After the "reverse graduate study" famous school students "go ashore"

Featured Article | After the "reverse graduate study" famous school students "go ashore"

　　On October 25th, the registration deadline for the 2023 National Master's Entrance Examination will be closed, and millions of candidates will participate in this competition.

In this brave army of postgraduate entrance examination, "reverse postgraduate entrance examination" is becoming a wave that cannot be ignored and deserves attention from the outside world.

　　The so-called "reverse postgraduate entrance examination" means that undergraduate graduates from "double first-class" colleges and universities apply for postgraduate studies in "double-non" colleges and universities (non-first-class universities, non-first-class discipline construction colleges and universities). The original 211 high school.

Since last year, the phenomenon of "reverse postgraduate entrance examination" has continued to arouse heated discussions due to the challenge of the mainstream postgraduate entrance examination ideas of "upward entrance examination" and "dream famous school".

Some people hold an objection, thinking that this is not a good choice, maybe it is a deduction item, a "stain" in life.

Some people also believe that "reverse postgraduate entrance examination" is an inevitable choice when my country's higher education has become popularized and the scale of postgraduate education has continued to expand. It reflects the diversified choices of some students for postgraduate entrance examination and postgraduate study. The concept change from "pick schools" to "pick disciplines" broke the theory of only prestigious schools.

　　In the midst of the huge controversy, what kind of considerations did these students choose to "reverse"?

What kind of situation will we face?

Recently, Peng Mei News (www.thepaper.cn) interviewed more than 10 students who have been "reverse postgraduate entrance examination" and found that they can be roughly divided into two categories. One is "active downgrading". Colleges and universities below the undergraduate level; second, they were forced to "reverse", because they were not accepted by a voluntary college, they were transferred to "double non" colleges and universities below the undergraduate level.

　　In-depth understanding found that there are many specific reasons for these students to "reverse", most of which are based on their own practical considerations: some are yearning for big cities, and then go to first- and second-tier cities or provincial capitals with more potential for development, while others are just the opposite. Retire bravely and go back to their hometown to study; some are more concerned about their majors, and choose inter-professional postgraduate entrance examinations, not just obsessed with famous schools, while others have experienced many failures in postgraduate entrance examinations, exhausted physically and mentally, and decided to go on the shore.

　　For these famous school students who are "reverse postgraduate entrance examination", although they have the joy of "going ashore", they are also under a lot of mental pressure. Frustration and self-doubt, as well as the gaps and criticisms that come with going “in the opposite direction.”

The halo and pride brought by the famous students may become a psychological burden at this time, and they need to learn to reconcile themselves.

At the same time, the "reverse" postgraduate entrance examination also means a new beginning, breaking free from the quagmire of postgraduate entrance examinations again and again, to start a new life, and to strive for new life goals.

　　"Although it is 'reverse', our life has not come to an end because of this. We are bearing the consequences of our own choices, and we are firmly walking on the road of action and struggle." A student who landed on the "reverse entrance examination" said. .

Another "fall" in the test

　　When the topic of "reverse postgraduate entrance examination" was discussed a lot on social media, Chen Hao forwarded these discussions to her friends and asked with laughter: "What is worth discussing about which school everyone is admitted to, it is just that they can't get a better one. School doesn't work?"

　　"I can't get into a better school." It took Chen Hao a long time to accept this cruel fact.

She graduated from Zhejiang University with an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Engineering. After three postgraduate entrance exams, she finally chose to transfer to the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology to major in mathematics.

It was a complete "fall" for her, but her "fall" on the test came earlier than that.

In high school, she studied in the top three high schools in Hangzhou and was once regarded as a seedling to sprint north of Qing Dynasty. However, she did not perform well in the college entrance examination, and was only admitted to Zhejiang University's agronomy major by applying for the examination in advance.

That year, 45 high school students were admitted to Qingbei, and 145 were admitted to Zhejiang University.

She did not get good grades in the college entrance examination, and she believes that this is the first "fall" in her life.

　　Entering the university, Chen Hao reminded himself that university is a new beginning to explore oneself and should experience it to the fullest.

She focused her energy on a colorful community life until graduation approached.

