In recent years, the number of applicants for graduate school has continued to increase, but in 2024, the number of applicants for graduate school has decreased slightly, with a decrease of 360,000. This data has attracted widespread attention and heated discussions. So, why is this happening?
1. The employment situation of graduate students is not as expected
As the size of graduate students continues to grow, more and more people are finding that a graduate degree alone does not guarantee them a decent job. As a result, some people choose to give up the graduate school entrance examination and instead consider their employment prospects and development direction more rationally. This is actually a return to rationality, and it is also a positive signal. After all, there is no point in going to graduate school if you still can't find a satisfying job after grad school.
2. Increase the proportion of push and exemption
Exemption is an important part of college admissions. With the increasing proportion of colleges and universities exempting enrollment, the number of actual exams has gradually decreased. The increase in push-and-exempt enrollment means that there are fewer and fewer opportunities left for graduate students every year. This has also led to a downward trend in the number of applicants.
3. Changes in the enrollment structure of master's and professional master's degrees
In recent years, the enrollment structure of colleges and universities has undergone significant changes, and the enrollment of academic masters, i.e., master's degrees, has begun to shrink or cease, while professional degree masters, i.e., professional masters, have become the main direction of application. Many colleges and universities have announced the suspension of enrollment for some majors, further exacerbating the trend of narrowing the enrollment of master's students. According to the plan of the Ministry of Education, by 2025, the enrollment scale of master's degree students will account for about two-thirds of the total enrollment scale of master's degree students, becoming the mainstream of postgraduate entrance examination in the future.
4. The quality control of graduate students is becoming more and more strict
In order to improve the quality of postgraduate training, some colleges and universities have begun to implement strict management measures in recent years, such as extending the number of years of study for master's and doctoral degrees. This means that it will be more difficult to graduate in the future, and admission does not mean that you will be able to graduate successfully. This has made some people more cautious and thoughtful about the choice of graduate school.
1. Increase the overall probability of going ashore for graduate school entrance examinations
Although the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examination will decline in 2024, the country's enrollment expansion policy is still continuing. This means that the overall probability of going ashore for graduate school is increasing. This is undoubtedly good news for candidates who are preparing for the sprint.
2. Professional competition has become fiercer
Although the number of applicants for graduate school is generally declining, the competition is likely to become more fierce at the level of professional segmentation. Many colleges and universities have shrunk their enrollment quotas and increased the number of exemptees, resulting in a squeeze on the number of places for the unified admissions. As a result, while the overall number of applicants has declined, competition will be more fierce in some majors.
3. It brings new problems to candidates and the development of higher education
In recent years, graduate school entrance examinations have emerged"College entrance examination"Many undergraduates organize undergraduate teaching with the goal of taking the postgraduate entrance examination, which leads to the fact that the comprehensive literacy of students who are admitted to graduate school still needs to be improved. With the continuous increase in the popularity of postgraduate entrance examinations, it has become a common phenomenon to prepare for exams for many years"Reverse entrance examination"It is also gradually increasing. These phenomena have brought new problems and challenges to candidates and the development of higher education.
1. Pro: Improve the probability of going ashore for graduate school entrance examinations
The slight decline in the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examination has increased the overall probability of going ashore. This is good news for candidates who are preparing for the exam, and it is easier to achieve their goals for the graduate school entrance examination.
2. Benefits: Professional competition has become more fair
A drop in the number of applicants for graduate school means less competition in certain majors, and candidates have more chances to get into their desired majors.
3. Disadvantages: The competition in some professions has become more intense
Despite the decline in the overall number of applicants, some majors will be more competitive, and some majors may be more difficult to admit due to the reduction of enrollment places and the increase in the number of people who are exempted.
4. Disadvantages: It brings new problems and challenges to the development of higher education
The continuous growth of the craze for postgraduate entrance examinations has caused a series of problems, such as the tilt of educational resources, the decline of educational quality, and the blind expansion of educational institutions. A slight decline in the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examination may exacerbate these problems, further affecting the health of the higher education system.
Overall, there are both advantages and disadvantages to the slight decline in the number of applicants for graduate school entrance examinations. This is an opportunity for candidates preparing for the exam, but at the same time, it is also necessary to see the problems and challenges and seek reasonable solutions. At the same time, the education department and colleges and universities should also adjust the enrollment policy and the allocation of educational resources in a timely manner to maintain the stability and development of higher education.