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Young need better advice

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-26 07:44

Colleges should do more to help students choose majors and apply for schools, says an article in Dazhong Daily. The following is an excerpt:

In recent days, students and their parents are much concerned about how to apply for colleges after the release of the national college entrance examination scores. A latest survey showed that the supply of several popular college majors all exceed the demand of the market and in each of the three popular majors - computer science, law and English language. Nine out of 10 majors that have the largest number of jobless graduates are the so-called popular majors. The excessive supply of popular major graduates has led to their low employment rate. It might be a tip for those parents and students who are busy now applying for colleges.

Those who have ever entered colleges know that one's interest and hobby may not tally with his or her major. People who have work experience may understand that it is more important to choose a major that is in accord with one's own interest and personal development than to study in a renowned university with a major one does not like.

Students have little experience in choosing majors, not to mention career planning. In addition, many colleges prohibit the transfer of majors after the students enter their colleges and thus for the majority of students, the major they choose before entering college may decide the direction of their career in the future.

It is commonly believed that colleges cannot match the major and the enrollment with the rapid economic growth and therefore the higher education cannot meet the needs of the market demand. That is why graduates in popular majors are not in demand in the market. If some entities concerned can help students choose majors, it will prevent students from applying for the same hot majors.

It is also important to build an effective information platform to help students choose their majors.

(China Daily 06/26/2008 page8)