Summary of Key Points
This news article focuses on the costs and outcomes associated with graduates' final projects (graduation theses), revealing significant differences in the investment made by students from various majors—ranging from several thousand to over a hundred thousand yuan. Graduation theses have become a high-risk gamble: some use them to earn their first fortune and gain entry into the industry, while others invest heavily only to lose everything, even missing out on campus recruitment opportunities. This situation reflects the pressures of the job market as well as students' complex attitudes towards these projects, which are both graduation requirements and a stepping stone to the future.
Why Have Graduation Theses Become a High-Risk Gamble?
Graduation theses are no longer mere course assignments; they have become bets on students' future prospects.
- Large Investment Variations: Students in creative design majors may spend four to five thousand yuan (plus additional expenses of less than ten thousand), while those in broadcasting and film studies could spend over a hundred thousand yuan in total. Some even borrow money through platforms like Huabei (a Chinese microfinance service) and are still paying off debts after graduation.
- Uncertain Returns: For the successful ones, their projects may be purchased by clothing companies or their intellectual property rights signed, resulting in returns that quintuple their initial investment, along with opportunities to work with top advertising firms. In contrast, those who fail may spend tens of thousands on short films that only make it to small film festivals, providing no real benefits and essentially amounting to a loss of "tuition money".
- Risk Affects the Future: Failure not only means losing money but also potentially missing out on spring and autumn recruitment periods. Success, however, can lead to direct industry opportunities and even career changes.
What Is Needed to Win the “Gamble” of a Graduation Thesis?
Success relies on a combination of several factors:
- High-Quality Work: Yang Yunshu's thesis from the Central Academy of Fine Arts won a gold award due to its quality, which attracted publishers. The theme of her thesis, focusing on the Qingtian fish lantern cultural heritage, met both academic and market demands.
- Strong Platforms: Graduation exhibitions at prestigious art schools generate traffic and industry attention (Yang Yunshu's booth was approached by clothing and IP companies, and her work was discovered by editors through the exhibition).
- Luck and Connections: Yang Yunshu had editors who appreciated her work, and her video went viral during crowdfunding; Yu Zhi gained unexpected attention on social media.
- Understanding Market Needs: Yu Zhi added merchandise (such as fridge magnets and keychains) to meet consumer demands, and her project was suitable for commercial use by a clothing company because it fit the business context.
Common Pitfalls in Graduation Theses
Many students face problems despite their investments:
- Budget Overruns: Inexperienced production teams encounter issues like unexpected expenses, equipment delays, and hotel changes, leading to budget overspending. Students using professional equipment for the first time often fail to plan properly and end up spending more.
- Conflicts Between School and Market Standards: Some projects are criticized due to their style or content (for example, Yan Jinqi's thesis was deemed ideologically problematic). The dilemma between commercial and academic goals arises when students try to sell merchandise.
- Limited Awareness: Students realize that their abilities and understanding are limited, and the high cost of certain projects (like films) may be unnecessary (as seen with Yu Zhi’s project, which she later deemed too childish).
Why Are Students Willing to Take This Risk?
The essence of this situation is the pressure from the job market:
- High Industry Barriers: Industries like film and design value students' work, making graduation theses a crucial tool for showing their capabilities. Many students see it as their last chance to establish themselves in the industry.
- Limited Campus Recruitment Opportunities: Investing heavily in a thesis may mean missing out on early job opportunities, but not investing could result in having no projects to showcase. Yan Jinqi had to switch to media photography due to the shrinking industry.
- Anxious Decision-Making: Even with jobs, students are anxious about layoffs and seek to use their thesis experience to transition careers. Yu Zhi wants to pursue another thesis after graduate studies to stay in the film industry.
This news highlights how graduation theses have evolved beyond being mere graduation requirements to become a high-stakes gamble for students facing employment challenges. The root of this phenomenon lies in the competitive job market and the anxiety surrounding employment.