Opinion: Easing College Enrollment Anxiety Over What and Where to Study

Following the release of college entrance exam scores, students face the bittersweet task of completing university applications, a significant decision point for them and their parents after years of hard study. Issues such as employability, postgraduate recommendations, and the possibility of switching majors are paramount concerns. These individual rational concerns do not necessarily equate to collective rationality, highlighting the need for a more flexible higher education system.[para. 1]

China’s higher education has progressed immensely since the reform and opening up era, contributing significantly to the country’s economic rise by training millions of competent workers. Criticism of Chinese education as merely "involution," blaming the mass expansion of universities in the early 2000s, is deemed an oversimplification.[para. 2]

Chinese higher education has popularized, with college and even master’s students no longer seen as exceptional. The Ministry of Education reports a record-breaking 13.42 million applicants for the 2024 college entrance exam and an estimated 11.79 million graduates expected. A Zhaopin.com survey revealed a decline in job offer rates for graduates, with master's and doctoral degree holders at 44.4%, below associate and bachelor's degree holders for the first time. The AI-driven technological revolution adds to the complexity, underscoring students' and parents' concerns about job prospects for chosen majors.[para. 3]

Multiple factors contribute to "major anxiety," necessitating higher education that is resilient, inclusive, and capable of helping students meet future challenges while realizing their personal values, thus contributing to China’s modernization.[para. 4]

The attraction to popular fields like semiconductors, new energy, and AI computer science reflects economic and social trends but carries employment uncertainties. The once “hot” majors may not guarantee future job security, indicating a need for a balanced relationship between one’s major and evolving economic, social, and technological landscapes.[para. 5]

Resilience and vitality in higher education should reflect in educational philosophies, curricular design, and teaching methods. Economist Qian Yingyi suggests that China’s higher education is “high in average but low in variance,” producing fewer outstanding talents—a model requiring change for the future.[para. 6]

With rapid technological developments and evolving industrial needs, the demand for diversified talent is rising. Reforming higher education disciplines and dynamically adjusting undergraduate majors is critical, alongside deepening reforms in educational and scientific research systems.[para. 7]

Chinese higher education is narrowly focused on applied fields while fundamental disciplines are overlooked. Adapting the major settings to include more basic disciplines like mathematics and theoretical physics, even against market tendencies, is vital to foster geniuses and align with China’s technological and economic advancements.[para. 8]

The era where "one exam determines your life" is over. Future uncertainties necessitate a broad and robust educational foundation, emphasizing the importance of both "useful" and "useless" knowledge, especially in the humanities, to cultivate well-rounded individuals rather than merely career-specific trainees.[para. 9]

The choice of university and major impacts not only students and families but also the overarching goal of personalized teaching and full utilization of graduates’ talents. Students should focus on utilizing their university experience fully, and the government must drive higher education reform for flexible, future-oriented systems. If this ideal is achieved, China would gain an unparalleled competitive advantage by cultivating diverse talents.[para. 10]