I got my acceptance letter some months ago, now, and it was so long ago that lately I've wondered if maybe that was a dream -- I didn't really get a letter, and come January, I'll be shocked to discover that USC has never heard of me, and I'll have to crawl back to my boss and beg to get my crappy day job back.

Or at least, that's the way I felt until today, when I got the letter telling me I need to get a measles shot before I set foot on campus. A MANDATORY measles shot. And if I'm feeling spunky, a RECOMMENDED meningococcal meningitis vaccine. Plus a bazillion others.

Here's the deal (selected excepts from the letter):

USC requires proof of measles (Rubeola) immunity from all new, incoming students.

USC recommends that students be immunized for the following:
* Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine (strongly recommended)
* PPD skin test for tuberculosis (required of International Students)
* Hepatitis B series: Three doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine
* Tetanus within 10 years
* Hepatitis A series: Two doses of Hepatitis A Vaccine
* Chicken Pox: Two doses of Chicken Pox vaccine
* Polio (completed series)

Am I going to graduate school or a third world country? I'm not scared of needles -- not even a little -- but jeez, that's a lot of shots. And meningitis? Menin-fucking-gitis? I liked it better when the only thing I was worried about was my financial aid package...