"Should I Aim for Medical School by Retaking?"... Increase in Dropouts and Leaves of Absence Among Seoul National University Freshmen

Increased Leave of Absence and Dropout Rates in College of Education
Education Sector "Presumed Advancement to STEM and Medical Schools"

This year, 418 new students at Seoul National University applied for a leave of absence, marking the highest number in the past five years.

In the education sector, this is interpreted as an increasing number of students aiming to enter science, technology, engineering, and medical schools.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to data received by Assemblywoman Jeong Gyeong-hee of the People Power Party from Seoul National University on the 6th, as of September 15 this year, the number of new students on leave of absence at Seoul National University was 418, approximately 2.5 times the 168 students in 2019.

In the first semester, 252 students applied for leave, and in the second semester, 166 students did so. This means that more new students disappeared from campus than the number admitted by a single college. This year, Seoul National University's College of Humanities admitted 294 students, and the College of Social Sciences admitted 383 students.

This is an increase of 2.48 times compared to 168 students five years ago in 2019. In 2020, 247 students applied for leave, 259 in 2021, and 335 last year.

The number of students who dropped out among all new students also increased 2.5 times, from 83 in 2019 to 204 last year.

In the education sector, it is seen that students who previously switched from science to liberal arts are returning to science, and the phenomenon of concentration in medical schools is intensifying.

Some view the departure from humanities and social science departments as an invasion of liberal arts by science students. Since science students tend to score higher in mathematics than liberal arts students, the number of science students admitted to liberal arts departments at universities like Seoul National University has increased.

According to data from Assemblywoman Jeong Gyeong-hee's office, 44.4% of the regular admission initial successful candidates in humanities and social sciences at Seoul National University last year were science students, and it is interpreted that these students challenge medical schools again after enrollment.

Among the students on leave in 2023, 58 were from the College of Humanities and the College of Social Sciences, an increase of 10 from 48 the previous year. The number of dropouts in the College of Humanities increased from 2 in 2019 to 10 last year, and those on leave increased from 5 to 26. This year, 26 students applied for leave by September.

In the College of Social Sciences, the number of dropouts among new students increased from 3 in 2019 to 9 last year, and those on leave increased from 17 in 2019 to 22 last year. This year, the number is 32 as of September.

The number of students on leave in the College of Engineering increased significantly from 68 last year to 117 this year.

At Seoul National University's College of Education, the number of new students on leave and dropouts also increased. The number of dropouts and students on leave in the College of Education was 10 and 20 respectively in 2019, but last year, dropouts rose to 26 and students on leave to 40, exceeding those in the College of Natural Sciences (22 dropouts, 32 on leave).

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