The number of applicants for the 2024 National Postgraduate Entrance Examination has fallen for the first time in nearly nine years, which has raised concerns about the prospects of graduate students. Many people once thought that going to graduate school was a shortcut to a counterattack that could lead to better opportunities for development in their careers. However, with the changes in the social environment and the intensification of competition in the job market, more and more people have begun to doubt the true value and significance of graduate school.
Over the past few years, the craze for postgraduate entrance examinations has continued unabated, with millions of candidates registering for exams every year. This time, however, the decrease in the number of registrations came as a surprise. The postgraduate entrance examination is a huge system that involves the demand for talents from all walks of life, so the decline in the number of applicants may be related to multiple factors.
First of all, the instability of the employment situation is an important reason for the decline in enrollment. The outbreak of the pandemic and the economic downturn have led to layoffs and hiring freezes in many businesses, making the job market more difficult. For some graduates of "junk majors" and "highly competitive majors", the job prospects are still bleak. Even if they have obtained a graduate degree through the postgraduate examination, they face the same employment dilemma for graduates of these majors.
Second, young people's perceptions and values are changing. More and more young people are beginning to pursue freedom and independence, unwilling to live a 996 working life, nor willing to blindly pursue material comforts. They pay more attention to their inner needs and spiritual pursuits, and no longer pursue the traditional definition of success. For them, graduate school may be just a choice under social pressure, rather than a career path that they really like and are suitable for.
In addition, the intensity of competition has also affected the decline in the number of applicants for graduate school entrance examinations. In recent years, the scale of graduate student enrollment has been expanding, and graduate students are no longer a scarce resource. This has led to a breakdown in the balance between supply and demand in the talent market, with graduate graduates facing more competitors and finding their dream jobs more difficult.
Eventually, expectations for graduate school began to decrease. In the past, many people thought that a graduate degree was a stepping stone to employment and could make them stand out in the workplace. However, as more and more people share their real-life experiences, people are beginning to realize that a graduate degree is not a panacea. In the job market, family background and connections are becoming more and more important, and those who do not have these resources are still at a competitive disadvantage.
Over the past few years, the job market has become increasingly competitive, especially for college and graduate students. There are more and more highly educated talents, while there are only a limited number of good jobs in the market, which makes the competition extremely fierce.
The job market is like a big forest, and good jobs are like rare treasures that only a few people can get. And most people can only find it in the cruel competition, and even after persistent efforts, there is still no chance to stand out.
Many people choose to go to graduate school because of their employment prospects, hoping to improve their competitiveness by having an additional degree. However, they found that even a graduate degree did not guarantee that they would be able to find a good job easily. Sometimes, some undergraduates even emerge from the competition because they have an advantage in terms of practical experience and practical skills.
For enterprises in the job market, they pay more attention to the comprehensive quality and practical ability of talents, rather than just academic qualifications. After all, academic qualifications are only a condition for entry and cannot represent a person's full ability. As a result, graduate graduates who only have academic qualifications and lack practical abilities often find it difficult to get their dream jobs.
In addition, some graduate graduates may face a sluggish industry development and an oversupply of talent, which also affects their employment prospects. Some industries have slowed down significantly, and there are fewer jobs. The number of graduate students in the job market is increasing, making it more difficult for job seekers with graduate degrees to find satisfying jobs.
In the face of the decline in the number of applicants for graduate school, we can't help but ask, is it really meaningful and valuable to go to graduate school? Does graduate school really give us better career and development opportunities?
Graduate school is the right choice for those who really like academic research and want to delve deeper into the professional field. The in-depth study and professional improvement of graduate Xi can give them more opportunities and development space in academia or research institutions. For these people, graduate school is a necessary way to pursue intellectual and professional growth.
In addition, for some high-threshold technical majors, having a graduate degree can better prove their strength and professional ability and improve their employment competitiveness. In these fields, graduate qualifications still have a high value and can help job seekers get better employment opportunities.
In addition, some institutional positions that are limited to graduate students or above have clear requirements for graduate degrees. Therefore, for those who wish to pursue these positions, graduate school is a necessary route to meet the qualification requirements.
However, we also need to recognize that graduate school is not an option for everyone. For those who simply want to improve their employability through graduate school, it may not be possible. In the current highly competitive job market, comprehensive quality and practical work ability are more important. If you go to graduate school simply for the sake of academic qualifications and do not improve your strength and ability, then you are likely to face disappointment and frustration.
Therefore, for students considering graduate school, they should carefully evaluate the significance and value of graduate school on the basis of clarifying their career development goals and interests. If graduate school is positive for your career and personal growth, then you can consider continuing your studies. But if it's just for a prestigious school diploma and the pursuit of so-called dividends, then you may need to reconsider your choice. After all, academic qualifications are only a condition, and real ability and actual performance are the key factors that determine the success or failure of employment.