Scholastic sprint
Brilliant teen, who grew up on P.E.I., eyes fast-tracking PhD
University sensation Vivian Xie is pursuing a PhD in biology – a lofty academic goal she hopes to attain by the age of 20.
That would see her nab the highest university degree that is conferred after a course of study in Canada roughly 15 years earlier than is the average according to data from Statistics Canada.
The typical path to a PhD is a bachelor’s degree, followed by two-year masters, followed by four to five years for a PhD.
Xie is exploring the possibility of direct entry for a PhD after she gets her bachelor degree in biology, which is expected after her upcoming year of studying cell biology at the University of Toronto.
That fast-track to a doctor of philosophy is rare, but so is Xie.
The brilliant 15-year-old phenom from China, who grew up on Prince Edward Island, has made education look more like a sprint than a marathon.
Xie has been demonstrating mind-boggling academic superiority, but never in a boastful manner, from the moment she stepped into Grade 1 at Prince Street School after her family moved to Charlottetown.
She skipped Grade 3 and after breezing through Grade 4, she wanted to jump all the way up to Grade 7. Her elementary school principal felt there would be too much of an age gap socially.
A private school in Halifax felt otherwise after testing the
young scholastic wonder. Xie was placed into Grade 8.
After completing Grade 8 and 9 at the private school, a 10-year-old Xie jumped into Grade 11 at Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown in the International Baccalaureate program for academically gifted students.
Almost two months shy of becoming a teenager, Xie started her studies at the University of Prince Edward Island as the youngest student by far to ever attend UPEI.
In September 2018, she transferred to the University of Toronto on academic merit and will be heading into her fourth year of biology in a few months with her 16th birthday coming later on Oct. 30.
Charlie Keil, principal of Innis College at U of T, says two years ago the then 13-year-old Xie was the youngest student he is aware of to enroll at the university.
Keil says Xie has a level of maturity and degree of selfconfidence well beyond her years.
“It’s rather astounding,’’ he says.
“The term I tend to use is self-possessed – just very aware of her capacity and (her ability) to navigate the world.’’
Keil says he would not be surprised if Xie earned her PhD by the age of 20. He notes the star student has developed the skills to master a demandingly heavy six-course load.
Xie dismisses any suggestion that she has foregone her childhood to focus on nothing other than education. “Not at all,’’ she insists. She does concede that in high school she went through “a bit of a loner phase’’ but got over it quickly.
At U of T, she fits in with the crowd.
She did not want to be coddled because of her age, so for the most part she kept it a secret.
Sarah Grubb, a 20-yearold business student at U of T, connected with Xie right away.
She never gave thought to the fact Xie is five years younger – usually a cavernous social gap between such ages.
“If she never told me (her age) I would have thought she was my age or older,’’ says Grubb.
“She has a certain way of speaking and writing which is really mature for her age … you could probably talk about ‘Viv’ all day … she has so many layers of personality and creativity.’’
Grubb adds Xie is a downto-earth person who is enjoying her social life as well as her academic experience.
“I genuinely think that she is like all of us at university,’’ says Grubb.
“It is just that she understands things a lot easier than the rest of us do.’’
Xie lives in an apartment near the campus with her mother, her grandmother and her miniature poodle named Goji.
She has yet to have an intimate relationship, even though she is heading into her fourth year of university.
“Maybe it is because I can’t find any boys or girls my own age,’’ she says.
“I guess I haven’t reached the age where I’m worrying about it.’’
At 15, she is not old enough to go out and drink with her friends but is quick to note she spends plenty of time socializing with her peers, notably spending a lot of time hanging out playing Minecraft – a virtual open world video game where players can dig, mine, build, craft and enchant things.
In fact, Xie has collaborated with the University of Toronto to create an all-online summer Minecraft camp. She will be doing the artwork and also present as a guest speaker biologist.
Xie is also writing a book – her first – that she hopes to complete by summer’s end. She describes the work as a fun fantasy set in a P.E.I.-type setting that pits two neighbours, one a witch, against each other.
Her career goal, once she earns her PhD in dizzying fashion, is to do research in the field of genetic disorders, perhaps one day playing a role in finding a cure for cancer.
Keil is likely not alone in wanting to see what the future holds for this remarkable teenager.
“Now that I met her, I am definitely keeping tabs on her,’’ he says.