Essay-based admissions tests for South Korea’s 2027 early admissions cycle began in earnest on the 3rd at the University of Seoul, Sungshin Women’s University and Hongik University. Admissions consultants advise applicants to keep preparing thoroughly for the College Scholastic Ability Test even after the essay exams, because many universities require minimum scores on the national test.
The average competition ratio across the 44 universities running essay-based admissions this cycle was 48.14 to 1, up from 43.45 to 1 a year earlier, according to admissions consultancy Jinhak Apply. Woo Yeon-cheol, head of Jinhak’s admissions strategy research institute, said essay-based admissions carry a low effective weighting for high school grades, making the track a well-known comeback option for students who feel burdened by their transcripts. He added that an increase in repeat test-takers, combined with this being the final year of the current admissions system, has made the concentration of applicants even more pronounced.
The rush toward medical fields was again evident in this cycle. The highest ratio was at Kyung Hee University’s oriental medicine program in the humanities track, where 3,111 students applied for five seats, a ratio of 622.20 to 1. Next were Sahmyook University’s pharmacy program at 563.40 to 1, Ajou University’s pharmacy program at 527.00 to 1 and Sungkyunkwan University’s medical program at 524.60 to 1.
Semiconductor programs run under corporate agreements also drew strong interest. Sogang University’s system semiconductor engineering department, operated with SK hynix, posted a ratio of 297.67 to 1, while Hanyang University’s semiconductor engineering department drew 211.0 to 1.
In the humanities, the business administration major at Kookmin University’s business school recorded the highest ratio at 389.09 to 1, followed by the media major at Kookmin’s media and advertising school at 361.50 to 1, Hanyang University’s media communication department at 337.20 to 1 and Hanyang’s political science and diplomacy department at 319.00 to 1.
Looking at the exam calendar, the University of Seoul, Sungshin Women’s University and Hongik University hold their natural sciences essay tests on the 3rd. Yonsei University and Dankook University, covering both natural sciences and humanities, also hold tests before the CSAT on Nov. 19. Korea University, Sogang University, Sungkyunkwan University, Ewha Womans University, Hanyang University and Chung-Ang University hold their essay exams after the CSAT.
Woo said initial ratios may look high, but that once no-shows for the essay exam and applicants who fail to meet minimum CSAT score requirements are excluded, the actual competition falls to a quarter of that level or less. He advised that while preparing for the essay exam matters, applicants who have applied to universities with minimum CSAT score requirements should make meeting those thresholds their top priority for the remaining period to improve their chances of admission.
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