A young resident in Shanghai, who failed examinations in mathematics and other subjects in high school, has started his first semester as a first-year student at the Shanghai-based Fudan University this month.

Unlike nearly one million other Chinese first-year students, Man Zhou did not take part in the national college entrance examination in July to qualify for enrollment in college.

Zhou, a Chinese prodigy in information networks, was notified officially last month by the university authorities of his enrollment as a major in the Communications Science and Engineering Department despite his poor academic record in high school.

Recalling the moment he received the letter of notification, Man, who graduated from Gaoqiao High School in Shanghai, said it was a pleasant surprise for him.

"I can't believe it," he said.

Man is well-known in Shanghai and has attracted the attention of many local IT companies since he published a three-volume book on the ways to penetrate and defend computer networks as a second year student at high school.

In July, his new book, titled The Internet, My Pivot, was published.

"I'm not a genius on networks, and I don't want to be good at one thing and poor at everything else," said Man.

"I'm simply a student like everybody else, and if possible I would like to devote less time to the Internet and more time to other courses."

"I hope to build good friendships with my classmates, and to study hard in the four years I will be at Fudan," said the student.

"I want to be a professional in communication engineering when I graduate from Fudan," said Man.

Qian Songrong, head of the Communication Science and Engineering Department, said he has been thinking about designing the best possible teaching program for Man Zhou, adding it represents a challenge for his department.

Before the new term started, Man was given help in reviewing the courses he failed in high school.

(People's Daily 09/18/2001)