Familiarizing Himself with the Environment and the System

Shen Qi strolled slowly through the campus of Princeton University, observing every blade of grass, every tree, the pedestrians, and the birds in flight.

The area of Princeton University is 2.4 square kilometers, which is slightly larger than half the size of Yenching University.

Despite expanding enrollment in recent years, the total number of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students at the Princeton University has not exceeded 8,000.

Compared to other universities, whether in terms of area or number of students, Princeton University is a "miniature university".

However, this tiny university attracts the world's best students, which must be because of its unique features.

Being ranked No. 1 in the US is Princeton University's hallmark.

The ratio of professors (not regular lecturers) to students is 1:5.9, which is rare in the United States and even worldwide.

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

Moreover, many of these professors are Nobel laureates, Fields Medal, and MacArthur Fellows.

Walking downhill along Nassau Street, you'll find the Flint Library standing by the roadside. This library, with its 8 million volumes, is the soul of Princeton.

The core of a university is its library. Shen Qi stood at the entrance of the Flint Library for one minute, paying his respects—this was a sign of respect for knowledge.

Continuing on, Shen Qi saw a group of retro buildings with Gothic dome-shaped spires and ancient Greek colonnades. Their spires were tall and majestic, their vaults exquisitely beautiful, their columns round and robust, and their colonnades were covered with Ivy League.

Princeton is a beautiful university; the entire campus architecture exudes an ancient, solemn cultural atmosphere and historical ambiance.

It may not be as bustling and vibrant as Boston, where Harvard and MIT are located, but it is a place of study that many students dream of attending.

Shen Qi arrived at the graduate student residential college; he had booked an apartment before coming to Princeton University.

Clean, tidy, and bright, Shen Qi liked this apartment. His favorite piece of furniture was an old bookcase with a vintage feel, even though it was empty.

Shen Qi will spend three, five, or even longer filling the bookshelf. Of course, he hopes to complete his studies and return to China as soon as possible, as his heart is with his motherland.

Shen Qi spent half a month adjusting to the time difference and familiarizing himself with the campus environment of Princeton University.

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

For example, Jack, the administrator of the graduate student housing, is a white older man.

"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 had already become familiar with Jack. Since he was new to the university, he would chat with Jack every day to get to know every detail of the Princeton University.

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

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

The apartment cost twice as much as a suite, and Shen Qi's tuition and accommodation fees in the first year were not cheap, amounting to $50,000.

The scholarship from Princeton University and the US government was exactly $50,000, and what Shen Qi wanted was a quiet, private space.

"I like living in an apartment," Shen Qi said, then asked, "Jack, today is September 1st, the fall semester start date for graduate students. How do I enroll?"

"Who is your mentor?" Jack asked.

Shen Qi: "Professor Muller Allen Mueller of the Mathematics Department."

"Then you should go find Professor Muller Allen Muller," Jack said matter-of-factly.

There's no entrance ceremony?

No.

"Okay, thank you, Jack, I know what to do."

Shen Qi walked towards the Mathematics Department office building. This university didn't have any counselors or similar positions, so when Shen Qi encountered problems he didn't understand, he would ask Jack, the dormitory administrator Jack could usually give reliable answers.

Lud Hall, the Mathematics Department's office building, is a neo-Gothic building.

Before coming to Princeton University, Shen Qi was filled with awe for the Lud Hall. He thought that any old man who walked out of this building might be a big name in the Mathematics Community.

In recent years, although many of the top mathematicians in the Princeton Mathematics Department have retired or returned to their home countries, there are still a double number of Fields Medal laureates teaching and conducting research there.

Having been in Princeton for half a month, Shen Qi had passed by the Lud Hall more than once and personally witnessed the three Fields Medal winners. After seeing them so many times, he was no longer surprised.

Although Shen Qi had met the winner of the Fields Medal, he did not meet his mentor, Professor Muller.

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

"Hello Professor Muller, I am Shen Qi, it's a pleasure to meet you." Shen Qi had seen Muller's photo online, and he looked much the same in person as in the photo—a thin, white-haired German old man.

"Good morning, Shen, autograph." These were the first words Muller said to Shen Qi as he handed him a piece of paper.

Why is it customary to sign autographs as soon as we meet?

Shen Qi took the blank sheet of paper and examined it carefully; it was the "Princeton Honor Regulations Guarantee".

The honorary regulations guarantee states. "I promise that during my time at the university, I will never plagiarize or engage in any other unethical conduct in my written assignments, exams, research projects, or academic papers."

Then comes the signature section.

The Princeton motto in Latin is attached.

Since 1893, every new student Princeton University has been required to sign a Princeton Honor Code pledge, making a written guarantee of their integrity.

Because of the "Honorary Regulations," no invigilators are appointed for any of the Princeton University's exams; everything depends on the students' self-discipline and self-awareness.

Despite the lack of proctors, almost no students cheated.

If caught cheating, plagiarizing, or violating other ethical standards, the school will impose extremely severe penalties, including expulsion.

Shen Qi signed the guarantee and handed it to Professor Muller, thus completing the freshman enrollment process.

"Edward isn't recruiting graduate students this year, but the graduate school has arranged for you to be my student. Are you willing, Shen?" Muller asked.

The Edward mentioned by Muller is Edward Witten, the world's most authoritative Mathematical Physics and Fields Medal winner.

Edward Witten, a physics major, unexpectedly won the Fields Medal. This is his biography.

Shen Qi's application essay clearly stated his choice of Witten; he wanted to be a student of Witten.

Unfortunately, Mr. Witten was not recruiting graduate students this year, so Shen Qi became Mr. Muller's student.

We've come all this way, what can we do if we don't want to?

"Dear Professor Muller, your name resounds throughout the Mathematics Community. I would love to become your student and spend a few pleasant years with you," Shen Qi said.

When integrating into a new environment, the first thing to do is to keep a low profile.

Shen Qi had no friends in the United States, so he needed to observe secretly and act according to circumstances.

One should not act presumptuously unless absolutely necessary, because Shen Qi did not understand how the pretentiousness system at Princeton University specifically operated, or how it differed from that in China.

It takes time to get used to it, to experience it, and to feel it with your heart.

"So, which direction do you choose for your depth?" Muller went straight to the point.

Princeton University Mathematics Department has 18 research areas in its graduate program. These days, no mathematician can be proficient in all 18 areas; being proficient in more than two is considered a talent.

After discussing with their advisors, newly enrolled graduate students choose one of 18 research areas as their Depth.

Depth can be understood as the main research direction. You must become an expert in this main research direction, otherwise you will not be able to graduate.

"I've chosen Mathematical Physics as my main research area." Shen Qi had already decided on his direction, which of course also had to be combined with his mentor's professional research direction.

If your advisor isn't an expert in Mathematical Physics, choosing Depth will be pointless.

Professor Muller possesses profound research capabilities in Mathematical Physics, number theory, Algebraic Geometry, Group Theory, and other fields, and has made outstanding research achievements... This is written on the official website of the Mathematics Department of Princeton University, which Shen Qi had done his homework before coming. So this German old man is a mathematical polymath, but the biggest award he has received is only the "German Prize for Scientific Advancement," which is just a domestic award in Germany.