So for the last several months, I've been preparing to enter University to study composition. It's something I've wanted to do for a few years now but always been intimidated by it. Earlier this year I looked up the sample test the school provides as a guide for entrance, it chilled me to the core. "They want me to know WHAT?!" I panicked internally as I looked over the guide. "Recognise Dominant 13th chords by ear?! 9thSus4?! I can't do that! Transpose multiple different instruments at the same time? Isn't this what they should TEACH me? Be able to write any given scale and mode both with and without a key signature?! Fuck me this is going to be brutal!".

I've studied and studied, and as the months clicked down the stress set in. I was convinced that I was going to fail the first couple of times but DAMMIT I AM DETERMINED TO BE A COMPOSER AND I WILL LEARN WHATEVER IT TAKES!

So I've been studying, and finally I've recently come into contact with some students already studying at this University. I ask them about their backgrounds and it's nowhere near what I'm expecting, many of them knew almost no theory before entering the school... I go back and look at the test and I faceplant...

I'VE BEEN STUDYING FOR THE GODDAMN JAZZ THEORY TEST! :D

I go back and re-read the questions, the instruments to transpose were only Saxophones and a Trombone! It asks for rock drum notation! HEAR AND SIGHT READ 9/11/13th CHORDS! NAME A PLAYED NOTE AND INTERVAL. It all made so much sense why it was such a gruelling test. I hunt down a copy of the ACTUAL test I will be given... I have been studying so far past what i'm expected to know hahaha. It's just things like a 4 bars with some notes removed, listen to a recording multiple times and then fill in the missing notes! The sample test for Classical is only 3 questions, the sample for Jazz is never-ending and fucking nuts!

TL;DR I've been studying far past my expected level for months. In a second, all my panic fear and stress has lifted and I am SO EXCITED to think I have clear shot into composition!