　　Yuan Meng also felt that he was "falling".

He graduated from the School of International Relations of Renmin University of China with a bachelor's degree. He has twice applied for journalism and communication at the Renmin University of China, but failed.

During the college entrance examination, Yuan Meng chose the latter in the minor languages ​​major at Peking University and the international relations major at Renmin University of China.

　　After experiencing a series of situations such as failure to maintain research, failure of "World War I", and transfer to a Shuangfei university after the failure of "World War II", Yuan Meng became more and more certain that he was not on the so-called "altar", "at least from the As a result, if you can't be admitted to a higher level or a graduate student in this school, you really don't have anything to be proud of, and it doesn't matter whether you fall down the 'altar' or let go of your pride."

　　Without the opportunity to be guaranteed postgraduate studies, and unable to be admitted to schools of the same or better level, but want to continue their studies, some students from prestigious schools have to consider "looking down" and become a member of the "reverse" postgraduate entrance examination.

With the increasingly fierce competition for postgraduate entrance examinations, there may be more and more students facing this embarrassing situation.

According to public reports, the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examination in 2018 was 2.38 million, and in 2022 four years later, the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examination increased to 4.57 million, nearly doubling.

Some institutions predict that the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance examinations in 2023 is expected to exceed 5 million.

Over the years, the admission rate for postgraduate entrance examinations has been around 30%.

According to incomplete statistics from The Paper, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Guangzhou University, Hangzhou University of Electronic Science and Technology and other "double-non" universities announced the 2022 master's admission list, and there are many undergraduates from "double first-class" universities.

fight for a different track

　　Chen Hao, who was admitted to Zhejiang University as an early batch, quickly lost interest in professional courses. Due to the admission restrictions of early approval, she could not change her major.

Driven by her interest, it was difficult for her to adapt to the learning rhythm of her major, and she fell out of the sequence of postgraduate studies early.

She doesn't care about that because she likes math.

Chen Hao believes that mathematics is the foundation of all science and engineering, and it is also the origin of studying the world. "Math is pure and logical", which makes her obsessed.

She decided to make a living by studying mathematics.

　　Chen Hao feels that if she wants to "change the track", the inter-professional postgraduate entrance examination is the only way to realize her dream.

For the first time, she boldly chose the top three universities in the country for mathematics, but was defeated due to insufficient preparation for the exam.

"In the first year, I didn't know much about the postgraduate entrance examination. I just set a goal and started the examination. At Zhejiang University, many people who took the postgraduate entrance examination did not start preparing until September. There are many students around me who took the 'World War II' and 'Three World War' postgraduate entrance examinations. "

　　The second time, Chen Hao chose to apply for the mathematics major of this school, but failed again.

This failure made Chen Hao even more embarrassed. She avoided the adjustment and decided to work hard for another year.

However, the result was still disappointing, and by just a few points, she passed the mathematics major of her alma mater again.

　　Chen Hao has a clear understanding of his own situation.

"I didn't study hard when I was an undergraduate, and I also studied a major that I didn't like. Maybe my learning ability was not enough to allow me to go to a higher-level school." After three postgraduate entrance examinations, age anxiety gradually increased, although she just turned 24 Years old, but the plan to pursue a Ph.D. forced her to consider compromise.

"After another year of examination, you will be 30 years old after completing your Ph.D. At that time, the age is a little too restricted." At present, the talent introduction policy in most regions of my country limits the age of doctoral students to 35 years old and the master's age to 30 years old.

Moreover, after the epidemic, the competition pressure for postgraduate entrance examinations is increasing visibly.

　　"Let's 'go ashore' first!" At this time, choosing to transfer to a "double non" university became Chen Hao's only choice.

She has successively received invitations from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Shanghai University of Science and Technology and Jiangsu University for re-examination. In the urgent adjustment timeline, Shanghai University of Science and Technology sent her an admission notice at the earliest, and asked her to do so within a few minutes. It was confirmed that she had no time to consider the possibility of coming from other colleges, and she decisively "confirmed" the location of Shanghai and the call of the mathematics major she was looking forward to.

