To Study Chinese at NCKU or Electrical Engineering at Yuan Ze? Insiders Advise on 'Exam Application Strategy': Only If Your Family Is Wealthy

When filling out university applications, should students prioritize university reputation, personal interest, or future career prospects? A student recently scored a perfect 15-level in the Chinese section of Taiwan’s university entrance exam but performed poorly in subject-specific tests. They are now torn between applying to National Cheng Kung University’s (NCKU) Department of Chinese Literature or Yuan Ze University’s Department of Electrical Engineering. They’re even considering entering NCKU first and then attempting to transfer into industrial and information management or electrical and computer engineering programs. This post has triggered widespread discussion online.

In response, the fan page 'Tech Job N Talk' offered balanced advice, while numerous alumni commented urging caution. Many argued that 'career paths after studying Chinese literature in Taiwan are extremely limited,' with some bluntly stating, 'Immediately choose Yuan Ze’s Electrical Engineering—Chinese Literature is only for those whose families are wealthy.'

A netizen shared on Threads that they achieved a level 15 in the Chinese subject of the entrance exam but had disappointing results in subject exams. They're unsure whether to apply to NCKU’s Chinese Literature program and later consider transferring to Industrial and Information Management, or directly choose Yuan Ze’s Electrical Engineering for broader future career options.

Is there no financial future in studying humanities at top universities? Alumni reveal a harsh truth: Even the bottom 10% of science/engineering students fare better than 90% of humanities graduates.

'Tech Job N Talk' emphasized that students should pursue subjects they are genuinely interested in, rather than choosing Chinese Literature simply because they scored well in Chinese, calling it a 'waste not to use the score.' They advised against blindly following others’ opinions and urged careful self-assessment of future career paths. Upon inquiry, the student admitted poor performance in physics and chemistry, contributing to their hesitation. However, there may be other suitable options beyond these two. Transferring departments is possible but not necessarily easier than initial application—it remains a challenging route.

The post ignited heated online debate. Many alumni warned, 'Don’t study Chinese Literature, don’t choose humanities—bottom 10% of science students still live better than 90% of humanities students.' Others countered, 'If you're good at Chinese, consider law,' 'Studying electrical engineering without physics foundation will be painful,' and 'If you’re rich, you can freely choose; if not, go for science.'

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