Shen Qi paced around the campus, walking very slowly, observing the grass and trees, the pedestrians, and the flying birds.

Puda covers an area of 2.4 square kilometers, which is just half of Yanda.

Although the enrollment scale has been expanded in recent years, the total number of undergraduate + graduate + doctoral students at the University has not exceeded 8,000.

No matter in terms of area or number of students, compared with other institutions, Puda is a "pocket university".

However, this small university attracts the best students from all over the world, and it has to be unique.

Ranked No.1 in the United States, it is the golden sign of the general university.

The ratio of professors (non-ordinary lecturers) to the number of students is 1:5.9, which is rare in the United States and rare in the world.

With fewer students and more professors, students can receive a better education, and professors have the time and energy to tutor students one-on-one.

What's more, many of these professors are winners of the Nobel Prize, the Philippine Prize, and the MacArthur Scholar Award.

Downhill along Nassau Avenue stands the Flintstone Library, the soul of Princeton with 8 million volumes.

The core of a university is her library, and Shen Qi stood at the door of the flintstone library for 1 minute, paying attention, which was a sign of respect for knowledge.

Moving on, Shen Qi saw a retro building complex in the style of Gothic round towers and ancient Greek cloister columns, their minarets were high, the coupons were exquisite, the columns were round and thick, and the corridors were covered with ivy.

Princeton is a beautiful university, and the entire campus complex shows an old, solemn cultural atmosphere and historical atmosphere.

It's not as bustling as Boston, where Harvard and MIT are located, but it's a dream place for many students.

Shen Qi arrived at the Graduate Residential College, where he had booked an apartment before coming to the university.

Clean, tidy, bright, Shen Qi likes this apartment, and his favorite piece of furniture is an old bookcase with a sense of age, although the cabinet is empty.

Shen Qi will fill the bookcase in three years, five years or more, of course he hopes to return to China as soon as possible, his concern is in the motherland.

Shen Qi spent half a month jet lag and was familiar with the environment on the campus of the University.

In this research university with a strong academic background, everyone seems to be very knowledgeable and talkative.

Take, for example, Jack, the administrator of the Graduate Residential College, who is a white uncle.

"Hey, Shen, you're a rich man. Jack said to Shen Qi.

"No, I'm not a rich man. Shen Qi shook his head, he was already familiar with Jack, and when he first arrived, he would chat with Jack every day to further familiarize himself with every detail of the University.

"But you don't have a girlfriend or family, but you live in an apartment. Jack said.

There are five undergraduate residential colleges and one graduate residential college, and there are generally two types of rooms, double/multi-person suites, or apartments.

The accommodation fee for the apartment is twice as high as that of the suite, and Shen Qi's tuition and accommodation fees in the first year are not cheap, amounting to $50,000.

The scholarship offered by the University and the U.S. government was just $50,000, and Shen Qi wanted a quiet private space.

"I loved staying in the apartment. Shen Qi said, and asked: "Jack, today is September 1st, the fall admission day for graduate students, how should I enroll?"

"Who is your mentor?" asked Jack.

Shen Qi: "Professor Alan Mueller of the Department of Mathematics. ”

"Then you go to Professor Alan Müller. Jack said rightly.

"There is no entrance ceremony?"

"Not really. ”

"Well, thank you Jack, I know what to do. ”

Shen Qi walked towards the office building of the Department of Mathematics, this university does not have counselors or the like, Shen Qi asked Jack, the administrator of the residential college, if he didn't understand a problem, Jack, who could often give reliable answers.

Luther Hall, which is home to the office building of the Department of Mathematics, is a neo-Gothic building.

Before coming to Pu University, Shen Qi was full of awe of Luther Hall, and a little old man who walked out of this building at random could be a big bull in the mathematical world.

In recent years, although the big bulls in the Princeton Department of Mathematics have retired and returned to China, there are still double-digit Filipino Prize winners teaching and doing research here.

After coming to Princeton for half a month, Shen Qi passed by Luther Hall more than once and saw three Filipino Award winners with his own eyes.

Although he had met the Philippine Prize winners, Shen Qi did not meet his mentor, Professor Mueller.

Today, in an office in Luther Hall, Shen Qi finally had his first formal meeting with his mentor.

"Hello Professor Mueller, I'm Shen Qi, it's a pleasure to meet you. Shen Qi saw a photo of Muller on the Internet, and the real person was similar to the photo, a thin old German man with white hair.

"Good morning, Shen, signed. This was the first thing Mueller said after seeing Shen Qi, and he handed Shen Qi a piece of paper.

What is the rule of signing as soon as we meet?

Shen Qi took the blank paper and carefully reviewed it, this is the "Princeton Honor Rules and Regulations Guarantee".

The Honor Charter's Pledge reads: "I promise that I will not plagiarize or otherwise violate ethics in all written assignments, examinations, research projects, and academic papers during my time at the university." ”

Then there's the signature bar.

Princeton motto in Latin.

Beginning in 1893, every new student admitted to the University was required to sign a Princeton Honor Pledge of Integrity, pledging in writing that he or she would be honest.

Because of the existence of the "honor regulations", there are no invigilators for all kinds of examinations of the University, and it is all up to the students' self-discipline and consciousness.

Despite being unproctored, there are very few students who cheat.

If caught, students who cheat, plagiarize, or violate other morals will be subject to extremely severe penalties, up to expulsion.

Shen Qi signed the guarantee letter and handed it to Professor Mueller, which was considered to have completed the freshman admission process.

"Edward is not recruiting graduate students this year, and the graduate school has arranged for you to be my student, would you like to, Shen?" asked Mueller.

Edward in Muller's mouth is Edward Witten, the world's most authoritative expert in mathematical physics and a Fields Medal winner.

Edward Witten was born in physics and accidentally won the Fields Medal, and this is his bio.

Shen Qi's one-way choice in the application essay is Witten, and he wants to be a student of Witten.

Unfortunately, however, Mr. Witten did not recruit graduate students this year, so Shen Qi became a student of Mr. Muller.

Thousands of miles have come, what can you do if you don't want to?

"Dear Professor Müller, your name is well known in the world of mathematics, and I am very happy to be your student and spend a few pleasant years with you. Shen Qi said.

The first thing to do when you settle into a new environment is to keep a low profile.

Shen Qi does not have a single friend in the United States, he needs to observe secretly and act when the opportunity arises.

Don't easily install B until the last resort, because Shen Qi doesn't know how the B installation system of Puda is operated, and what is the difference between it and China?

It takes time to get acquainted, to experience, to feel with your heart.

"Which direction do you choose for Depth?" said Müller to the point.

The Graduate School of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Mathematics has 18 research directions, and no mathematician has been proficient in all 18 research directions and more than two of them.

Newly enrolled graduate students discuss with their supervisors and choose one of the 18 directions as their Depth.

Depth can be understood as the main direction of attack, and it is necessary to be profound in this main research direction, otherwise you will not be able to complete your studies.

"I chose Mathematics and Physics as my main focus. Shen Qi has already decided on his own Depth, of course, this also has to be combined with the professional research direction of the tutor.

If the tutor is not proficient in mathematics and physics, you will choose Depth for nothing.

Professor Müller has profound research strength in the fields of mathematical physics, number theory, algebraic geometry, group theory, etc., and has made outstanding research achievements...... This is written on the official website of the Department of Mathematics of the University of Liberal Arts, and Shen Qi has done his homework before coming. So this old German man is still a mathematical all-rounder, but the biggest award he won is the "German Science Progress Prize", an award recognized in Germany.