Average Admission Competition Rate of Top 10 Universities at 10.27 to 1... Natural Science Applicants in Top 1.0~3.5% Reach the Acceptance Line
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the number of pet owners rapidly increases and pet culture expands, the popularity of related industries is directly reflected in university admissions. The competition rate and acceptance scores for veterinary colleges have risen, establishing them as popular majors comparable to medical, dental, and oriental medicine schools.
According to Jongno Academy Haneul Education, the average competition rate for the regular admission general screening of 10 veterinary colleges nationwide?including Seoul National University, Konkuk University, Kangwon National University, Chungbuk National University, Chungnam National University, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonnam National University, Kyungpook National University, Gyeongsang National University, and Jeju National University?for this year (2020 academic year) was 10.27 to 1, up from 9.05 to 1 last year. With 198 students admitted and 2,033 applicants, this is the third highest regular admission competition rate in the past six years since the 2015 academic year.
By university, Jeju National University’s veterinary college had the highest competition rate at 27.91 to 1 (19.29 to 1 the previous year), followed by Gyeongsang National University’s veterinary college at 15.13 to 1 (9.33 to 1 the previous year), Seoul National University’s veterinary college at 4.38 to 1 (9.00 to 1 the previous year), and Konkuk University’s veterinary college at 4.10 to 1 (4.10 to 1 the previous year).
Earlier, in the 2020 academic year early admission, the 10 veterinary colleges nationwide recruited 316 students within the quota and received 8,964 applications, recording a competition rate of 28.37 to 1. This is similar to the previous year’s 28.38 to 1 under the same criteria and is also the third highest early admission competition rate in the past six years.
By university and admission type, Konkuk University’s veterinary medicine KU Essay Excellence screening had the highest competition rate at 235.30 to 1, with 2,353 applicants for 10 spots (176.90 to 1 the previous year), followed by Kyungpook National University’s veterinary medicine essay screening with 2,595 applicants for 14 spots, a rate of 185.36 to 1 (156.38 to 1 the previous year).
Despite the overall decline in the school-age population, the rising competition rates for veterinary colleges in admissions are due to the significant expansion of the pet industry market targeting pets and pet owners.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the domestic pet industry market size increased from about 900 billion KRW in 2012 to 1.8 trillion KRW in 2015, 2.1 trillion KRW in 2016, and 2.7 trillion KRW in 2018. It is expected to surge to 3.4 trillion KRW in 2020 and 5.7 trillion KRW by 2026.
As pet culture spreads and various TV programs featuring pets gain popularity, the preference for the professional occupation of veterinarians at animal hospitals has also greatly increased.
Oh Jong-woon, Evaluation Director at Jongno Academy Haneul Education, explained, "Based on this year’s regular admission, the acceptance score for veterinary colleges is approximately within the top 1.0 to 3.5% of natural science students," adding, "Veterinary colleges have risen in status to be called 'Ui-Chi-Han-Su' (Medical-Dental-Oriental Medicine-Veterinary), comparable to medical, dental, and oriental medicine schools."
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