考研热 The Craze of Pursuing Graduate Studies

Each year, millions of Chinese college students sit for qualifying examinations for graduate studies, primarily in Master's programs. Students prepare for those examinations either through years of arduous self-education or by spending large sums of money attending local training schools. The publishing of examinations-related study materials and the training programs offered, both online and offline, have bined to form a sizable industry.

每年，数以百万计的中国大学生参加研究生入学资格考试，主要是攻读硕士学位课程。学生们要么通过数年艰辛的自学，要么通过花上不菲的一笔钱参加当地培训学校的课程，来准备这些资格考试。与考试相关的学习材料的出版，以及网上和网下所提供的培训课程，一起构成了一个规模可观的产业。

An alarming fact about this craze is that most students pursue graduate studies not out of their voluntary petitiveness in future job hunting.

关于这股热潮，一个触目惊心的事实是，大多数学生并不是出于他们自主的意愿而去追求研究生阶段的学习的。面对着就业市场上严峻的现实，看着雇主们永远将目光投向那些学历更高的毕业生，许多大学生发现，进入研究生院去攻读硕士学位不失为一个良策，一方面避免了失业，另一方面可以提升未来求职过程中的竞争力。

Hopetitive edges, two or three years of additional academic training is simply a waste of time and energy. They need to reflect on this craze and would have been better off distinguishing themselves with outstanding knowledge and skills when they were undergraduates.

一个令人心寒的事实真相是，学生们很快就会发现，他们的期望纯粹是一种幻想。由于本科之后继续读研的学生如此之众，就业形势一如既往地严峻。二至三年额外的学术训练没能给学生带来显著的竞争优势，而是令他们白白地浪费了时光与精力，大学生们有必要对此热潮展开反思。如果他们早在本科期间就以优异的学识与能力脱颖而出的话，他们的处境肯定会来的好得多。