Yangtse Evening Post
July 14, 2008

A story about a high school leaver's 'nonstandard' admission to a foreign university is found on the front pages of quite a few newspapers. First published by Chutian Metropolis Daily, it was reprinted by many other papers. Here is a translated excerpt.

She didn't get a very high score in the college entrance examination (gaokao): she got 445, which is only good enough to ensure her a place at some not-so-good so-called independent colleges. Nonetheless, she won a 200,000 yuan scholarship to study abroad.

Helpfulness wins her a surprise opportunity
There is something legendary about Zhang Mengsu's admission by a foreign university: After the gaokao was finished, Zhang Mengsu went to Wuhan university to attend a "consultative conference" (universities run information stands to answer questions and give out pamphlets). When she arrived there, the conference was already closed because of a sudden rain shower. A teacher from Southwest was dismantling her tent, and she was not tall enough for that job, so Meng offered her hand.

It was this move caught the attention of a teacher from Singapore. When Zhang was about to leave, she was greeted by the Singaporean teacher.

"The Singaporean teacher invited me to talk in a hotel, I thought I might have met a con artist, so I texted a friend, asking her to call me in half an hour and call the police if things go wrong."

In about half an hour, Zhang Mengsu introduced herself to five interviewers, both in English and Chinese, noting her achievements:

• Second prize winner in the National Robot Competition
• Third prize winner of National Internet English Contest
• First prize winner in the provincial letter-writing contest, etc.

Impressed by Zhang Mengsu's well-roundedness, the Singaporean teacher felt that she had found a treasure, and immediately announced her admission and a 200,000 yuan scholarship.

An active element at school
Zhang Mengsu could only go to an independent college with her gaokao score, so how could she get into a foreign university? Zhang's teacher Chai Yingxian has this to say:

In the last three years, Zhang has been an active element. She was the the leader of the school propaganda department, Youth League secretary; she also headed the school literature club, does editing and selling advertisements; she initiated the summer social practice activity and organized students to visit old revolutionary sites. In the eyes of her contemporaries, she is a "super woman".

Zhang has lived out of home during her high school years. Her mother said her daughter never worried her. She has drawers of certificates. Zhang Mengsu learnt cooking and washing clothes when she was in the first grade.

Expert's Comment
Tang Yifei (Principal of Wuhan First Middle School): Activeness in socialization and cooperativeness, willingness to help others are the qualities that people of good breeding (suzhi) should acquire. Zhang Mengsu being discovered by the Singaporean teachers seems to be a coincidence, but on a more fundamental level, it is inevitable: many students don't pay attention to cultivate this quality. Zhang Fengfei has very good habits, that's why she won the opportunity when it was offered.

Note: Stories about high school students miraculously entering universities (especially Harvard etc.) despite their modest backgrounds, financial situations or even test scores are a staple of China's newspapers, especially the more tabloid style papers.

The university that Meng to which apparently gained admission is called '新加坡政府理工学院' (Singapore Government Physics Polytechnic) in the article. It seems to be a name used to describe a group of five polytechnic type colleges in Singapore.