In the past few years, the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examinations across the country has continued to rise, and postgraduate entrance examinations have become the choice of countless college students. From 2015 to 2022, the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examinations in the country increased by an average of 15 per year8%。Although the number of applicants in 2024 will drop for the first time, the postgraduate entrance examination is still one of the important orientations for many graduates. Behind this phenomenon is the expansion of college enrollment and changes in the job market, which also reflects the academic anxiety and employment pressure faced by college students.
In the current education and employment environment, postgraduate entrance examination is no longer a simple path for academic improvement, but has become an important choice for many college students to face employment challenges. Why is the graduate school entrance examination called the "second college entrance examination"?This title reflects multiple social realities.
First of all, the surge in the number of graduate students has made the competition more intense, comparable to the pressure of the college entrance examination. As colleges and universities expand their enrollment, the number of university students continues to increase, which makes the "scarce value" of undergraduate degrees in the job market decline. In order to stand out in the fierce competition for employment, many students choose to continue their studies to improve their academic qualifications and abilities.
Secondly, the popularization of postgraduate entrance examinations and the trend of college entrance examinations reflect the pursuit of high academic qualifications in the current job market. Many employers have clear requirements for academic qualifications when recruiting, which prompts students to improve their competitiveness by going to graduate school. In this case, the postgraduate entrance examination is not only a way for individuals to pursue higher academic achievements, but also an inevitable choice to meet the employment requirements of society.
In addition, the introduction of the gaokao entrance examination has also exposed certain problems in the education and job market. Postgraduate education should be a stage of cultivating in-depth knowledge and research ability, but under the current trend, many students take the postgraduate entrance examination more for the academic qualifications themselves than for the interest or demand for study and research.
In general, the phenomenon of the postgraduate entrance examination becoming the "second college entrance examination" is not only the embodiment of the individual's pursuit of a higher academic level, but also the result of the evolution of the social employment environment and education policy. The emergence of this phenomenon has prompted us to reflect on how to balance the relationship between personal development, educational goals and social employment needs.
The college entrance examination is not only a phenomenon in the field of education, but it also has a profound impact on society. This trend reveals the importance of higher education in contemporary society, but also exposes some issues of concern.
First of all, the rise of the tide of postgraduate entrance examinations has exacerbated the anxiety of academic qualifications in society to a certain extent. As high education has become the "new standard" in the job market, many students and parents feel great pressure, believing that only by passing the postgraduate entrance examination can they get better employment opportunities. This mentality has led to the excessive pursuit of high academic qualifications by college students and families, and even neglected the cultivation of practical ability and vocational skills to a certain extent.
Secondly, the trend of taking the college entrance examination also reflects the changes in the job market. With the adjustment of the economic structure and the change of the employment situation, more and more positions require higher education and professional ability. This makes the postgraduate entrance examination an inevitable choice for many people to pursue career development and personal improvement.
In addition, this trend has affected the quality and positioning of higher education. When more and more students see the postgraduate entrance examination as a tool to improve their academic qualifications, it may lead to a shift in the focus of graduate education from cultivating research and innovation capabilities to exam-oriented education. Not only can this degrade the quality of graduate education, but it may also cause students to miss out on opportunities to deepen their knowledge and develop their ability to innovate.
In short, the college entrance examination is a multi-dimensional social phenomenon, which reflects the interaction between the education system, the job market and social values. Solving this problem requires the joint efforts of the education sector, employers and all sectors of society to achieve the true purpose of education and promote the healthy development of society.
Looking ahead, whether the postgraduate entrance examination will continue to be regarded as a "second college entrance examination" will be affected by a variety of factors, including the economic situation, changes in the job market, and adjustments to education policies.
First of all, changes in the economic situation and the job market will directly affect the trend of graduate school entrance examinations. If the future job market can provide more diverse opportunities and more reasonable academic requirements, then the pressure to go to graduate school may be reduced. In addition, with the advancement of technology and the development of the industry, the demand for professional skills may exceed the demand for traditional academic qualifications, which may also change the current trend of postgraduate entrance examinations.
Secondly, the adjustment of education policy will also have an impact on the postgraduate entrance examination. If higher education can pay more attention to cultivating students' practical ability and innovative thinking, rather than simply pursuing academic qualifications, then the purpose and meaning of postgraduate entrance examination may change. At the same time, reforming the examination and selection methods and reducing the reliance on standardized tests may also help alleviate the current phenomenon of college entrance examinations for graduate school entrance examinations.
Finally, changes in social values can also affect the trend of graduate school entrance examinations. If society can pay more attention to the comprehensive quality and ability of individuals, rather than simply academic qualifications, then the social status of graduate school entrance examination may change. This requires the concerted efforts of the whole society to establish a fairer and more pluralistic evaluation system.
In short, whether the postgraduate entrance examination will become the "second college entrance examination" in the future depends on how we respond to the current challenges and how we shape the future education and employment environment. By working together, we can help students make choices that are more suitable for them, while contributing to the overall development and progress of society.