Menorca became yesterday the epicenter of the claim of journalists who woke up with their calls young Catalans who had obtained the best grade in the university entrance exams (PAU). Among those with the best and worst grades (the average was 6.78 and the tests were passed by 97% of the total) it is certain that the brightest students crossed paths, without knowing each other, among the crowd in the square del Born de Ciutadella, during the traditional horse race, or at any of the island’s beautiful beaches. Like the olotina Carla, a round 10 in PAU.

Carla Vendrell answers patiently, from Cala Blanca, all morning in her pyjamas. “I’m very happy,” says this world figure skating champion, awarded in 2021, with simplicity. “Sport gives you discipline,” she says, referring to the two milestones.

He has applied to study Law at Pompeu Fabra, after finding out about the campuses that offer this degree. His family emancipation will also begin next year, like most of the students with the best grades who do not live in Barcelona. They have all chosen courses from the UB, the UAB, the UPF or the UPC.

After Carla there are seven marks of 9.90, four ties in Barcelona and three in Tarragona, and a 9.80 in Lleida, as the best marks in the region. There are few high school graduates who are not from the scientific and technological field.

In addition to Carla, who studied humanities and social studies (with Latin and mathematics), there is Elsa Ferré, from Reus, who studied the international baccalaureate, and who wants to enroll in the double degree in Translation and Languages applied to the UPF. She adores literature and a book by Montserrat Roig usually rests on her bedside table.

Joel Trapero, from Sabadell, also opts for thought disciplines. The son of computer scientists, his choice is the sought-after degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics offered jointly by two Catalan universities (UPF, UAB) and two Madrid universities (Autònoma de Madrid and Carlos III). “I hesitated, but now I’m happy, it’s a career that offers transversal knowledge of different disciplines.”

There is only one student who has chosen Medicine. This is María Llobera, from Lleida, who wants to enter the Clinic. “As a child – explains María – I liked to look at space and the stars and I thought I would study Physics, but now I like Medicine”. It is his mother’s profession.

Who has chosen the stars and the study of the universe above anything else is Edgar García from Tarragona, who, like María, cultivates music through the piano (he is also a percussionist in the municipal band of Tarragona ). He will study Physics at the UB next year.

From Sant Joan Despí, Sergi López, who studied at the Jaume Salvador i Pedrol high school, is leaning towards the double degree in Mathematics and Physics or Mathematics and Computer Science, two careers with few places, which is why the note cutoff usually rises to more than 13. Sergi investigated the center of mass in Catalonia, that is to say, the municipality that could support the sphere of the Catalan universe without falling. Like a rule held in balance by touching only with the tip of a finger, Rajadell (Bages) holds (physically and hypothetically) the thousand Catalan municipalities.

The research work of Quim Martínez, from Sabadell, was a car remote-controlled by mobile phone. He will study the double degree in Mathematics and Computer Engineering at the UB.

Paula Pepió (Sant Cugat del Vallès) wants to be a biomedical engineer and Guillem Martínez (Tarragona) an IT and telecommunications engineer. Before that, they will stop at the UB and the UAB.