考研一度被認(rèn)為是成功的保障,而近年來,研究生的就業(yè)不容樂觀,考研熱正在降溫。專家指出,考研并非“成才獨(dú)木橋”,練好內(nèi)功才重要。
To Ji Xiaoyu, taking the national graduate school entrance examination was a natural part of his college plan.
對于季曉宇(音譯)而言,考研是他大學(xué)計(jì)劃里順理成章的一部分。
“Obtaining a master’s degree will give me a better chance at getting a decent job,” said the 22-year-old graduate of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. He took the exam last year.
畢業(yè)于北京郵電大學(xué)、22歲的他表示:“研究生學(xué)歷可以幫我找到一份好工作。”去年,他參加了研究生招生考試。
But now, it’s no longer such a “natural” choice for many students. With employment benefits fading, students are thinking carefully about whether they should take the exam.
而現(xiàn)在,對于很多學(xué)生來說,考研不再是順理成章的事。隨著研究生就業(yè)優(yōu)勢逐漸減弱,大學(xué)生們對待考研也是十分謹(jǐn)慎。
A total of 1.72 million students took this year’s national graduate school examination, according to the Ministry of Education. That’s 40,000 less than last year. For the first time in five years, the exam saw a drop in the number of applicants.
根據(jù)教育部發(fā)布的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,今年全國共有172萬學(xué)生參加研究生入學(xué)考試,較去年減少4萬人,這也是五年以來考研人數(shù)首次下降。
Wang Wei, senior lecturer of Kuakao Education, a training agency, thinks that a major reason for the decline is the dim career prospects for postgraduates.
跨考教育高級講師王偉(音譯)認(rèn)為,考研人數(shù)的下降主要源自于研究生就業(yè)前景的暗淡。
“Many students are now taking master’s degree courses as a shortcut to a better job,” said Wang. “But recent employment data may disappoint them.”
王偉說:“現(xiàn)在很多學(xué)生把讀研當(dāng)作找到好工作的捷徑,而近來的就業(yè)數(shù)據(jù)可能會(huì)令他們心灰意冷。”
The employment rate of postgraduates in China in 2011 was 87 percent, 8 percent less than that of undergraduates, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
由人力資源與社會(huì)保障部發(fā)布的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,2011年我國研究生就業(yè)率為87%,比本科生就業(yè)率低8個(gè)百分點(diǎn)。
Given this situation, experts are calling on students to think clearly about what they want a master’s degree for.
在這種情況下,專家呼吁學(xué)生考研要三思而后行。
Chen Lu, 23, is graduating this year from Tianjin University of Finance and Economics. She says taking the exam will enable her to pursue her real passion.
23歲的陳璐(音譯)今年將從天津財(cái)經(jīng)大學(xué)畢業(yè)。她說考研使她去追求真正令自己興奮的專業(yè)。。
The logistics major has signed up for a master’s degree in journalism at Renmin University.
本科學(xué)習(xí)物流專業(yè)的她報(bào)考了人民大學(xué)新聞專業(yè)研究生。
Many other people are like her. According to MyCOS Research Institute, 28 percent of test takers in the 2012 national graduate school entrance examination applied for a major different from their bachelor’s degree.
很多人都和陳璐有著同樣的想法。北京教育咨詢公司麥可思研究院表示,在2012年報(bào)考研究生的學(xué)生中,跨專業(yè)考生占到28%。
In deciding whether to take the exam or not, students are recommended to make the decision based on the nature of their major.
關(guān)于是否要考研,專家建議學(xué)生應(yīng)該根據(jù)專業(yè)特點(diǎn)來做決定。
“For majors that focus more on theory, students should enroll in a master’s degree immediately after graduation as it’s important for them to keep up to date on the latest theoretical developments,” said Zhang Xiangkun, associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. These majors include mathematics, physics, philosophy and linguistics.
中科院副研究員張祥坤表示:“對于側(cè)重理論的專業(yè),學(xué)生應(yīng)該在畢業(yè)后立即讀研,以便掌握最新理論研究成果,這對他們很重要”。這些專業(yè)包括數(shù)學(xué)、物理、哲學(xué)和語言學(xué)。
“But for majors that feature practical skills, getting familiar with relevant workplace skills as soon as possible and getting to know your own strengths and weaknesses is more urgent.”
“對于側(cè)重實(shí)踐技巧的專業(yè)來說,盡早熟悉相關(guān)工作技巧,了解自己優(yōu)缺點(diǎn)則更重要。”
Computer science, telecommunication engineering and mechanics majors are of this kind.
計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)、通信工程和機(jī)械制造都是這類的專業(yè)。