　　"Now that I have books to read, I can learn mathematics." After three years of marathon postgraduate entrance examinations, Chen Hao breathed a sigh of relief when she confirmed her "going ashore". She felt that she was no longer wasted and that she was no longer ashamed of herself.

She remembered the scene of the third postgraduate entrance examination. A friend accompanied her to take the exam. She was joked by the hotel front desk that "I have never seen a friend come to take the test." , "There's a special person to pick you up!" Chen Hao said with a smile, "In this pomp, you can't even pass the test."

Never thought of "upward examination"

　　When Liu Fan chose a school for postgraduate entrance examination, he never thought of "taking the test upwards".

He majored in electronic information at Hunan University as an undergraduate and chose Shenzhen University as a "double-non" institution from the very beginning.

After the defeat of "World War I", his goal was Hainan University, which is closer to home.

In 2022, Liu Fan got his wish and landed successfully.

　　Liu Fan never considers himself a "pride of the heavens", and he credits his luck with getting an undergraduate admission to Hunan University, "I'm from Hainan, students in Hainan don't have a lot of pressure on the college entrance examination, and my high school has an acceptance rate for the first grade. Nearly 98%, after studying step-by-step, went to Hunan University.” In 2015, when Liu Fan took the college entrance examination, the admission rate of Hainan Province’s first one reached 14.88%, exceeding the national average at that time.

　　After entering university, Liu Fan felt the pressure.

"Some of my classmates are from Henan, Hebei and other major college entrance examination provinces. We take the same set of English papers, and some of them can score 20-30 points higher than me. They study very hard. Liu Fan realized that no matter whether it was talent or hard work, he was no match for those students from the college entrance examination province.

Gradually, he adjusted his expectations: "I didn't set too high goals for myself. I didn't have to do study and research, but to do what I was interested in, such as club activities, entrepreneurial projects, etc."

　　Early in the morning, Liu Fan decided to go back to Hainan to work.

After the autumn recruitment, he went to work in a research institute in Hainan.

The work of the research institute is long and boring, and occasionally he is questioned by the leaders: "How come you can't even operate such a simple instrument? Didn't you graduate from 985?" There was no sense of accomplishment in the work, and Liu Fan decided to take the postgraduate entrance examination, "I think I want to When I go back to school and learn something more, it may be to pay off the debt of not studying well in my undergraduate degree. When I feel that I am full enough, I may be more comfortable when I come out to work.”

　　Soon, Liu Fan found that Hainan University met almost all of his expectations for postgraduate studies. "It's close to home and has a good degree of recognition in the province for employment. That's all."

　　Liu Fan said that the "985 undergraduates" gave him a very limited sense of superiority. After working for more than a year, he has a new understanding of the "famous school complex", "The aura of the school is actually imposed on him, what can he read? School and one's ability and whether they are excellent may not be a match. Those who have attended a famous school can only show that they have worked hard for a certain period of time."

　　There was almost no suspense, Liu Fan received an admission letter from Hainan University.

At the moment of confirming that he was "going ashore", Liu Fan felt that this was the result he deserved, "I deserve it".

On the one hand, the "downgrade" of the school is the price that he should bear for his unfulfilled undergraduate studies, but on the other hand, it is also the fruit he reaps after his hard work.

　　Liu Fan's parents were also quite satisfied with the result.

"Staying with your parents, enriching yourself in your studies, and no longer wandering when you find a stable job in the future..." From Hunan University to Hainan University for graduate study, Liu Fan felt that this life choice "is not a downgrade". Rather, it is a new beginning to exercise the ability to cope with complex societies.

A New Beginning for "Small Town Girls"

　　After two failed postgraduate entrance exams, He Yaqing, an undergraduate student at Tongji University, chose to "go ashore" at a "double-non" university in Changsha.

Although the school was "downgraded", He Yaqing still felt a little relieved when he first landed, but soon, his heart was replaced by greater anxiety and guilt.

　　"My undergraduate grades are actually not bad, and I'm probably on the edge of being a graduate student. In 2020, I spent a lot of time at home during the epidemic. It was a long study period, and I had the will to fight and want to go to a better school." Since then , He Yaqing immersed herself in the exam preparation.

