The number of applicants for the 2024 National Master's Admission Examination was announced, and the results showed that the number of applicants was 4.38 million, a decrease of 360,000 compared to last year, which was also the first downward trend since 2015. At the same time, it is expected that about 800,000 candidates will choose to abandon the test this year. The announcement of these two major news undoubtedly brought a sense of relief to the candidates who were preparing for the exam. However, the fierce competition for postgraduate entrance examinations is still unabated, and many college students still regard postgraduate entrance examinations as the first choice to improve their competitiveness in order to stand out in the job market. In this article, we will interpret the message behind these data from different perspectives.
1.Colleges and universities have increased the number of guaranteed research places: Many universities have gradually increased the number of guaranteed research places, such as Tsinghua University, Peking University and other well-known universities, and the number of guaranteed research students has been close to half. This has led to a decrease in the number of postgraduate entrance examinations, which has led to a corresponding decline in the number of applicants. However, even with the decrease in the number of applicants, the number of more than 4.3 million candidates is still a huge number, and the competition is still fierce.
2.Candidates who have found a satisfactory job abandon the examination: Some of them have already found a satisfactory job, such as taking the civil service examination, taking the examination establishment, or successfully entering a large state-owned enterprise or a well-known company. Their motivation for pursuing a high degree is to find a satisfactory job, and now that they have stable employment opportunities, they choose to give up the postgraduate entrance examination.
3.Choosing to study abroad: Studying abroad has a competitive advantage compared to going to graduate school, because studying abroad can improve one's competitiveness in the workplace. Compared with the postgraduate entrance examination in China, studying abroad does not need to apply for the examination, and only needs to meet the qualification requirements of overseas universities to enroll, which is relatively easier. For candidates who have already chosen to study abroad, they have been given a pass to enhance their competitiveness, and they naturally no longer pay attention to the domestic postgraduate entrance examination.
4.Mismatch between one's own strength and interests: The postgraduate entrance examination requires a lot of time and energy to prepare for the Xi exam, and if you are not prepared enough, entering the examination room will only become a backboard and lose the meaning of the postgraduate entrance examination. As a result, some candidates will choose to give up on the graduate school entrance examination to avoid putting in the effort but ultimately failing to achieve good results.
5.Risks and assessment criteria for graduate school entrance examinations: It is not necessary to graduate from graduate school entrance examinations, in fact, some graduate students cannot graduate successfully, and even commit suicide during graduate school. Therefore, it is still necessary to consider factors such as professional interest and scientific research ability to ensure that you can successfully complete your studies.
Although the number of applicants has decreased, the reasons and implications are worth pondering. First, we should recognize that different choices are not black and white, and that everyone has different development paths and goals. Whether it is choosing a job, going abroad or giving up the postgraduate entrance examination, it is the result of some thought and weighing. Among them, career development and studying abroad may be more attractive and competitive for some students.
In addition, the decrease in the number of applicants also reflects the more calm and rational attitude of the candidates. They do not blindly chase academic qualifications, but pay more attention to their own development and actual needs. It also reminds us that when making a personal development plan, we should think more about our own interests and strengths, rather than blindly following trends.
Judging from the decrease in the number of graduate students and the abandonment of candidates, we can see that candidates are more calm and rational in the face of the choice of postgraduate entrance examination. They pay more attention to practical needs and career development, rather than blindly following the level of education. Therefore, we should not simply use the reduction of data to evaluate the value of postgraduate entrance examinations, but should pay more attention to each person's individual choices and decisions. Whether it is going to graduate school, going abroad for further study or employment, everyone has different development paths and goals, and we should respect and understand everyone's choice.
Therefore, in the sprint stage of exam preparation, candidates should maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, go all out, and work hard for their choice. Whatever you choose, trust your decision and face the challenges ahead. Although the competition for graduate school entrance examination is becoming more and more fierce, as long as we persist in working hard and believing in our own abilities, we can all achieve success and growth.