"Medical School Quota Increased by 1,000, Average Score Drops by 0.8 Points"… Major Changes Expected in Medical School Admissions

Jongno Academy Analysis Data
"48% Chance of Entering SKY General Departments"
Ministry of Education "No Decision Made on Quota Size"

As the government is expected to begin discussions on expanding medical school admission quotas as early as next week, it is predicted that the average scores required for eligibility will decrease and the range of general university departments will broaden depending on the scale of the medical school admission quota.

According to data analyzed by Jongro Academy on the 23rd, the nationwide average eligibility score for medical school applications in the 2023 academic year, based on the average of three subjects?Korean, Math, and Inquiry?is 95.3 points. Jongro Academy anticipated that if the medical school admission quota increases by 1,000 students, the average score would drop by about 0.8 points from 95.3 to 94.5. If increased by 3,000 students, it is expected to fall by about 1.8 points to 93.5.

Based on the 2023 academic year, among 91 natural science departments at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University (SKY), excluding medical and pharmaceutical fields, 26 departments (28.6%) currently qualify for medical school applications. Jongro Academy analyzed that if the medical school admission quota increases by 1,000, 44 departments (48.4%) at SKY universities would become eligible for medical school applications under current standards. If increased by 3,000, 73 departments, accounting for 80.2%, would qualify.

Similarly, at Sungkyunkwan University, Sogang University, and Hanyang University, the current eligibility for medical school applications is 3 departments (6.7%), but with an increase of 1,000 students, it would rise to 6 departments (13.3%). If increased by 3,000, it is projected to reach 16 departments (35.6%).

However, Jongro Academy explained that the range of passing scores and eligibility can be influenced by complex variables such as the number of early and regular admissions, and regional talent selection methods, so a cautious approach is necessary.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, the Ministry of Education stated that no decisions have been made yet regarding the scale and allocation method of medical school quota increases. In a regular briefing back briefing, the Ministry said, "The Ministry of Education is actively collecting opinions from the medical community and the public and is waiting for a decision on the overall scale of medical school quotas," adding, "It is a matter to be decided in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare."

Amid these anticipated changes, the number of 'bansu-saeng'?students retaking the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) while enrolled in university?has reached an all-time high in the academy sector. According to data analyzed by Jongro Academy the previous day, the number of bansu-saeng among 2024 CSAT test takers is expected to approach 90,000. This estimate was made based on the difference between the number of repeat test takers registered for the June mock exam and those registered for the CSAT. Bansu-saeng typically do not take the June mock exam as they generally cannot take a leave of absence for the first semester.

According to the analysis, this year’s bansu-saeng account for nearly 50.4% of the 177,942 graduates registered for the CSAT. This is an increase of 9,526 compared to 81,116 in the 2023 academic year.

With the recent surge in interest in medical schools, it is presumed that top-tier universities’ students are retaking the exam to enter medical schools, while students from mid- to lower-tier universities are retaking to transfer to general departments at higher-tier universities. Jongro Academy stated, "If the medical school admission quota expands in the future, the number of bansu-saeng is expected to increase further," adding, "The number of dropouts from four-year universities may also rise, potentially exceeding 100,000 students who leave mid-course."

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