Competition Rates Rise for Early Admission at 15 Seoul Universities... Pharmacy Schools Strong, National Universities Also Increasing

Average Competition Rate for 15 Major Seoul Universities 18.49:1
Competition Rate Increased from Last Year (16.37:1)
Pharmacy College Competition Rate Highest Ever Among Medical Fields
Sungkyunkwan University Pharmacy Department Essay Competition Rate 666.4:1
Teacher's College Early Admission Average Competition Rate 5.81:1

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The average competition rate for early admission at 15 major universities in Seoul rose to 18.49 to 1, up from last year. Pharmacy schools recorded overwhelming competition rates even within the medical field, and education universities also saw higher competition rates compared to last year.

According to Jongno Academy on the 14th, the average competition rate for early admission at 15 universities in Seoul (Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University, Korea University, Dongguk University, Sogang University, Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Sungkyunkwan University, Sookmyung Women's University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hanyang University, Hongik University) for the 2022 academic year was 18.49 to 1, up from 16.37 to 1 last year.

This is due to a 10.9% (3,707) decrease in the number of early admission spots at the 15 universities compared to last year, and a 2.0% (8,623) increase in the number of high school seniors compared to last year.

Dongguk University, which closed applications on the 14th, had an early admission competition rate of 23.10 to 1, up from 19.91 to 1 last year. The highest competition rate was in the essay-based admission for the Department of Pharmacy, which had 3,501 applicants for 6 spots, closing at 583.50 to 1.

Konkuk University also recorded 24.31 to 1, up from 19.97 to 1 last year. The highest competition rate was in the essay-based admission for the Department of Veterinary Medicine, which attracted 2,244 applicants for 9 spots, recording 249.33 to 1.

Chung-Ang University’s overall early admission competition rate slightly increased to 22.24 from 20.93 to 1 last year. The essay-based admission for the College of Medicine had 3,499 applicants for 18 spots, closing at 194.39 to 1, and the College of Pharmacy had 2,945 applicants for 20 spots, closing at 147.25 to 1.

The competition rate for pharmacy schools achieved the highest record ever among medical-related fields. As of 6 p.m. on the day, Sungkyunkwan University’s essay-based admission for the Department of Pharmacy recorded 666.4 to 1. This is higher than the 487.8 to 1 competition rate for the essay-based admission in the Department of Medicine at Inha University in 2021. Additionally, Dongguk University’s essay-based admission for the Department of Pharmacy recorded 583.5 to 1, and Kyung Hee University’s essay-based admission for the Department of Pharmacy recorded 431.6 to 1.

The highest early admission competition rate for medical schools was at Ajou University’s essay-based admission for the Department of Medicine, with 468.6 to 1 (as of 6 p.m.). Inha University’s essay-based admission for the Department of Medicine was the second highest at 486.5 to 1.

Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, explained, "Although the pharmacy schools’ early admission competition rates achieved the highest ever among medical-related fields, the preference for medical schools remained strong despite the introduction of the pharmacy undergraduate system. It is estimated that many top-tier science students who are retaking the exam or taking a gap year applied to pharmacy and medicine essay-based admissions."

The overall average competition rate for early admission at 10 national education universities nationwide rose to 5.81 to 1, up from 4.91 to 1 last year. Except for Gwangju National University of Education and Daegu National University of Education, competition rates increased at 8 universities including Gyeongin National University of Education and Seoul National University of Education. Despite the decline in the school-age population, the preference for education universities as professional careers continues.

The competition rates for early admission at regional flagship national universities also generally increased. This is due to the expansion of regional talent admissions in the medical field and the abolition of self-introduction letters in comprehensive student record screening. Kyungpook National University and Pusan National University saw a significant increase in applicants for essay-based admissions. The average competition rate for 9 universities was 9.32 to 1, slightly up from 7.94 to 1 last year.

The Ministry of Education’s 'University Basic Competency Diagnosis' evaluation results showed that the average competition rate for early admission at universities that failed to qualify for general financial support slightly declined compared to last year. The average competition rate for 23 universities was 6.1 to 1, down from 7.4 to 1 last year.

Inha University recorded 14.27 to 1, slightly lower than 14.8 to 1 last year, and Sungshin Women’s University recorded 10.5 to 1 as of 4 p.m., down from 12.9 to 1 last year.

Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy and Haneul Education, explained, "Universities like Sungshin Women’s University and Inha University, which are not financially strained, actively responded along with their alumni, which helped them hold their ground in competition rates. It seems that the atmosphere created among examinees that the schools will make more efforts prevented a sharp drop in competition rates."

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