"Admitted but Not Going" 3 out of 10 SKY Admittees... Highest in 5 Years

"Medical School Concentration and Liberal Arts Invasion Are the Causes"

Among the 10 students admitted through the regular admissions of Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University for the 2023 academic year, 3 students gave up their enrollment. This is the highest level in the past five years. Admissions experts cited the 'medical school concentration' and 'liberal arts invasion' as the main causes.

According to an analysis by Jongno Academy of the initial enrollment dropout statistics for the 2023 academic year regular admissions at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University, a total of 1,343 students did not enroll. The regular admission quota for the three universities last year was 4,660, meaning 28.8% of admitted students gave up their enrollment.

The highest number of enrollment dropouts was at Yonsei University with 643 students (38.5%), followed by Korea University with 545 students (33.2%), and Seoul National University with 155 students (11.5%). Compared to the previous year, Seoul National University saw a decrease of 47 students, while Korea University and Yonsei University increased by 84 and 5 students, respectively.

While the number of enrollment dropouts at top universities increased, the number of medical school enrollment dropouts showed the opposite trend. The number of medical school admission dropouts in the regular admissions of Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University were 26 in 2019, 15 in 2020, 13 in 2021, 16 in 2022, and 12 in 2023. Notably, Seoul National University’s medical school had no regular admission dropouts in the past five years.

Among the three universities, the departments with the highest enrollment dropout rates in the 2023 regular admissions were Seoul National University’s College of Nursing (48.1%) in the natural sciences, Yonsei University’s Department of System Semiconductor Engineering (130.0%), and Korea University’s Computer Science (91.2%). In the humanities, the rates were Seoul National University’s Division of Liberal Studies (36.7%), Yonsei University’s Business School (79.1%), and Korea University’s Business School (69.7%).

Parents are listening to the instructor's explanation at the Jongno Academy Student Support Strategy Seminar.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Since the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) changed to an integrated humanities and sciences format in the 2022 academic year, the dropout rate among humanities admitted students has increased significantly. Jongno Academy predicted that with the increase in recruitment numbers at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University this year and the ongoing medical school concentration, the number of students with multiple admissions could increase further in the ongoing 2024 regular admissions. From the examinees’ perspective, this means more opportunities for additional admissions.

Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, advised, "This year, the number of enrollment dropouts in major university regular admissions may increase compared to last year. Students should check in advance how each university announces additional admissions, the registration process, and the deadline."

The deadline for announcing the initial successful candidates for four-year universities’ regular admissions is July 7. Initial successful candidates must register by July 13, and additional successful candidates to fill vacancies from enrollment dropouts will be announced from July 14 to 20.

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