For the first time in 2024, the number of applicants for the national master's admission examination will show a "negative growth", with a decrease of 360,000. This phenomenon has aroused widespread concern. What is the reason for the decline in the number of graduate students?This article will look at three aspects**.
1.The first reason for the decrease in the number of graduate students is that the current employment situation is relatively severe. As the number of college graduates continues to increase, the employment pressure has further intensified. Many colleges and majors have worrying employment signing rates. Against this backdrop, many undergraduate graduates tend to find employment as early as possible, and stabilizing employment prospects has become their top priority. In addition, the economic downturn has also caused many families to be unable to support the postgraduate entrance examination fees of World War II and World War III candidates. On the contrary, the number of applicants for the national public service in 2024 has reached a record high, exceeding 2.9 million, an increase of nearly 400,000 over the same period last year. This shows that many candidates have chosen another way out, that is, to take the position of the first organ. The university entrance examination and postgraduate entrance examination are no longer the end, and the fiercely competitive public entrance examination has become their new choice.
2.The second reason is the decline in employment expectations after graduate school entrance examinations. Graduate school is a time and financial investment. In the context of the expansion of graduate education, the proportion of academic graduate students is gradually decreasing, and the time of graduate study of professional degree graduate students is also increasing, while the tuition fee is significantly higher. In particular, the tuition fee for some applied master's degrees in finance and economics can easily reach 100,000 yuan, and some schools do not provide dormitories. Although the total number of graduate students has reached the million level, with the increase in the proportion of graduate schools in prestigious schools, the number of admission places is relatively limited, and the chances of candidates entering prestigious universities are becoming smaller and smaller. In addition, with the popularization of postgraduate qualifications, the gold content of postgraduate qualifications is also declining, and some graduates of double-non-graduate colleges often face discrimination from employers, who are more inclined to recruit double-first-class undergraduate graduates. For example, the requirement for recruiting reserve cadres in a certain district of Shanghai is to have a graduate degree, but the scope is limited to more than 40 colleges and universities, and the basic requirement for a bachelor's degree is also a double-first-class school. This reality has led many candidates to doubt the value of graduate school.
3.The last reason is the increased attractiveness of studying abroad. After three years of masks, international flights are gradually returning to normal, and the difficulty of studying abroad has also decreased. Considering the highly competitive employment environment in China, many candidates choose to study abroad. Some foreign universities are ranked much higher than domestic universities, and international students have shorter postgraduate studies. Although some people ridicule these "master's" academic qualifications, to a certain extent, this is also a kind of screening, testing the candidate's foreign language proficiency, independent living ability and financial strength. In addition, after returning to China in the future, you can also enjoy the advantages of settling in first-tier cities. Since the beginning of this year, many local selection and transfer students have also begun to open up to the top 50 or even 100 international students from colleges and universities. Of course, universities in countries such as the UK are also increasing their requirements for IELTS and GPA for international students. In the current situation of involution and anxiety in education, everyone is just a dust in the changing times, and I hope that the majority of candidates can get good luck.
The negative growth in the number of applicants for the 2024 National Master's Admission Examination has attracted widespread attention. In the analysis, it was found that three major reasons led to the decline in the number of graduate students. First of all, the current employment situation is severe, many candidates tend to be employed as soon as possible, and the competition for the best position is also fierce. Secondly, the employment expectations after graduate school have declined, the tuition fees of professional degree graduate students have been greatly reduced, and the gold content of graduate degrees has declined, which has made many candidates suspicious of graduate school. Finally, the attractiveness of studying abroad has risen, and many candidates choose to study abroad in search of better development opportunities. Faced with these challenges and choices, every candidate needs to think deeply about their career planning and personal development goals to make the most suitable choice.
I have a deep personal experience on this topic. As a self-editor, I am well aware of the current employment pressure and the problem of involution in education. Every young person has their own choices, and it is important to make decisions on the path of life. I am not surprised by the decline in the number of graduate students, because it is a result of a combination of market and individual demand. I believe that whether we choose to study in graduate school, take the public entrance examination or study abroad, as long as we persist in working hard and pursuing our true interests and dreams, we can find our own place in this highly competitive society and realize our personal value.
Finally, I hope that the majority of candidates can make wise choices according to their own circumstances and interests, and set appropriate goals and plans for themselves. No matter which path you choose, you must persevere in your efforts, believe in your potential and abilities, always maintain a positive mindset, and strive for your future. No matter which track you are on, you should continue to learn and improve yourself Xi and realize your life value. I wish the candidates excellent results in the future!