Enriching individuals

Xi'an Jiaotong University recently announced a significant expansion of its youth program, increasing high school student slots from 50 to 120 while adjusting the middle school intake to 60.

Since the program's inception in 1985, the university has distanced itself from the image of pumping out young geniuses.

"The youth program was never a prodigy class," said Yang Sen, executive vice-dean of the Qian Xuesen Honors College, which oversees the program. "Our core philosophy has always been interest-driven and (allows) free exploration."

Over the past four decades, the university's youth program has enrolled 3,218 students and produced 2,035 undergraduates.

The program's selection process is rigorous.

A written test narrows down tens of thousands of applicants to around 800 to 1,000. This is followed by multiple impromptu learn-and-test assessments. Another session evaluates rapid learning and knowledge transfer, a debate interview examines logical thinking and expression, while mandatory physical and psychological tests establish a baseline requirement for mental and physical well-being.

"We incorporated sports and psychology into our selection process 20 years ago, before physical education was even a mandatory part of the national high school entrance exam," Yang said. The aim is to identify "well-rounded youths with outstanding potential", not just "test-taking machines", he said.

Hu said he studied about eight hours a day, even five or six during holidays, and actively sought out high-achieving peers. "My socializing was often about finding good study circles, learning their methods and shortcuts," he said.

This discipline paid off — he skipped his second year of preparatory school and consistently ranked first in his mathematics undergraduate class. However, he admits to moments of loneliness, due to hours spent studying alone in a highly specialized academic area.

Now 20, and in his senior year of undergraduate studies, he is preparing to study for a PhD in operations research abroad.

Initially, his desire to study overseas was not particularly strong until he spent a semester abroad at the University of California, Berkeley — an experience funded by his college. Immersion in the vibrant academic and social life at Berkeley transformed his attitude.

"It was an incredibly enriching semester," Hu said. "I met many people with diverse perspectives, including numerous Chinese PhD students there."