Core Viewpoint - The new college entrance examination policy in Henan province introduces the "college major group" system, allowing students to fill in parallel volunteer applications for their preferred colleges and majors, enhancing their chances of admission and aligning their interests with their chosen fields of study [2][3][4]. Group 1: Understanding the "College Major Group" - The "college major group" is a new system that allows students to select a college and a corresponding group of majors based on their chosen subjects, differing from the previous model where students selected a college first and then a major [2]. - Each college can set up multiple "college major groups," each containing various majors that share the same subject requirements, which aims to improve students' satisfaction with their chosen majors [2][3]. Group 2: Filling in the "College Major Group" Applications - Students should carefully analyze the subject requirements of their target colleges to ensure compatibility with their chosen subjects, as different colleges may have varying requirements for the same major [3][4]. - It is recommended that students adopt a "reach, stable, and safety" strategy when selecting their college major groups to maximize their chances of admission while minimizing the risk of being rejected [4]. Group 3: New Opportunities and Challenges - The new policy allows each student to fill in 48 college major group applications, with the ability to select 6 majors within each group, significantly increasing their options [5]. - The Ministry of Education has introduced 29 new undergraduate majors, including fields like artificial intelligence and digital governance, providing students with more contemporary and interdisciplinary choices [5][6]. Group 4: Parental Guidance and Student Autonomy - Experts emphasize the importance of students choosing majors based on their interests and abilities rather than following trends, advising parents to support their children's decisions without imposing their preferences [6]. - The decision-making process regarding college applications should primarily rest with the students, as their interests are crucial for their academic success and future career prospects [6]. Group 5: Utilizing Historical Admission Data - Historical admission data can provide insights into the competitiveness of colleges and majors, helping students make informed decisions about their applications [8]. - Students are advised to analyze past admission trends to gauge the potential admission cut-off lines for their chosen college major groups, ensuring they select options that align with their scores [8]. Group 6: Practical Steps for Application Preparation - Students should familiarize themselves with the new examination policies and the specific admission guidelines of their target colleges to ensure a well-informed application process [9][10]. - A structured approach to selecting colleges and majors, including understanding the relationship between majors and career paths, is essential for making effective choices [10][11].

Group 1 - The article discusses the importance of understanding the college admission process and the specific policies related to filling out college application forms in Beijing [1][2] - It highlights the "expert guidance in campus" initiative organized by the Beijing Education Examination Institute to train teachers and parents on the college application process [1][7] - The article emphasizes the significance of filling out multiple choices within the same college major group to increase the chances of admission [2][4] Group 2 - The article explains the structure of college applications in Beijing, which uses college major groups as the basic unit for application and admission [2][3] - It outlines the timeline for the college application process, including key dates for score release and application submission [1][2] - The article advises students to understand their scores and rankings, and to consider historical admission data when selecting colleges and majors [3][4] Group 3 - The article introduces the concept of "two bases and one reference" for students to effectively fill out their applications, which includes understanding their scores and historical admission statistics [4][5] - It stresses the need for students to have a clear understanding of their interests and future career plans when choosing majors [5][6] - The article mentions that the expert guidance initiative will expand to more schools, providing comprehensive support for teachers and students [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the changes in the college entrance examination (Gaokao) application process in China, particularly the implementation of the new examination reform in various provinces, which allows for greater flexibility and choice for students in selecting their preferred universities and majors [2][8]. Group 1: New Examination Reform - The new Gaokao reform has been implemented in 29 provinces, with 8 provinces adopting it in 2025, introducing a parallel application model that significantly increases the number of choices for students [2][8]. - The parallel application model allows students to apply for both universities and specific majors, enhancing the alignment between students' interests and their chosen fields of study [2][8]. Group 2: Application Models - There are two main application models: parallel application and sequential application. The parallel model follows a "score priority, following the application" principle, while the sequential model emphasizes "application priority, following the score" [4][5]. - The parallel application model reduces the risk of "sliding" (not being admitted to any university), as students have multiple opportunities to be accepted based on their scores [6][8]. Group 3: Application Strategies - Experts suggest that students should prioritize applying to universities over specific majors, as employers often value the institution more than the major itself [14]. - The article highlights the importance of balancing the choice of university and major, with recommendations for students to consider their career prospects and the relevance of their chosen fields to emerging industries [15][16].

Core Viewpoint - The new college entrance examination in Henan province introduces changes in the admission policies for art majors, including the categorization of programs and the structure of admission batches [1][2] Group 1: Admission Categories - The art major admissions in Henan will be divided into seven categories: music, dance, performance, broadcasting and hosting, fine arts and design, calligraphy, and traditional opera [1] - Traditional opera will be implemented through inter-provincial examinations, while other categories will have provincial-level professional examinations [1] Group 2: Admission Batches and Volunteer Options - The admission process will follow a sequence of early batch, undergraduate batch, and vocational (specialized) batch [1] - The early batch for art undergraduates includes institutions and programs that use school examination results, while the undergraduate batch includes those that use provincial examination results [1] Group 3: Volunteer Application Structure - The number of volunteer options has been expanded, with the early batch allowing for 1 institution choice, 4 program choices, and an option for professional adjustment [2] - Both the undergraduate and vocational batches will implement parallel volunteer options, each allowing for 64 "program + institution" choices without professional adjustment options [2] Group 4: Scoring and Admission Rules - The comprehensive score calculation for art students differs between undergraduate and vocational levels, with five methods available for undergraduate admissions based on the weighting of cultural and professional scores [2] - For vocational level admissions, the comprehensive score will be calculated as 50% cultural score and 50% professional score [2]