Conversation with Thomas Yang: From Topping Physics Olympiad to Princeton PhD
Thomas (Tianhua) Yang, a former International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2018) gold medalist (1st place) and current theoretical physics PhD student at Princeton, discusses his journey through competitive physics and academia. This interview was conducted in early 2024 and the transcript has been cleaned and stylised for readability rather than a normal interview.
I coached him in debating while he was at Peking and thought Western audiences would enjoy learning about his experience topping IPhO 2018. I was his debate coach from Peking University, where Yang previously served as the debate team president and won multiple EFL championships in Asian debating.
Q: What was your experience with Physics Olympiad like? Could you walk us through the selection process in China?
A: The selection process in China is quite hierarchical, with four distinct stages. It starts with a preliminary exam that anyone can take - it's just slightly more challenging than the Gaokao. Then there's a provincial exam where hundreds compete, but only 6-30 people pass, depending on the province's size. Those who pass move on to the Chinese Physics Olympiad, and finally, 50 students are selected for the IPhO training pool. These students are exempted from taking the Gaokao.
The final selection happens during a two-month training camp, where they choose just five people to represent China at IPhO. The intensity of the competition creates a unique environment where you're not just learning high school physics - you're studying from specialized olympiad books and engaging with university-level material.
Q: Tell me about your interactions with your olympiad teammates. Do you stay in touch?
A: I interact quite a lot with those who came from the same high school and dormitory, but it wasn't really academic - it was mostly friendship. There were two other people on the olympiad team who followed similar academic paths into PhD programs, though we don't talk about the exact research. Interestingly, even though there were 13 people in the team, and some of us were at the same university, I didn't get many chances to talk with about half of them.
Q: How does the olympiad training translate to university studies? What specific advantages did you gain?
A: IPhO training is designed for high school students, but it goes far beyond high school physics. During the two years of intense training, we actually covered a lot of university-level material. When I entered Peking University, I was able to be exempt from three out of four freshman courses:
- Mechanics
- Electromagnetism (E&M)
- Optics (which was the hardest one and failed t)
- Thermophysics
This early preparation gave me more time for research during my undergraduate years. While other students were completing basic courses, I could explore different research interests and better prepare for graduate school. The timespan advantage is significant - you can explore various research directions while others are still finishing core requirements.
Q: Has the olympiad experience influenced your choice of research field or research style?
A: While it's not definitive, olympiad students are often well-suited for highly theoretical and mathematically heavy fields, including string theory. However, it's important to note that string theory isn't the majority path for olympiad students.
The olympiad background has influenced my research style - I'm more comfortable using heavy mathematical machinery to deal with problems. University students can write equations, but the problems we faced in IPhO were mathematically intense in ways that typical university courses don't cover due to their reliance on software.
Q: For non-physicists, what do you mean by "problem-solving" skills in this context?
A: The problems we face in Physics Olympiad are highly technical. You're given physical situations that require both conceptual understanding and mathematical intensity to solve. This develops serious research skills that carry into undergraduate studies and beyond.
Q: What do you think would have happened if you hadn't taken the olympiad path?
A: If I think about the counterfactual - I would have probably stayed in high school for three years and taken the Gaokao. The key difference is the prior knowledge of courses. Without the olympiad path, there would have been a lag in my studies. The olympiad path essentially gave me a two-year head start on university-level knowledge.
Q: How does this accelerated path compare to the regular educational path?
A: Without the olympiad, students typically have to finish their basic courses first before they can explore whether they want to go to graduate school. The timespan for exploration is much shorter. When you enter through the olympiad path, you're already ahead in your coursework.
Q: Are there any disadvantages to participating in olympiads?
A: Yes, there are several concerns. First, there's the risk of getting too focused on problem-solving, which isn't always the most valuable skill in research or other occupations. Research often requires different skills, like describing things intuitively and generating new ideas.
There are also some China-specific issues. Many in the olympiad community self-identify strongly as physicists early on, which can limit their vision of future possibilities. The majority of the community envisions a physics research career, but most people don't actually pursue this path. Some realize very late in graduate school that they might want different careers. It's also a bet on prestigious universities - if you focus on olympiad preparation, you might not have enough time to prepare for the Gaokao as a backup plan.
Psychologically, the intense competition can be challenging. There's already pressure from the Gaokao system, and olympiads add another layer of hierarchy and competition. Some students who don't succeed in olympiads carry that burden for years.
Q: Do you see any ways to address these challenges?
A: The issues are largely systemic and tied to the overall competitive environment in China. The olympiad system is just one more layer of competition. Simply reforming the olympiad system wouldn't address the underlying pressures in Chinese education. Many of the problems stem from competitive incentives at the regional level.
Q: Have you maintained connections with the Physics Olympiad community? What paths do olympiad participants typically take?
A: Yes, I've actually given back to the community. During my university years, I returned to my high school to give lectures and helped with winter training programs. I also worked with commercial organizations that provide olympiad training. I did this for about two years.
Looking at my year specifically, out of my five teammates, three went into physics, one into computer science, and one is still undecided about their trajectory. Among Asian teams more broadly, some have gone into quantitative trading. If you look at an even longer timespan, you'll find some Princeton physics graduates who are now in finance.