When the teachers in the college group issued the relevant notice about the intention of postgraduate research, she did not pay attention to it. At that time, she thought about going to a better school and missed the opportunity to postgraduate research.

After failing to apply for the top 985 colleges in Beijing in the "World War I", He Yaqing continued to fight again and adjusted his target to a 985 college in Shanghai, but he still failed.

　　From 985 to "Shuangfei", from Shanghai to Changsha, He Yaqing encountered more than once, "Bachelor degree is already so good, why don't you just use your undergraduate degree to find a job".

This question was also circling in her mind, and the answer she gave was, "The reason why I don't look for a job is because I know that I can't find a good job. After four years of college, I didn't know that I needed an internship to find a job, and I arrived every year. No one told me that I need to plan early to find a job, and no one told me that looking for a job requires an internship in addition to a degree."

　　He Yaqing describes herself as a typical "small town girl" with all the characteristics of a "good girl": both parents are in the county system, living in a family home since childhood, only child, no siblings of the same age as herself, before the postgraduate entrance examination I went to the best school in the county town smoothly, and was admitted to the 985 schools in Shanghai. I was praised by everyone in the small town as a "child from someone else's family". Everything was very comfortable and comfortable, but the problem was limited knowledge and limited vision.

　　"Small county towns and big cities are still very different. In small county towns, as long as you do well in school, everyone will like you very much." "I drank Starbucks for the first time when I was in college. My classmates compare, but I still can't compare to those local classmates in Shanghai." He Yaqing said.

　　After failing the first postgraduate entrance examination, He Yaqing felt that her life was falling rapidly. She tried to get back on her feet, but she couldn't get out of the cycle of graduating with nowhere to go, and failing again in the postgraduate entrance examination.

"I lost the opportunity to apply for postgraduate research, the opportunity to be a 985 graduate student, and the status of a fresh graduate." She became a little less confident and stopped talking about future plans.

　　He Yaqing's father was the first to lend a helping hand.

"If you just want a master's degree, if you can get into a normal life, you can make a new start, even if it's close to school. There are so many girls in the family who go to a college to work and get married. , You are also very happy, your education is already so high, why can't you be happy?" His father's comfort, "getting through" He Yaqing.

In order to get out of the whirlpool of self-consumption, in order to make up for everything she has missed, she has to "go ashore" first, no matter what kind of school.

　　"Only after obtaining the 'Shuangfei' postgraduate degree, can I have the opportunity to make up for the regret of not having a postgraduate degree in 985." He Yaqing realized that it is important to give himself a start.

Abandoned after "reverse" landing

　　After the "reverse" landing, some people chose to give up in the face of the huge gap.

Li Yan, who graduated from a 211 university in Shanghai with a bachelor's degree, was persuaded by his family to transfer to Hebei University to study communication after his failure in communication during World War II.

However, one month after entering the school, she decided to drop out and retake the postgraduate entrance examination that year.

　　There are still two months before the exam. Li Yan chose to apply for the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, which is rated as A in the subject of communication.

She tried the adjustment again, and after receiving the re-examination notices from Xinjiang University, Lanzhou University and other schools successively, Li Yan still felt "unsatisfactory" and voluntarily gave up all the adjustment.

　　In Li Yan's view, both Zhongchuan and Huake are higher-level schools that she can go to. She believes that the improvement of the school's level can help her resist the pressure of employment and work on better and higher platforms in the future.

　　"Even if I stayed at that time, I would have to spend a long time and energy to make up for the gap with my original expectations, and the gap with my undergraduate school location and level, then my three years will be in a depression for a long time. The state of our aspirations, maybe the results obtained at the end of graduation are still unsatisfactory, so it is better to leave as soon as possible.” Li Yan said.

　　Li Yan left completely.

After the third failure of the postgraduate entrance examination, she chose to use her work to heal the ups and downs in the postgraduate entrance examination. "I have invested two or three years in the postgraduate entrance examination, and I can't accept a reluctant result. So I can't reach my own. I went to work and gave up everything related to the postgraduate entrance examination." With a heart tempered by setbacks, Li Yan joined a manufacturing-related company.

After working, Li Yan quickly became strong and found his own value in his work.

