In recent years, the number of graduate students has been increasing year by year, but with the announcement of the number of applicants for the 2024 graduate school entrance examination, we find that the graduate school entrance examination fever is gradually subsiding. First, people are beginning to realize that a graduate degree does not give them a clear employment advantage. Although the country expanded the enrollment of some graduate students during the epidemic, as time went by, more and more people found that it was not a lack of graduate degrees in society, but a lack of real talents. After all, the number of enrollment places at top universities is limited, and many of the graduate students who have expanded their enrollment come from ordinary double-non universities. These graduates find that they are not very competitive and that the effort they put in is not directly proportional to the income they earn.
Second, over time, people began to notice the ever-increasing increase in graduate tuition. Many universities have adjusted tuition fees for graduate students, making the input-to-output ratio even more irrational. Taking Sichuan Agricultural University as an example, the tuition fee for professional master's degrees has increased by 87 percent in one year5%。This is not an isolated case, but a widespread phenomenon. Students are reluctant to spend exorbitant fees for a degree, and coupled with the uncertain employment situation, the motivation to go to graduate school naturally weakens.
Compared with the difficulty of graduate employment, the stability and welfare of civil service positions have become the choice of many people. Especially after the epidemic, people's demand for "iron rice bowls" is more urgent. Therefore, in recent years, the number of applicants for public education has shown an upward trend. In 2024, the number of applicants for the national public service reached 2066075, an increase of 1398%。This trend has also been verified in various provinces, with more applicants for civil service examinations in economically developed provinces, indicating that the popularity of civil service positions is increasing.
In view of the declining trend in the number of graduate students in recent years, graduates are faced with an important choice: whether to choose to go to graduate school or choose to take the civil service examinationPostgraduate entrance examinations can further improve academic qualifications, but the employment prospects are not optimistic and the competition is fierce, while civil servants can obtain relatively stable jobs and lucrative treatment. Although it is not easy to work in the public sector, it is still a more feasible option compared to the social environment with greater employment pressure.
Before making a decision, graduates need to fully understand their professional expertise and career development plan, and make the most suitable decision for themselves by taking into account factors such as employment situation, personal interests and abilities.
The declining trend in the number of graduate students has led to a reflection on the employment problems of graduate students. Graduates are beginning to realize that a postgraduate degree is not a decisive factor for employment, but rather a manifestation of strength and ability. At the same time, the continuous increase in graduate tuition fees also makes the investment in postgraduate entrance examination disproportional to the income, which further weakens the motivation of postgraduate entrance examination. At the same time, the stability and benefits of civil service positions have become the choice of many people, resulting in an increase in the number of applicants for public service positions year by year. For graduates, whether to take the postgraduate examination or the civil service examination should be weighed according to their personal circumstances and career planning. For the Ministry of Education and universities, it is also necessary to further improve the employment environment for graduate students and enhance their competitiveness and employment opportunities.