What it’s like being 12 and applying for university

As many 17 and 18-year-olds across the country await to get their university acceptance, Kenzie Jordan is doing the same, except she is only 12.

With an IQ of 140, Jordan has already completed NCEA level three and now waits to see if she can attend the University of Waikato to study mechatronics.

She has a specific passion for biotechnology, which includes building bionic limbs and medical technology.

Jordan says it's “just the idea of being able to make something that could help someone" that interests her.

While Jordan is still waiting for her acceptance letter, if she gets in, hers will be a unique case with special conditions.

“My mum would have to come with me... but also as many classes as possible we would want to do online.”

Young Kenzie Jordan studying at home. Supplied

She said her mother thought it was "great" that she might be able to accompany her daughter for her tertiary education.

“She's getting a free degree, but without the degree part.”

Jordan had so far done most of her schooling at home, describing her early days in school as boring.

“They were trying to teach me like how to read when I was reading Harry Potter,” she told Checkpoint.

She reflected on her time at school saying it would be ideal if students could be taught at the level they were performing at.

Kenzie reading at a very young age. Supplied

“But I also do understand that that's not always possible because of like age gap, so just having options for that would be nice.”

Despite her exceptional IQ, Jordan described her intelligence as feeling "normal" for her.

She still enjoyed hobbies like drawing, photography and playing Minecraft.

“Just being able to make something that didn't exist before... because I can like visualise things really vividly in my head, being able to like put that onto paper is really nice.”

Jordan is making use of her artistic talent and selling her artwork to help further fund her tertiary studies.

While she should qualify for a student loan, she was not sure she would be able to get extra support like student allowances.

If she does a four-year mechatronics degree, Jordan will be about 16 years old when she graduates.

-RNZ