Registration for the 2024 National Graduate Examination fell by 360,000, the first decline since 2015. This is the main reason for this:
1) The mentality of college students has changed: In the past, many college graduates chose to take the postgraduate entrance examination to increase their employment competitiveness. However, the reality is that even with a master's degree, it is not always possible to land a dream job. Candidates gradually recognized this reality, and they are more willing to enter the society directly after graduating from the undergraduate degree and accumulate more social experience than if they still can't find a job after being admitted to graduate school.
2) Adjustment of college enrollment policies: In order to attract outstanding students, some colleges and universities have adopted some adjustment measures, such as increasing the number of exempt students. These adjustments have had an impact on the number of graduate students.
3) The "cost performance" of postgraduate entrance examinations has declined: In recent years, some colleges and universities have adjusted their graduate enrollment policies, no longer providing graduate student dormitories, and subsidies have also been reduced. The cost of going to graduate school is getting higher and higher, but the rewards are not as high as before, which naturally dissuades some students.
4) The rise of the study abroad craze: Nowadays, it is no longer enough to have a graduate degree, and many students choose to study abroad to improve their academic qualifications. The number of students studying abroad in China is showing a continuous trend, which makes some students who originally planned to go to graduate school choose to study abroad instead.
Although the number of applicants for the postgraduate examination in 2024 has decreased by 360,000, the number of people who actually took the postgraduate examination may be more than last year. The 2023 postgraduate exams have been disrupted by the pandemic, and many candidates have missed out on their exam opportunities. Even students who take the test are not necessarily at their best. And in 2024, the situation has improved, and many students who failed to take the exam have a year of accumulation and preparation, and they will hit the shore again, and other candidates will also prepare in the best condition. Therefore, candidates should not be taken lightly by the decrease in the number of applicants for the 2024 postgraduate examination, and they still need to prepare for the exam seriously.
1.Reasonable arrangement of Xi time: Candidates should make a daily Xi plan, clarify the subjects and contents to be Xi every day, and allocate time reasonably. In the re-Xi, we should pay attention to consolidating the basic knowledge, especially strengthening our weak parts, and re-Xi by doing questions, summarizing notes, reviewing knowledge points, etc.
2.Adjust your mental state: When the exam is approaching, candidates tend to feel nervous, but the mindset is a very important part of the exam. Candidates need to adjust their mentality, don't put too much pressure on themselves, and believe that they are fully prepared and able to take the exam calmly.
3.Maintain a good Xi routine: Although time is tight, candidates may want to reduce their sleep time to Xi, but this is not a wise thing to do. At this stage, candidates must maintain a good routine and ensure sufficient sleep time, so as to avoid physical burden while ensuring the efficiency of Xi, and it is very important to protect their body.
The decline in the number of graduate students is a complex phenomenon that is influenced by a variety of factors. I believe that this is also a reflection of social progress and the diversity of individual choices. Today's college students have more thinking and choices about employment, Xi, and growth. Whether you choose to continue to go to graduate school or put into work, you need to take it seriously and work hard. The important thing is not which path to choose, but how to grasp your own direction and strive to pursue your dreams. For the students who are about to take the postgraduate entrance examination, I hope that they can maintain a positive attitude, persist in their efforts, believe in their own abilities, and become truly excellent graduate students.