It was Friday, the 17th.
Clara Quinn successfully completed the online registration for the summer biology research program and downloaded two required forms: the "Summer Research Camp Application Form for Outstanding Students" and the "Department of Life Sciences 2015 Summer Program Application Form."
In addition to these, she also needed to prepare a stamped copy of her academic transcript, two letters of recommendation from associate professors or above with original signatures, and copies of her English proficiency scores (such as TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent standardized exams).
Any additional certifications or documented research achievements would be helpful and needed to be included as well.
Getting the recommendations wasn't hard. With Clara's academic record and consistent performance, the professors barely glanced at her request before signing.
Tony Snow accompanied Clara as she collected the signatures. But when they arrived at the second professor's office—who also happened to be the university's Dean—they were met with a surprise.
"Tony, could you stay for a moment?" said Dean Harold Ellis, who had just finished signing Clara's form. His tone was friendly, but clearly he had something more in mind.
Seeing she hadn't been called, Clara stepped outside to wait.
"Take a seat, Tony," Dean Ellis said warmly, motioning him into the chair across from his desk. "What've you been working on lately?"
Tony sat down, a bit puzzled by the sudden attention. "Just reading and keeping up with studies," he said honestly.
"Reading? I heard you submitted another paper recently." Dean Ellis smiled. It was clear he already knew the answer and was just confirming.
Tony blinked in surprise. "I submitted it late last night. That was fast. How did you find out already?"
The dean chuckled. "Word gets around. I wasn't planning on reaching out, but since you happened to stop by… Which journal did you submit to?"
"It's a mathematics paper. I sent it to Annals of Mathematics. It publishes every two months. Since it's April now, maybe the earliest issue it could appear in would be July—if it passes peer review."
The dean nodded, his suspicions confirmed. "And Clara's still waiting outside? Ask her to come in, would you?"
Tony stepped outside. "He wants to talk to you."
The two of them returned together.
"Clara," Dean Ellis said, "so you're interested in continuing biology at Ridgeview University. Have you decided what research area you want to pursue? Or which professor you're hoping to work with?"
Clara hadn't thought that far ahead. For her, grad school was a means to further education and eventually better job opportunities. She hadn't yet picked a specialty.
"I'm planning to apply to the cell biology track," she said after a moment's pause. "Probably focusing on membrane structures."
Dean Ellis nodded thoughtfully, then suggested a specific faculty member at Ridgeview University who specialized in that field. "You might want to look into working under Dr. Helms. She's had an excellent track record with grad students in that area."
As the two stood to leave, Dean Ellis turned back to Tony.
"Tony, there are actually two more things I'd like to talk to you about."
Tony was a little surprised. The dean had never really made time for him before. Today seemed oddly full of revelations.
"What else?" he asked.
"The first thing," the dean said, leaning forward, "is about joining the Honors Society."
Tony blinked.
"You've been here for nearly three years now, and I noticed you haven't applied. Technically, you didn't meet the threshold before—but that's no longer the case. Your recent academic work has clearly qualified you, and if you apply now and attend a few required sessions, we can fast-track your membership before you graduate."
Tony had never given the Honors Society much thought. It felt more like a box to check for administrative roles or public service jobs—neither of which he was aiming for. And truthfully, his first two years had been average at best.
After the life simulator came into his life, he'd simply been too focused on self-improvement to consider honorary memberships or symbolic affiliations.
So, when Dean Ellis extended the offer, Tony politely declined.
The dean tried again, gently pressing the benefits—networking, scholarships, resume value—but Tony remained firm. Eventually, the dean gave up with a nod. "Everyone's on their own path. I respect that."
Tony smiled. "You mentioned there were two things?"
"Ah, yes," Dean Ellis said. "The second thing is about your graduation timeline. Given your current status, we don't think you need to remain here for the full term. You've expressed interest in graduating early, and after reviewing everything with your department, we're ready to approve your thesis defense for June 1st—Monday."
That caught Tony's attention.
"June 1st?" he repeated. "Do I have a thesis topic yet?"
"You can choose your own. But if you'd rather not write something new, I suggest using the biology paper you submitted to Cell earlier. Just prepare a short presentation and be ready to answer a few technical questions. For someone like you, that should be easy."
That part was true. Tony had already done the hard work. If the defense was approved and the presentation smooth, that would be the end of his undergraduate journey—no more classes, no more grades to worry about. All that would remain was the formality of the graduation ceremony, returning his dorm key, and receiving his diploma.
He was stunned.
"Is June 1st a problem for you?" Dean Ellis asked, mistaking Tony's silence for hesitation. "We could reschedule if you're unavailable."
Tony quickly shook his head. "No, it's perfect. I just wasn't expecting it."
Later that afternoon, Clara finished collecting her two recommendation letters from professors. With the forms completed and documents organized, all she had to do now was wait for the school to finish reviewing her online registration before mailing the full application package.
The mailing address, recipient's name, and envelope labels were all clearly listed in the announcement. As long as she followed the instructions, she'd be fine.
She and Tony walked across campus together that evening, their backpacks lighter, but their futures feeling increasingly full.