College Admissions for 2025: Trends and Insights

College admissions for the‍ 2025 academic year have⁣ been completed, revealing interesting trends and insights.

Despite the increase in the number of medical schools and the ​decrease in the school-age population, the National Institute of Science and Technology, ​a university specializing in‍ science and technology, has seen a significant increase in applicants compared ‌to last year.

Reporter Kim Yun-mi⁤ examined ‌whether fears ⁣that⁢ the⁣ concentration of medical schools ⁢could intensify due to the increase in‍ medical⁤ schools can be said to have been allayed.

Increased Applicants to Science and Technology Institutions

6,500⁤ people flocked to KAIST for the 2025 rolling admissions, an 8.6 percent increase in applicants over last year, with other science and technology institutions also up more‌ than 10 percent.

However, a closer look⁣ at ⁢the‌ statistics reveals a different story.

Optical Illusion Caused‌ by Increase⁢ in Medical Schools

It is⁣ said ‌that this is⁣ an optical illusion caused by the increase in ‍medical schools.

Since the National Institute of Science and Technology is a university under the jurisdiction‍ of the Ministry of‍ Science and ‌ICT, not the Ministry of Education, it is not included in the “6-entry limit”, and even if you pass the National Institute of Science‌ and Technology⁤ progressive admission, you can reapply for regular admission to general universities.

Top Students Apply to Multiple Institutions

So, there is an ‌analysis that top students apply to six medical schools and the National Institute of Science and Technology for so-called “insurance purposes.”

According ⁣to Lim Sung-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, “There is no tuition charge for special science and ⁢engineering ​colleges. In‍ fact, if they prepare for‍ the college entrance ⁣exam in just one subject, Korean, they have a high chance of getting back into medical school ⁤through the college ⁢entrance exam.”

Concerns about Student Registration

As a result, even as the number of applicants for rolling admissions increases, the National Institute of ‌Science and Technology is concerned about whether the successful students will finally be able to register.

This is the new student recruitment rate at‍ the ‌National Institute‌ of Science and Technology in the last three years.

Last year and the year ​before, some ⁤science and technology institutes failed to meet the⁢ admission quota.

Dropout Rates a Concern

There are many students who enroll ‍in the National Institute of Science and Technology but drop out⁢ midway.

In the past four years, the number of dropouts⁤ from the four major science and technology institutes was calculated at 1,119.

It is assumed‌ that many of these students chose to‍ take half or repeat the exam in order to enter medical school.

Changing Trends in Student Preferences

Until the⁣ 1990s, the list of departments chosen by top test⁤ takers‌ included pre-medical ⁤departments and other departments such ‌as physics and computer engineering.

In ‍the 2000s, the popularity of dental prosthetics​ departments skyrocketed, ​and general science and engineering departments disappeared from the list‍ of top departments.

Preference for professional positions is a global phenomenon,⁤ but is it okay in Korea, where top ⁣students focus on specific departments?

Experts have ​once again stressed the principle that only when there is a variety of good jobs will the choices‍ of ⁣our students be expanded.

I’m‌ Yunmi Kim from MBC News.

Video Coverage: Jaehoon Kang / Video Editing: Jinwoo Kim