that I picked up some more hours today at 35 pesos an hour - that's right, I'm getting dangerously close to earning $10.00 USD an hour - and you could call it one of the better days I've had in a while. Now all I've got to do is study my law loving butt off so another underwhelming score doesn't limit my options for 2010, because that would be a real crisis.