Preparing for the Thesis Defense
Under normal circumstances, university students must pass all course exams or assessments, or complete the required credits for graduation, before they are allowed to participate in their graduation thesis defense.
Shen Qi's actual situation is slightly different.
According to the assessment, Shen Qi, whose mathematics level has reached level 7, possesses at least the academic level of an undergraduate graduate of the Mathematics Department of Yenching University.
The expert witness was Shen Qi himself.
The editor-in-chief of the journal * Mathematical Herald * also agreed with this view.
Therefore, Shen Qi is fully capable of participating in the undergraduate thesis defense of the Mathematics Department ahead of schedule. He has already published several papers, while the vast majority of undergraduates do not publish one SCI+ and four Chinese journal papers until graduation.
I won't mention the published papers; consider this just practice.
Shen Qi still has two unpublished papers: one from Professor Sun's Advanced Algebra Problem 48, and the other from Professor Lu's graduate thesis.
Shen Qi went up to the second floor and first found Sun Erxiong: "Professor Sun, I would like to participate in the undergraduate thesis defense in the Mathematics Department this semester. I know there is such a rule, the thesis system."
"This day came a little too soon, earlier than I expected," Sun Erxiong remarked, but without much surprise. "So you'll be using your undergraduate thesis defense with the paper 'Analysis of Generalized Nonlinear Complementarity Problems with Linear Inequality Constraints'?"
"Yes, I have to thank Professor Sun for this. You gave me this research topic." Shen Qi said sincerely, then suddenly seemed to realize something extraordinary. "Professor Sun, you gave me this research topic on the generalized nonlinear complementarity problem last October. Did you arrange everything all along?"
Sun Erxiong smiled deeply, "Shen Qi, now you know who treats you the best, right?"
"The professor truly lives up to his reputation; he sees so far ahead." Shen Qi finally saw through everything. "Credits and such don't matter anymore, as long as the thesis defense goes smoothly."
"But you have to go through this process," Sun Erxiong said, then asked, "If you get your bachelor's degree in mathematics in your first year of university, what are your plans for the future?"
"I'll pursue a master's degree and then a doctorate," Shen Qi answered without hesitation.
"Where do you want to pursue your master's and doctoral degrees?" Sun Erxiong pressed.
"I still want to go to the world's top mathematics institution to continue my studies," Shen Qi said. "After completing my studies, I will return to my country to serve and strive to build Prosperity and Strength, democratic, and socialist nation."
Princeton?
"I have that idea."
Do you know how to get to Princeton?
"Let's go by plane."
Sun Erxiong rolled his eyes at Shen Qi: "Nonsense! I'm asking you if you understand the application process and requirements for Princeton's Master's and PhD programs in Mathematics?"
Shen Qi: "I've looked up some information online and have a general understanding, but it might not be accurate."
"I know quite a bit about it; I've had students who got offers from the Princeton Mathematics Department."
"Professor Sun, are you referring to Yun Wei God Yun?"
"It's not just Yun Wei, though of course he's the most outstanding one. Shen Qi, don't be too ambitious yet. Focus on passing your undergraduate thesis defense at Yanda Big Mathematics Department Sciences first. You definitely won't be going to Princeton this year; the earliest you can leave is next year."
"I don't want to leave so early either. There are still many things to take care of back home. I said before that I would get a double degree during my undergraduate studies, but what a joke! It's already the second semester, and I haven't even touched physics much. I feel insecure if I don't go abroad with more than two degrees." Shen Qi had his own ideas about medium- and long-term planning, and having said this much, there was no need to hide anything from Professor Sun.
Sun Erxiong supports Shen Qi; Yenching University's mathematics program is ranked first in the country, and Princeton University's is ranked first in the world.
If a student aspires to study at one of the world's top universities, the teacher will never stop them, but will try their best to assist them.
Shen Qi wanted to get an offer from Princeton. In addition to his excellent academic performance and good English, another important application criterion was a letter of recommendation from Yenching University. The higher the recommender's reputation in the international Mathematics Community, the better.
Of course, there is another shortcut, which is that Shen Qi has recently published papers in the four major international mathematics journals, or given speeches at high-end international mathematics forums.
However, this is almost impossible, so let's take it one step at a time and not rush it.
Shen Qi spent two days revising "Analysis of Generalized Nonlinear Complementary Problems with Linear Inequality Constraints," uploaded the electronic version to the "Mathematical Herald" submission system, and printed five hard copies, which he then handed to Sun Erxiong.
The basic procedure for participating in a thesis defense is that the candidate must submit the thesis defense draft at least 15 days in advance and submit a formal written application.
After receiving the applicant's application, the school will organize a dedicated defense panel to address the specific needs of the applicant.
This task was specifically handled by the Academic Degree Committee of the School of Mathematics, which appointed the Boss Director Long the Mathematics Department, as the arbitrator of Shen Qi's undergraduate thesis defense panel.
The defense panel must consist of at least three members, and Director Long will make the selection of who to include in the panel.
"The pressure is immense, extremely immense."
Shen Qi learned that his application for his undergraduate thesis defense in mathematics had been approved, but the specific time for the defense was yet to be determined.
The official announcement from the School of Mathematical Sciences stated that Shen Qi would definitely be given a chance this semester.
"If I can't even pass my undergraduate thesis defense, that would be incredibly embarrassing."
Shen Qi had this concern: even if his paper, "Analysis of Generalized Nonlinear Complementary Problems with Linear Inequality Constraints," was included in the "Mathematical Herald," the defense panel still had the right to refuse to let him pass the defense.
"I'm under so much pressure, I need to let off some steam, I'm going for a run!"
Shen Qi went to the school Track and Field team and started running.
As he continued running, he reached the highest level in the team in the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter races.
Mathematical inspiration comes intermittently; it doesn't occur every time I run.
With pens and paper in his sports bag, Shen Qi would jot down his fleeting mathematical inspirations by the track and field training field.
The mathematical inspirations I've recently recorded are rather scattered, including non-Euclidean, number theory, topology, and Algebraic Geometry, covering various directions and failing to form a complete system.
Regardless of whether it's useful now, Shen Qi wrote it down first and will think about it later.
Recording 100 ideas, even if only one of them eventually becomes a research project, is worthwhile.
At the end of March, Shen Qi received an official notification from the School of Mathematical Sciences' defense committee. "Your undergraduate thesis defense will be held on April 10th. Please be prepared."
"They're here, they're finally here!" Shen Qi was both excited and nervous.
"Wow, Shen Qi is amazing! He got a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Peking University in just one year. That's incredible!" Zhou Yu'an said enviously.
"Don't milk it, it's not over yet!" Shen Qi was very careful and cautious.
"If you pass your defense, you'll go on to graduate school, right? So we won't see you next semester?" Zhou Yu'an realized a serious problem: Shen King of Show Offs was leaving!
"I won't leave so soon." Shen Qi shook his head. "I can only leave with peace of mind after everything is arranged."