(AFP) Last September, with several suitcases filled with books and family albums, the Kniazeva family landed at San Francisco with the high hopes of anyone starting a new life. It was the first time the two daughters of the family, Diana and Anjela, had traveled outside Russia, but with their customary confidence they quickly settled into student life in the small town of Palo Alto near here.

With their bright cheerful smiles, long blond braids and their backpacks full of books, the two blended in. But what makes them different from other students is that both are working towards their third masters degree at the prestigious Stanford University. That, and the fact that Diana is just 16 years old and Anjela 14.

"We may be youngest people at the university, but we have a lot in common intellectually with our fellow students," Diana said. The teenagers completed their first masters in economics when Diana was 11 and Anjela 12. They finished their second masters in law when Diana was 15 and Anjela 14, and began their current studies in international policy last year.

Still not satiated, the teens plan to launch their doctoral studies in finance at a US university later this year, which will earn them the learned title of doctor just as their former classmates leave high school. As their parents say, the girls are "geniuses."

Single minded

Convinced that the two were special, Ioulia Kniazeva and Evgueni Bykov decided to use their analytical skills and knowledge as computer scientists to push the girls to reach their "full intellectual potential." That meant developing educational tools and tutoring the pair from around the age of three to "stimulate their intellects and their critical reasoning," said mum Ioulia, 42.

The girls' mother also wanted to help them fit in with all age groups. "I didn't want them to have problems working with teachers and students," she said. The home tutoring combined with regular school, took its toll on the girls' parents, especially on Ioulia who had to give up her day job to work nights.

But it was worth it, they say. Beaming proudly over baby pictures of the girls in pink tutus, they point out that in the quest for intellectual perfection, the girls' physical and artistic sides were not overlooked. And for a while they dreamed of becoming ballerinas, but the dream was short-lived.

"We could not combine ballet with school," explained Diana. After finishing school at the ages of 10 and 11, the sisters applied to graduate school. They giggle as the recall the memory of shocked university officials as they began to realize that it was the girls, and not their parents, who were enrolling.

The pair are single minded in their pursuit of knowledge. There is an intensity of purpose and nothing - not even fun - stands in their way. During their Christmas holidays last year, they studied English and asked for books as presents.

... to be leaders

But the lack of interaction that the girls have had with youngsters their own age as a result of their unique lifestyle does not bother them. They do not appear to need anyone else, as they have on another. The sisters also do not feel they have missed out on their childhood by concentrating on their studies.

As they and their parents are quick to point out, the girls are like other teenagers in their love of Teen Queen Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, roller blading and skiing. But while other teenagers are out going to parties and obsessing over boys, the Kniazeva girls rarely go out.

They say that they are too young and that it would only "distract" them from their goals. "If we went to parties and dances it would be so difficult to get up in the mornings and get back to work," said Anjela matter of factly.

"We don't have time for boyfriends," said Diana with a cheerful smile. "Right now we just want to concentrate on our academic objectives. We want to get ahead, by making a name for ourselves in research. We want to be leaders."