Online class debate rages in China over high-achieving ‘left-behind child’ who chooses to study archaeology at university

Online critics say Zhong should ignore her dreams and instead choose a more lucrative field to help her climb the social ladder. — SCMP

Online vitriol over one of China’s “left-behind children”, who was admitted to a top Chinese university but chose to study archaeology instead of a more lucrative major, has sparked debate about social class in China.

Zhong Fangrong, a student in central China’s Hunan province, recently made news headlines for scoring 676 out of 750 on her college entrance exam and taking fourth place in her province. She told the media she would apply for the archaeology major at Peking University, one of the top schools in the country.