In a historic first, the average acceptance score for natural science programs at universities in Seoul has soared to the 1.92 level in the early admissions process. This surge is attributed to a high preference for medical and pharmaceutical fields, with many students with excellent grades, referred to as 'N-susi students,' applying in large numbers, thereby narrowing the acceptance threshold significantly.
According to an analysis by Jongno Academy on August 2, based on data from the national college admissions portal 'Eodiga,' the average acceptance score for natural science programs in Seoul reached 1.92. This marks the highest level in the past five years and is the first instance of the acceptance score entering the first-grade range.
The acceptance scores for natural science programs in Seoul have shown a consistent upward trend over the past few years, with scores of 2.22 in 2022, 2.15 in 2023, 2.13 in 2024, and 2.08 in 2025, culminating in the breakthrough of the 1.92 score for the 2026 admissions cycle.
In contrast, the acceptance score for humanities programs in Seoul was recorded at 2.28. While this is a significant increase compared to 2.57 in 2024 and 2.58 in 2025, it remains in the second-grade range. Consequently, the acceptance score for natural science programs in Seoul has been higher than that for humanities programs for five consecutive years, with a gap of 0.36 grades.
The trend of natural science programs dominating is also evident in the comprehensive student evaluation process, where the average acceptance score for natural science programs in Seoul was 2.69, compared to 3.04 for humanities, both reaching their highest levels in the past three years.
Regionally, the increase in acceptance scores was notable. In the Gyeongin area, the humanities score was 3.37, while the natural sciences score was 3.12. In provincial areas, the scores were 4.35 for humanities and 4.16 for natural sciences, marking the highest levels recorded in the past five years across all regions.
Looking at specific departments, the fierce competition in the top-tier natural science programs is evident. Twelve programs, including ten medical schools and two pharmacy schools, recorded a perfect acceptance score of 1.00.
The programs with a 1.00 acceptance score include: Yonsei University’s recommended medical program, Ulsan University’s regional medical program, Catholic University of Korea (Seoul) regional balanced medical program, Kyung Hee University’s regional balanced medical program, Ajou University’s high school recommended medical program, Inha University’s regional balanced medical program, Soonchunhyang University’s excellent student medical program, Soonchunhyang University’s Chungnam regional talent medical program, Soonchunhyang University’s general student medical program, Gangwon University’s general medical program, Dongguk University’s principal recommended pharmacy program, and Soonchun University’s general pharmacy program.
In the humanities field, Seoul National University’s regional balanced economics department had the highest score at 1.00, followed by Seoul National University’s regional balanced Korean education department (1.14), Seoul National University’s regional balanced political science and diplomacy department (1.15), Daegu Haany University’s regional talent Korean medicine program (1.17), Yonsei University’s recommended political science and diplomacy department (1.20), and Korea University’s school-recommended political science and diplomacy department (1.23).
Jongno Academy attributes the rapid rise in acceptance scores, particularly in natural sciences, to an increase in the number of third-year students (up by 37,467 from the previous year) and the influx of high-achieving 'N-susi students' applying for both early and regular admissions.
Lim Seong-ho, the head of Jongno Academy, stated, "The 2027 admissions cycle will be the last under the current 9-grade system, so we expect a significant influx of 'N-susi students' focusing on early admissions."
He added, "The fact that this year's admissions will be the last under the current system may create psychological pressure on students, leading to a trend of applying for safer, lower-tier options rather than risky high-tier choices. With the number of third-year students remaining similar to last year, the factors driving acceptance scores upward are greater than those pushing them down, suggesting that the trend of rising acceptance scores will continue."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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