Carson tore through each envelope like his life depended on it, which in a sense it did. These envelopes would determine what school he went to, and thus his future. Harvard was the first to be opened.

"Dear Carson, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Harvard University." Carson read aloud to his parents.

"Oh my baby's first college acceptance letter!" Casey gushed.

"Moooom!" Carson became embarrassed.

"Open another one!" Max excitedly demanded.

"Ok." Carson said, picking up another letter. He read the same phrase in Yale's letter, and in Columbia's.

"3 for 3! That's my boy!" Max laughed. "Let's see if Cal-Tech agrees with the other schools."

Carson read the first word and immediately knew the answer.

"Congratulations Carson on being accepted into the prestigious California Polytechnical Institute."

Max ran and hugged his son. He was so happy that his son had been accepted into his alma mater. After the hug, Carson looked concerned.

"Where's my letter from Cyprus?"

"Right here." Casey said, handing him the letter. "I didn't even know you applied."

"Well I figured if you, Uncle Rusty, and Aunt Ashleigh all graduated from there, then it must be a good school." He said, getting more excited when he read of his acceptance. This acceptance was the one Max and Casey had been dreading.

"It seems like you have a choice to make, son." Max said.

"He's right Cars." Casey added, "You can't go to every school you get accepted to."

Over the next few months he got even more acceptance letters, as well as a few rejections. Finally he made a big decision that narrowed down his college choices; his major.

He decided to break the news to his father first.

He walked out of his room to see his dad watching tv in the living room.

"Hey dad. Can we talk?" Carson said, joining his father on the couch.

"Sure. About what?"

"College."

"Oh did you make any decisions about where you want to go?" Max asked.

"That's actually part of what I wanted to tell you."

"And the other part?"

"I've decided on a major." Carson stated.

"Oh good." Max smiled. "What did you pick? Medicine, Engineering, a concentration in polymers perhaps."

"History." Carson said.

"Oh, I see." Max was slightly disappointed. "But that means you won't be going to Cal-Tech."

"I know, and I know you're disappointed, but to be totally honest, I was never into science like you were. Sure I got great grades in it, but I didn't enjoy it like I enjoy History."

"It's alright Carson. I'm just happy you found something that you're truly passionate about." Max comforted his son. "You'll make a great historian, or teacher, or whatever you want to be."

"Thanks dad."

"So now that you have a major, it should be easier to pick schools." Max said.

"Actually I've narrowed it down to a few really good ones." Carson said.

"Really? Which ones?" Max wanted to know.

"Quinnipiac, Columbia, Penn State, Manhattanville, Fullerton, and Cyprus Rhodes."

"A lot of those schools don't sound like they are in California." Max joked.

"Fullerton is." Carson laughed. "Quinnipiac is in Connecticut. Columbia and Manhattanville are both in New York. Penn State is obviously in Pennsylvania, and of course you know CRU is in Ohio."

"So it sounds like you're trying to get away from home." Max chuckled.

"Not really. I just thought those schools had really good history programs." Carson smiled.

"I know. I want you at the best school possible, but you know your mother."

"Yeah." Carson laughed. "If she had it her way I'd stay home until she died. You think you can tell her for me?"

"I'll try. I don't know how well I'll do, but I'll do my best." Max said.

"Thanks dad." Carson said, giving his father a hug. "Good night."

"Night son." Max said as Carson left to go to his room.