She said: "The postgraduate entrance examination has almost wiped out my interest in this subject. Occasional contact with news-related places at work has allowed me to develop some of my interests and strengths. Then I will do my daily work. Enough."

Reconciliation with prestigious school

　　Facing the start of school, He Yaqing was a little anxious, "There will be no classes in the last year of my senior year. After all, I haven't taken a serious class for almost two or three years. I'm really worried about whether I can keep up. She was still dissatisfied with her past self, and this dissatisfaction also affected her postgraduate experience. She did not feel a sense of belonging to the new university. She felt that it was just a "place to provide academic qualifications."

　　"I heard some people talk about our class having 3 undergraduate 985 and 5 undergraduate 211 students, but neither of us can tell each other where they are from, and some people say that I will pretend not to hear." He Yaqing is careful to avoid When it comes to her undergraduate degree, she will only tell the truth when filling in the materials, and she decides to keep silent in all conversations.

When it comes to "reversal", she is still somewhat conflicted, "I know that the intensity of the conflict is gradually fading, and I'm still not sure when it will be reconciled."

　　After studying at Hunan Technology and Business University for more than a month, when he saw that the undergraduate 985 students were still struggling with the schools to apply for the "Three Wars" postgraduate entrance examination, He Yaqing felt that if he went to the "Three Wars", he might be driven into the darker conditions.

At this time, she was thankful for it, "No matter what kind of 'shore' this is, I'm already on the shore now."

　　In the new campus, He Yaqing gradually regained her life status. She was surprised to find that compared with her undergraduate teachers, the teachers here teach more basic and meticulous; there are more study rooms and drinking water. , private bathroom and other more convenient living facilities, which made her postgraduate life a surprise of "another village".

　　Driven by her interest, Chen Hao's enthusiasm for learning was stimulated, and she automatically ignored the gaps in hardware and platform resources in the schools where the undergraduate and master's degrees are located.

Her thoughts are simple and pure, "I can finally learn mathematics. It seems that because of this, I think the current school is very good, the teachers are very good, the classmates are very good, everything is very good." She thinks that she has done a good job. Be prepared to make up for what she's missed all these years with math.

　　Chen Hao still has contacts with her undergraduate classmates. Although everyone is going in different life directions and progressing differently, she is not anxious. "Later, I found out that everyone has their own difficulties. They are worried about graduation, worry about writing papers, and worry about being a graduate student. Laying off staff and being squeezed by the boss, I have an easier time because of the lag. I just need to learn to understand the mathematics course. I have just started, and there are still many possibilities." According to Chen Hao, even if the "double non" master's degree may make Her future plans for a Ph.D. study are uneven, but without such a choice, she may never have the chance to become a PhD in mathematics.

　　After losing her status as a prestigious school that used to be the capital of pride, Chen Hao was not depressed. She asked instead, "Why should I let go of my pride? I have always been very proud. Isn't it worth being proud to be able to learn a major that I like?"

　　Yuan Meng also incorporated the Ph.D. into his life plan. When he was an undergraduate student at Renmin University, he never imagined that he wanted to become a Ph.D. in Journalism and Communication. Education.

　　Before the graduate school started, Yuan Meng parted with several of his close friends in front of a subway station in Beijing. He described it as "the last supper": he immediately left Beijing, where he had lived for more than 20 years, and went to Hebei. Baoding to study; friends go north, and he will go south alone.

His friends at the National People's Congress are still paying close attention to his movements, contacting the teachers for him and passing on the latest news of the college. They agreed to study at the National People's Congress for a Ph.D.

For this agreement, Yuan Mengde worked harder, "In the current situation where the school level is really low, you can only pick up the opportunities left by others, and you have to work harder to accomplish what others can easily do. I am no longer in the National People's Congress, and I have to overcome many obstacles."

　　Now, Yuan Meng no longer misses his status as an undergraduate student of Renmin University. He persuades himself that he is no longer proud of his past identity, but at the same time, he is looking forward to returning to the familiar campus of Renmin University.

　　(At the request of the respondents, all respondents in this article are pseudonyms)

　　(The Paper reporter Chen Xuhou, intern Zhang Ling, The Paper)