The process of preparing for graduate school is a choice that many college students make in order to broaden their career path, improve their academic qualifications, and realize their personal value. However, the road to graduate school is not always smooth, in addition to the hard preparation and fierce competition, there are also various policy changes and various difficult challenges.
Recently, a number of universities have issued notices to set up a series of new "obstacles" for the upcoming 24th class of graduate students, including the cancellation of accommodation benefits, tuition fees**, and the reduction of scholarships.
These notices have sparked a fierce response from graduate students and their parents. Some people question the practical significance of the postgraduate entrance examination, some are concerned about the economic cost of the postgraduate examination, and some call for more attention and support from the education department.
So, what are the "setbacks" that future graduate students will encounter?What is the reason for these notices?How should graduate students and their parents deal with these difficulties?
According to online information, a number of colleges and universities have issued notices on the enrollment of 24 graduate students, including the following changes:
Cancellation of accommodation. Some universities pointed out that due to limited dormitory resources, it is not possible to provide accommodation services for all new students, and only academic master's and doctoral students can be given priority.
Specialist Master's students are responsible for their own accommodation, which means that if they choose a Specialist Master's, they will have to bear the cost and risk of their own accommodation.
Tuition** is an unavoidable phenomenon. Some colleges and universities have announced that they will adjust the tuition fees of some majors or types of graduate students, with increases ranging from a few thousand yuan to tens of thousands of yuan.
At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, for example, tuition fees for computer science majors have surged to 120,000 yuan, while artificial intelligence majors are about 150,000 yuan. This is a considerable financial burden for many families.
The decline in scholarships has also become a matter of concern. Some universities have revealed that due to financial pressure, they will make scholarship adjustments for some majors or types of graduate students, and reduce or cancel some awards or amounts.
A graduate student at Zhejiang University broke the news that although the tuition fee has increased, the scholarship has not increased accordingly, but has decreased.
These adverse changes have undoubtedly brought great distress and pressure to the incoming graduate students. Not only do they have to deal with academic and life challenges after entering school, but they also have to bear a heavier financial burden. Some candidates even expressed the idea of giving up the postgraduate entrance examination or dropping out.
What is the reason for these notices?Why did they make such a decision?The author believes that there are several main reasons:
The first is the continuous growth in the number of graduate students. In recent years, the number of graduate students has continued to rise, from 4.57 million in 2022 to 4.74 million in 2023.
The second is the difference between a professional master and a master's degree. Postgraduate examinations are divided into two types: professional and master's, and they differ in training and study directions. Those students who are interested in academic research and plan to pursue a career in research in the future are more likely to choose a master's degree.
Even if they are not engaged in scientific research, they may choose to become university teachers and have a bright career prospect. Students who choose a master's degree pay more attention to improving their academic qualifications and are more willing to work in the society. Therefore, there is also a difference in the treatment of professional and master's degrees in colleges and universities.
Finally, there is the reform of quality education and examination-oriented education. In recent years, the education department has been advocating the reform of quality education and test-oriented education, emphasizing the cultivation of students' core literacy and comprehensive ability, rather than simply pursuing scores and academic qualifications.
This concept is reflected in important examinations such as the high school entrance examination and the college entrance examination, which include subjects such as physical education, art, and **. This shift has affected the selection and training policies of colleges and universities.
These subjects not only help to promote students' physical and mental health and aesthetic interests, but also broaden students' knowledge and horizons. Similarly, after graduate admission, students are required to participate in courses in a variety of fields such as sports, minds, English, etc.
These courses not only help to improve students' physical, moral, language and other aspects of literacy, but also improve students' comprehensive competitiveness and international vision. Therefore, universities encourage graduate students to actively participate in extracurricular activities and social practice by not providing accommodation, etc., rather than focusing only on professional courses.
How should graduate students and their parents respond to these "setbacks"?In the author's opinion, there are mainly the following suggestions:
First of all, keep learning and working hard. Graduate school entrance examination is a long-term, arduous, and risky undertaking, and you cannot expect to succeed overnight.
Graduate students and parents should have a clear understanding and full preparation, and do not give up or retreat easily. Only through continuous study and hard work can we improve our knowledge level and competitiveness, and achieve our ideals and goals.
Second, mindsets and expectations need to be adjusted. Graduate school entrance examination is a complex, changeable, and uncertain process, and not everything can be carried out according to an individual's wishes and plans.
Graduate students and parents need to be adaptable and flexible in their strategies, and not fall into excessive anxiety or depression. Only by adjusting our mindset and expectations can we cope with various difficulties and challenges, seize opportunities and give full play to our strengths.
Actively seeking help and support is key. Postgraduate entrance examination is a process of cooperation, mutual assistance, and resource sharing, and it is difficult to succeed alone.
Graduate students and parents need to have communication awareness and skills to avoid isolating themselves or burying problems in their hearts. It is only by seeking help and support from others that you can access more information and resources, and increase your confidence and motivation.
In conclusion, it is an inevitable reality that the upcoming graduate students face a "Waterloo". However, this does not mean that the graduate school entrance examination has lost its meaning or hope. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to test the students and their parents, and it is also an opportunity to stimulate their potential. As long as you face up to the problem, actively meet it, and persist in learning, you will be able to overcome difficulties and realize your dreams.