SKY to Admit 58% via Early Admissions Without Minimum CSAT Requirement... 'Student Record' to Account for 62% in Regular Admissions

Jongno Academy Analyzes 2028 Admissions Trends for Seoul National, Yonsei, and Korea Universities

For the 2028 academic year, the influence of the school life record (student record) is expected to increase not only in the early admission process but also in the regular admissions for Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (collectively known as SKY universities).

On May 10, Jongno Academy analyzed that, for the 2028 academic year's early admissions, 57.8% of students admitted to these three universities will be selected without the "minimum CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test) requirement." This is an increase of 17.7 percentage points from 40.1% in the 2027 academic year. In terms of actual numbers, this means an increase of 1,534 students (59.0%), from 2,598 to 4,132.

By university, Seoul National University will admit all 2,313 students through early admissions without the minimum CSAT requirement. In the 2027 academic year, 1,502 out of 2,023 students (74.2%) were admitted without this minimum requirement.

Korea University will admit 1,258 out of 2,483 students (50.7%) without the minimum CSAT requirement, while Yonsei University will admit 561 out of 2,350 students (23.9%) under the same criteria.

In the regular admissions process, the proportion of the student record reflected is also expected to reach over 60%. Seoul National University will factor in the student record for 85.1% of regular admission slots, Yonsei University for 85.2%, and Korea University for 30.2%. Considering that the number of regular admission slots for general selection at these universities will decrease from 4,491 in the 2027 academic year to 3,883 in the 2028 academic year—a reduction of 608 students (13.5%)—it is being analyzed that the weight of early admissions has effectively increased.

A representative from Jongno Academy explained, "In the regular admissions process where the student record is reflected at Seoul National University, unlike in 2027 when 'standard scores' were used, the 2028 academic year will use grade and percentile scores instead, reducing the discriminatory power of the CSAT." The representative continued, "Korea University has also changed its method from reflecting the 'standard score' to using the 'percentile score,' further weakening the weight of the CSAT."

Seongho Lim, CEO of Jongno Academy, stated, "If students do not manage their student records well, gaining admission to Seoul National University, Yonsei University, or Korea University in the 2028 academic year may become virtually impossible." He added, "Even if students achieve high scores on the CSAT, the burden of the student record in the regular admissions process will be significant." He further mentioned, "Top-tier students will need to prepare for school grades, the high school credit system, and the CSAT simultaneously," and "As the importance of school grades increases, the number of 'partial repeaters' with high grades is also likely to rise."