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The famous prodigy class at Beijing Number 8 Middle School has begun recruitment efforts over the last weekend. Many students and parents have showed great interested in the so-called cradle of talent and success. CRI reporter Zhou Jing has the story.

One graduate of the prodigy class, Hu Fan, entered Nanjing University, one of China's top universities at the age of 14, and at 16 he started PHD studies in the United States. Talented as Hu Fan is, he is not alone in the 20 year history of Beijing Number 8 Middle School's prodigy class. Its legendary track-record speaks louder than any other verbal promotion. So when this year's prodigy class for students between 10 and 14 began recruitment, it attracted many students and their parents.

Sun Jia is one of the hopeful applicants. He says normal classes are too slow for him. "At school, teachers take several days to teach one lesson. But I wish it was one lesson per day."

Most students who apply for the whiz kid class are top students at their original schools. But when asked about why they want to enter the prodigy class, their answers sound a bit childish.

"I read in the newspaper that a kid my age has entered university."

"I'd like to go to the best school and I think getting educated in the prodigy class will be good for me."

Though students and parents think highly of the prodigy class, to the disappointment of most of them, the class isn't for ordinary children.

Zhao Daheng is a teacher in charge of this year's recruitment. "What we look for aren't just top students but whiz kids. Only a small proportion of people are really that talented."

If recruited, these children will finish 8 years of education in only 4 years. But what might be more difficult for them is that they'll enter university years earlier than their peers. Will these teenagers be psychologically prepared for an adult's world?

One educator, Wang Zhuying, expresses her concern. "I think their academic achievements will satisfy requirements, but I'm afraid these young children are psychologically immature and will have problems in human relations. These things are also very important."

China Drive is one of CRI's radio programs aired from Monday to Friday. Chinastic picks the most interesting life reports from China Drive. Stay tuned.