Judging the 2027 early admissions results for the SKY universities (Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University) solely by surface-level competition rates could lead to misconceptions. While applications to medical schools, a hallmark of the top-tier natural sciences, have noticeably decreased, advanced programs in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors have seen a significant increase in actual applicants despite a drop in competition rates.
On September 10, major admissions firms such as Jongno Academy, Yuwon, Etoos, and Jinhaksa analyzed the early application results for the 2027 academic year, revealing significant changes in the core areas of natural sciences, particularly in medical and advanced semiconductor programs. Applications to medical schools have decreased by approximately 11-12% compared to the previous year, while applications to semiconductor programs have increased at certain universities.
The most notable change is the easing of the concentration on medical schools. According to Jongno Academy, the total number of applicants to medical schools at the three SKY universities has dropped to 2,883, a decrease of 368 applicants (11.3%) from the previous year. Jinhaksa and Etoos also reported a decline in medical school applications from 2,947 to 2,587, resulting in a drop in competition rates from 14.03 to 12.32 applicants per spot.
By university, Seoul National University saw a decrease of 100 applicants (9.5%), Yonsei University had 85 fewer applicants (12.4%), and Korea University experienced a drop of 183 applicants (11.9%). All three universities reported a decline in applicants across seven major admission categories, including general and regional balance at Seoul National University, recommendation and activity excellence at Yonsei University, and school recommendation, academic excellence, and suitability at Korea University.
In contrast, the advanced programs exhibited a 'misleading phenomenon' that is difficult to assess through simple competition rates. The competition rate for Seoul National University's Advanced Convergence Program dropped significantly from 10.35 to 5.92. However, according to Yuwon’s analysis, the actual number of applicants increased from 497 to 580, a rise of 16.7% (83 applicants), due to the expansion of the enrollment quota from 48 to 98.
Interest in semiconductor programs has also risen. Jongno Academy reported that the total number of applicants for Korea University’s semiconductor contract program increased by 5.2% (60 applicants) to 1,223. Notably, Korea University’s semiconductor engineering program, in partnership with SK Hynix, attracted 408 applicants, a 21.1% surge, achieving a competition rate of 14.57, the highest since its establishment in 2021.
Conversely, Yonsei University’s system semiconductor engineering program, in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, saw a slight decrease of 1.3% (11 applicants), reflecting varied trends among universities.
Admissions experts attribute the early results to a combination of factors leading to a trend of 'stable applications.'
Im Seong-ho, head of Jongno Academy, stated, "The situation regarding medical school applications at Seoul National University and Yonsei University has shifted towards a preference for stability rather than bold choices, likely influenced by the expansion of regional doctor recruitment and a dispersal effect among top-tier applicants." He added, "Conversely, the preference for semiconductor contract programs has generally increased, as seen in the cases of Korea University and Yonsei University."
Lee Man-ki, head of Yuwon’s Educational Evaluation Research Institute, noted, "The increase in medical school enrollment quotas and the regional doctor system issue have led to a significant dispersal of top-tier natural science students' applications away from Seoul National University to other medical programs." He advised that competition rates should not be the sole measure of preference, as seen in the Advanced Convergence Program, where the increase in enrollment numbers creates a misleading impression.
Kim Byeong-jin, head of Etoos’ Educational Evaluation Research Institute, pointed out that the overall decrease in applicants is influenced by a reduction in the total number of test-takers compared to 2026. He emphasized that all three universities have limited school recommendation category eligibility to graduating students, which inevitably leads to a decrease in applicants for major subject categories due to declining student numbers.
Woo Yeon-cheol, head of Jinhaksa’s Admissions Strategy Research Institute, remarked, "While competition rates have fallen at Seoul National University and Yonsei University, Korea University has shown similar results, indicating clear trends by admission category. All three universities have seen a decline in medical school competition rates, while semiconductor programs have shown varied trends, highlighting the need to focus on the changes in competition dynamics created by the decrease in current students and the increase in repeat test-takers."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.