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Challenges of traditional-age potential university students’ university admission decision-making processes: A study in China
Date Issued
2023
Citation
Liu, K., Dos Santos, L. M., Liu, Y., Wu, J., Chen, Y., Chen, L., Qin, X., Xiao, L., Zhao, H., Kwee, C. T. T., & Lo, H. F. (4.11.2023). Challenges of traditional-age potential university students’ university admission decision-making processes: A study in China. Re-discovering Youths Today: Identity, Subculture, Psychosocial Functioning, and Service Needs, Hong Kong Shue Yan University.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Background: Due to unforeseen economic background, many Chinese undergraduate students tend to join the government and postgraduate schools instead of the workforce. During the university-choosing process (final year at high school), many youths are motivated to study postgraduate school for personal and economic reasons.
Research Method: This study investigates why Chinese university students are so perplexed about joining postgraduate schools and research-oriented career development during their late teenage (i.e., around 18 to 19 years old). Based on literature reviews and secondary sources, such as newspapers and online forums.
Findings: Three factors are categorized: 1) information, 2) preference, and 3) strategy. The first factor is information about youth. As many youths may not have industrial backgrounds, such as the specializations of the institution they are applying to, inappropriate applications could be submitted. The second factor is the preference of parents. Parents’ preferences may not match the interests of the youth, which could harm long-term career development. The final factor is the strategy. There are various issues with the current application procedure, such as youth who had high scores but were enrolled in a worse university.
Contribution to Practice: Due to unforeseen situations, information gaps, impacts from parents, and application strategies, some students struggle with all three factors, which means confusion about employment options after graduation is almost unavoidable. The results of this study will offer some recommendations to youth, non-profit organizations, school leaders, and counselors to upgrade and polish their current counseling strategies to help youth overcome decision-making processes and challenges
Research Method: This study investigates why Chinese university students are so perplexed about joining postgraduate schools and research-oriented career development during their late teenage (i.e., around 18 to 19 years old). Based on literature reviews and secondary sources, such as newspapers and online forums.
Findings: Three factors are categorized: 1) information, 2) preference, and 3) strategy. The first factor is information about youth. As many youths may not have industrial backgrounds, such as the specializations of the institution they are applying to, inappropriate applications could be submitted. The second factor is the preference of parents. Parents’ preferences may not match the interests of the youth, which could harm long-term career development. The final factor is the strategy. There are various issues with the current application procedure, such as youth who had high scores but were enrolled in a worse university.
Contribution to Practice: Due to unforeseen situations, information gaps, impacts from parents, and application strategies, some students struggle with all three factors, which means confusion about employment options after graduation is almost unavoidable. The results of this study will offer some recommendations to youth, non-profit organizations, school leaders, and counselors to upgrade and polish their current counseling strategies to help youth overcome decision-making processes and challenges
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