The number of graduate students in 2024 will decline for the first time, which has attracted widespread attention and discussion. This phenomenon is not only surprising, but also raises a series of questions for candidates and experts. Why is the number of graduate students decreasing?Does this mean that it becomes easier to go ashore for graduate school?This article will examine these issues from multiple perspectives.
i.The reason for the decline in the number of graduate students in 2024
The number of applicants for the postgraduate examination in 2024 will be 4.38 million, down 360,000 from the previous year. This is the first decline since 2015. So, why is there such a change in the number of graduate students?Here are a few possible reasons:
(1) The impact of the epidemic
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and the job market, which has led many undergraduate graduates to choose postgraduate studies to improve their competitiveness. However, in 2024, the pandemic has largely been brought under control, the employment situation has improved, and many graduates have found jobs, thus reducing the number of people applying for graduate school.
(2) Tuition fees and extension of the school system
The increase in graduate tuition fees and the extension of the length of study have also had an impact on the number of graduate students. For many families, it has become more difficult to earn money, and there is a higher cost pressure on parents to pay high school fees for their children. At the same time, admission to graduate school does not necessarily lead to good job opportunities, which makes some people more inclined to choose employment rather than graduate school.
(3) Increase in the rate of research protection
The rate of key universities has increased year by year, and the opportunities to recruit graduate students have decreased. Research universities require a certain ratio of graduate students to undergraduates, so the number of graduate students is increasing year by year, and correspondingly, the number of graduate students admitted to graduate school is decreasing. This makes the entrance examination even more competitive.
(4) The enrollment of university master's degree has narrowed, and the professional and master's degree has become the mainstream of application
According to the plan of the Ministry of Education, in the future, the enrollment scale of master's degree students will be expanded to about two-thirds of the total enrollment scale, while the scale of master's degree will gradually decrease. Many colleges and universities have stopped accepting master's degrees, which limits the options for some candidates. Therefore, applying for a master's degree has become a mainstream trend.
(5) The depreciation of postgraduate diplomas
Some people are more pessimistic about the future of the economy, focusing more on short-term stability than improving their education. Graduates want to find a job as soon as possible to make ends meet, while working people struggle to keep their current jobs. At the same time, the value of postgraduate qualifications is depreciating, and as a result, some people prefer employment rather than graduate school.
(6) The rebound of the popularity of studying abroad
In the past few years, the popularity of studying abroad has decreased due to the pandemic. However, with the gradual control of the epidemic, the popularity of studying abroad is also picking up. For postgraduate candidates, in addition to domestic postgraduate examinations, studying abroad has also become an alternative choice. This has also led to the diversion of some candidates.
ii.Does the decrease in the number of graduate students mean that it is easier to go ashore?
While the decrease in the number of graduate students in 2024 has sparked some discussion, with some arguing that it will make it easier to get ashore, I think this conclusion is too arbitrary. First of all, the reduction in the number of applicants is very limited compared to the overall number of applicants, and it is not enough to have a significant impact on the difficulty of the postgraduate examination. Secondly, the increase in the rate of guaranteed research may increase the pressure of competition, and for those candidates who are admitted to prestigious universities, the difficulty may increase. Therefore, the decrease in the number of graduate students cannot be used simply to judge whether it is easy to go ashore.
iii.Summary
To sum up, the decline in the number of graduate students in 2024 is a complex phenomenon that is related to a variety of factors. The pandemic, tuition fees**, the extension of the length of study, the increase in the rate of graduate studies, the narrowing of university and master's enrollments, the depreciation of postgraduate diplomas, and the rebound in the popularity of studying abroad may all affect the number of graduate students. The change in graduate school entrance examination is a dynamic process, and we cannot judge how easy or difficult it is simply based on short-term trends. Candidates should fully consider their personal interests, abilities and career development plans when choosing whether to take the postgraduate examination, and do not blindly follow the trend and make wise decisions.
Finally, I hope that the ** in this article can give candidates and people who are concerned about the postgraduate entrance examination some inspiration and thinking. The road to graduate school is not only a road that leads to many correct solutions, everyone has different choices and opportunities. It is important to analyze rationally, make decisions carefully, and make the best plan for your future.