Chinese high school graduates are increasingly shifting their sights towards police and military academies and other institutions that offer a clear path to public-sector jobs, as a prolonged economic slowdown reshapes young people’s career aspirations.
Admission scores needed for some of these institutions have jumped — with some undergraduate courses requiring more than 650 points out of a maximum of 750 — reflecting strong demand from high-achieving students. Some of their courses are now as tough to enter as the least competitive subjects at top-tier universities.