The Craze of Pursuing Graduate Studies

Each year, millions of Chinese college students sit for qualifying examinations for graduate studies, primarily in Master’s programs. Students prepare for those examinations either through years of arduous self-education or by spending large sums of money attending local training schools. The publishing of examinations-related study materials and the training programs offered, both online and offline, have combined to form a sizable industry.

An alarming fact about this craze is that most students pursue graduate studies not out of their voluntary will. Faced with the harsh reality in the employment market, where employers forever look for graduates with higher degrees, many college graduates find going to graduate schools is a good way to avoid unemployment and to enhance one’s competitiveness in future job hunting.

However, without that voluntary initiative, most students who do enter graduate schools are not self-motivated. For them, the only thing that ultimately counts is the degree or the diploma which they expect could give them an upper hand against other job seekers. As to the actual substance of their graduate studies, it’s not a big deal for them, as long as it leads to that degree or diploma. It is really pathetic to see that students undertake graduate studies with an ulterior motive—not for the sake of loving what they study, but for the sake of merely landing a job, which in many cases might be unrelated to what they have studied.

The chill truth is that students soon find their anticipations are a mere dream. As so many undergraduates proceed onto graduate studies, the employment situation remains as severe as ever. Instead of bringing about apparent competitive edges, two or three years of additional academic training is simply a waste of time and energy. They need to reflect on this craze and would have been better off distinguishing themselves with outstanding knowledge and skills when they were undergraduates.

                                               考研热


        每年，数以百万计的中国大学生参加研究生入学资格考试，主要是攻读硕士学位课程。学生们要么通过数年艰辛的自学，要么花上不菲的一笔钱去参加当地培训学校的课程，以便来准备这些资格考试。与各种考试相关的学习材料的出版，以及网上和网下所提供的培训课程，一起构成了一个规模可观的产业。

        关于这股热潮，一个触目惊心的事实是，大多数学生并不是出于他们自主的意愿而去追求研究生阶段的学习的。面对着就业市场上严峻的现实，看着雇主们永远将目光投向那些学历更高的毕业生，许多大学生发现，进入研究生院去攻读硕士学位不失为一个良策，一方面避免了失业，另一方面可以提升未来求职过程中的竞争力。

        然则，没有了那份由衷而发的积极性，最终得以进入研究生院的学生，其中大多数缺乏自我上进的动力。对于他们而言，最终而言，唯有其文凭或学位事关重大。他们希望，这个学位或文凭能提升其优势，战胜其他求职者。至于他们研究生课程实际学习什么内容，于他们而言并非关键所在，只要所学的东西能带来一纸学位或文凭即可。看着学生们并非怀着一种真实的意图去攻读研究生课程，实在令人感到悲哀。学生们并不真正热爱其所学的内容，而只是为了找到一份工作，况且这份工作在很多情形中可能与其所学专业毫不相关。

        一个令人心寒的现实是，学生们很快就发现，他们的期望纯粹是一种幻想。由于本科之后继续读研的学生如此之众，就业形势一如既往地严峻。二至三年额外的学术训练没能给学生带来显著的竞争优势，反而令他们白白浪费了人生年华与精力；因此，大学生们有必要对此热潮展开反思。如果他们早在本科期间就以优异的学识与能力脱颖而出的话，他们的处境肯定会来的好得多。