A “mathematics genius” in China has decided to become a Buddhist monk instead of accepting a full ride to MIT. examiner.com has the story:

Liu Zhiyu received a diploma this past summer from the School of Mathematical Sciences at PKU and than applied for and was offered a full scholarship to MIT. However, just the last minute as his parents were ready to send him off to the states to study at MIT Liu changed his mind. Liu decided instead to head for Longquan Temple in Beijing’s Haidian district to prepare to become a Buddhist monk. It has been reported that Liu’s father, who teaches physics at the high school that Liu attended in his hometown of Wuhan, Hubei province, told the Beijing Times the family was strongly opposed to Liu’s choice. Liu’s father said he felt desperate and his wife had become ill because of their son’s decision. And according to Dong Zijing, Liu’s teacher at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Liu is actually a mathematics genius and was the winner of a golden medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2006.

Read the full story here.

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