Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing trend of students lowering their expectations for graduate school admissions due to the competitive nature of the exam and the job market, leading to a phenomenon known as "downgrade graduate school" [4][9][25]. Group 1: Trends in Graduate School Admissions - The number of graduate school applicants has been rising rapidly since 2017, with annual growth rates exceeding 10% over the past five years [5]. - By 2019, the admission scores for popular majors and schools had increased significantly, with some scores rising by 15 points compared to the previous year [5]. - Despite the expansion of graduate programs, the admission rate has not kept pace, with only one in three to four applicants successfully gaining admission [7]. Group 2: Student Strategies and Choices - Students are increasingly adopting conservative strategies in their school selection, often choosing lower-tier institutions to ensure admission [9][10]. - There is a trend where students aiming for "good employment" majors are forced to apply to less prestigious schools in less desirable regions [10]. - Many students are prioritizing practical, high-employment majors over prestigious institutions, reflecting a shift in perception regarding the value of school reputation [10][11]. Group 3: Psychological and Social Factors - The pressure to gain admission to graduate school has created a "must succeed" mentality among students, leading to a collective anxiety about academic performance and future prospects [8][12]. - Social media has amplified this pressure, with many students seeking validation and support from peers in similar situations [13][14]. - The concept of "sunk cost" is prevalent among students, where repeated attempts at graduate school create a psychological barrier to abandoning the pursuit [19]. Group 4: Employment Market Dynamics - The job market increasingly favors candidates with graduate degrees, but this trend is shifting as employers begin to prioritize undergraduate credentials over graduate degrees from less prestigious institutions [22][23]. - There is a growing realization among students that obtaining a master's degree may not guarantee better job prospects, leading to a reconsideration of the value of pursuing further education [25]. - Many students are now recognizing that entering the workforce directly may be a more viable path than pursuing a graduate degree, especially when faced with the realities of the job market [25].