[2021 Early Admission Special] Selecting 77% of Total Quota... Application Opens from the 23rd

Better Student Record Grades Favor Early Admission
Should Apply Above Regular Admission Cutoff

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The early admission process, which selects 7 out of 10 freshmen for the 2021 academic year, is about to begin. Each university will accept applications from the 23rd to the 28th of this month. This year’s early admission consists of 42.3% student record-based (curriculum), 24.8% student record-based (comprehensive), 3.2% essay-based, 5.4% practical skills, and 1.3% others, accounting for 77% of the total recruitment. Admission experts agree that since the proportion of early admission is larger than regular admission and the acceptance rate of current high school seniors is higher, active and strategic application is necessary.

First, compare your student record grades with your mock exam results. Generally, if your student record grades are better than your CSAT mock exam scores, you should apply through early admission; if the opposite, then plan your regular admission strategy. Regular admission mostly selects students based on the CSAT, so each university has clear criteria. Based on this, you should look for universities where you have a chance to apply through regular admission.

Next, rather than applying to universities within the range where you can be accepted through regular admission, look for higher-tier universities. Since you cannot participate in regular admission if you are accepted through early admission, there is no need to apply to lower-tier universities. Choose two safe universities where you are likely to be accepted, and then apply to one or two ambitious choices. Even if you focus on regular admission, current students have a higher acceptance rate in early admission, so applying is advantageous.

Once you have decided on your desired universities, it is essential to review each university’s early admission guidelines before submitting your application. You should prepare your application for the university that is most advantageous to you by checking the evaluation criteria, the weight of each factor, and whether the university conducts additional tests. Early admission guidelines can be checked by anyone through the admissions office section on each university’s website.

Many Changes in Schedule Due to COVID-19
Checking Dates for Essays and Interviews is Essential
Pre-filling Applications Reduces Mistakes

This year, many universities have changed their admission schedules due to the impact of COVID-19. The comprehensive student record admission includes self-introduction letters, and some universities have essay tests, interviews, or aptitude tests, so it is crucial to check the dates to avoid overlaps. Conversely, due to COVID-19, exams may be divided into morning and afternoon sessions, so even if held on the same day, the times may differ. Therefore, carefully check and fill out your application accordingly.

You can also check major university-specific details related to early admission through the university admission information portal “Eodiga,” operated by the Korea Council for University Education. You can review last year’s admission results, diagnose universities you can apply to through the grade calculation service, and receive online or phone consultations.

Filling out the common application form and common self-introduction letter before the early admission application period helps avoid errors on the final submission day. After registering as an integrated member through one application agency, check in advance whether you can access the agency’s site without issues, then complete the common application and self-introduction letter. Once completed, these can be reused and edited when applying to multiple universities. Online admission briefings are held by specialized institutions such as Megastudy, Uway, Etoos Education, and Jongro Academy Haneul Education, which are useful resources. Applicants are given a total of six opportunities to apply through early admission.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.