Core Insights - The number of candidates registered for the national college entrance examination (Gaokao) in 2025 has exceeded 13.35 million, marking a historical high, which presents unprecedented challenges for students and parents [1] - The implementation of new Gaokao reforms across 29 provinces has shifted the admissions model towards a more complex strategy involving "institutional major groups" or "major + institution," making the application process more about information and strategy rather than just scores [1] - The rapid development of technology and industry changes significantly influence students' choice of majors and future employment directions, highlighting the need for effective decision-making tools [1] Group 1: Volunteer Application Tools - The "Sunshine Volunteer" application, backed by official data from the Ministry of Education and universities, offers a comprehensive and practical interface for students to navigate the application process [2][3] - Users can receive personalized recommendations based on key metrics such as exam scores and rankings through features like "intelligent screening" and "major inclination assessment" [2][3] - Despite its advantages, users have reported issues with the system's recommendation accuracy and adaptability to new Gaokao rules, indicating areas for improvement [4] Group 2: High School Volunteer Tools - "Gaokao Paper Kite" is a lightweight application that allows users to search for information easily, providing a conversational interface for inquiries [5][8] - The application emphasizes a free and convenient approach, catering to users who need quick answers and initial guidance [9] - "Quark" offers a detailed input process for user preferences, enabling more precise recommendations based on individual goals and strategies [11][14] - "Quark" has a large user base, having served over 120 million candidates and parents, indicating its popularity and relevance in the market [24] Group 3: Paid Applications - "Youzhiyuan" provides advanced features such as AI-driven recommendations and risk analysis for college applications, enhancing user experience [35][39] - The application introduces a unique "major group purity" metric to help users minimize the risk of being assigned to less desirable majors [39] - "Reliable AI" claims a significant improvement in prediction accuracy for college admissions, utilizing extensive data analysis to enhance user decision-making [41][44] Group 4: Market Trends and User Needs - The increasing number of candidates and the complexity of new Gaokao reforms necessitate the continuous evolution of volunteer application tools to meet diverse user needs [24][47] - The tools range from free applications to paid services, catering to various levels of user requirements, from basic information to in-depth personalized guidance [47] - Ultimately, the effectiveness of these tools relies on the candidates' ability to integrate the information provided with their personal aspirations and circumstances [47]