Schwarzman Scholar

Boran Cui ’22 grew up in Beijing and has dreamed of attending Tsinghua University, China’s top-ranked university, since high school. That dream is coming true for Cui, who is attending Tsinghua University this year as a Schwarzman Scholar. Cui is the second Trinity alum to be a Schwarzman Scholar, following in the footsteps of previous winner Albert Ananyan ’24.

Schwarzman Scholars spend one year earning a fully funded master’s degree in global affairs. The incoming class of 2025–26 consists of 150 scholars from 38 countries. Schwarzman received the highest number of applications ever this year, with the final class chosen from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates.

Since graduating with majors in studio arts and engineering, Cui’s been using his skill set in various ways. He works full time in health care consulting and health care investment in Beijing while also helping friends with entrepreneurial ventures in artificial intelligence and UI/UX design. He still finds time for art, working on photography projects in his free time.

Cui said he found similarities in the process of learning in the disparate fields of studio arts and engineering. “Both studio arts and engineering require you have a clear definition of something. You then try to figure out the best solution for the circumstances. Engineering is solving the problem that the teacher gives you, whereas in art, you’re solving the problem you bring up,” he said.

Cui was motivated to apply to Schwarzman Scholars after working for a few years because he noticed himself feeling less connected to the world internationally. “I feel like I’m losing the international part of myself,” said Cui, “And Schwarzman is gathering global young leaders together in Beijing, so that’s pretty attractive to me.” Cui says the emphasis on travel around China also is an appealing aspect of the program, as is the chance to introduce new friends from around the world to his home city of Beijing.