Proposal for Reforming University Student Selection Methods
☞Reference
①Speaking about Education to the President of the Republic of Korea
②The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is Not a Bar Exam
③The CSAT Should Be a Source of Hope and Opportunity for Students
④A Selection Method That Cultivates Students' 'HOOK' is Needed
![[Jeong Gyu-young's Presidential Election and College Entrance ⑤] 'Eummiche' Education Is as Important as Korean, English, and Math](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2022012010533116688_1642643611.jpg)
Jung Kyu-young, President of the Studying Athletes Exercising Students Association
If the reader of this article has graduated from school and is working in society or retired, let us think together about what the most important subjects were during middle and high school.
The author believes that physical education, music, and art are just as important as Korean, English, mathematics, and history. Physical education is a subject that fosters teamwork and communication skills based on the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, as well as an attitude of following rules and developing a healthy body. Music and art are subjects that cultivate the ability to empathize with world history and culture, nurture a healthy mind, appreciate the excellence of Korean culture, and learn liberal arts. These essential subjects should not be reserved only for majors.
Even if students are not applying as majors in physical education, music, or art, if they demonstrate outstanding abilities in these fields, the author believes they should be given additional points in university admissions just as much as winners of mathematics or science competitions. For example, if the passing score is an average of 95 points, students who scored 90 but excel in physical education, music, or art should also be admitted. However, the practice of admitting students with insufficient scores as special physical education talent students, as in the past, should be eliminated.
The author also considers mathematics and science important. His majors are chemical engineering and environmental engineering. He only wants to point out that the current situation excludes the importance of physical education, music, and art subjects in the university student selection process.
Stanford University student-athletes who represented the United States at the Tokyo Olympics last year won 26 medals, more than the total number of medals won by the Korean delegation. These students also won 27 medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, again surpassing the total medals of the Korean team. Stanford is not a sports-specialized university. The athletes who participated in the Olympics are not physical education majors. Their top priority is not Olympic participation and medals but entering society by leveraging their aptitudes. The strength to achieve such results centered on school sports without focusing solely on sports is the driving force behind the United States becoming a sports powerhouse. It is also the result of the unique student selection methods of the world’s top American universities.
American prestigious universities consider physical education an essential subject for all students and reflect this in their student selection process. For example, if there is a student with a test score of 99 and another with a score of 90 but ranked 50th in a U.S. sports category, the latter has a much higher chance of admission to a prestigious American university. This is because universities do not want their incoming classes to consist mostly of students who only excel academically. Moreover, parents of the 99-point student do not sue or protest the university for rejecting their child while admitting a lower-scoring student. There is a consensus that student selection is the university’s freedom and inherent right.
Among American prestigious universities, 18% of undergraduates at Princeton University, 16% at Harvard University, 14% at Yale University, and 12% at Stanford University are 'student-athletes' on their respective university sports teams. These universities select students who excel in sports from the general student body to form their sports teams. These students are healthy, mentally strong, and possess excellent character. Strong physical and mental endurance especially prove valuable in the academically challenging and competitive environment of prestigious universities. Professors and staff also prefer students who have sportsmanship characterized by obedience and adherence to rules.
On foreign streets, it is common to see violinists, dancers, and artists painting. One of the images many of us remember after traveling abroad is street performers. In contrast, in Korea, it is rare to see fan dance performances or gayageum playing on the streets. Since such performances are uncommon even in paid venues, it is naturally a rare sight on the streets.
In Korea, fan dance, gayageum, and art are perceived as subjects only for arts middle and high school students or university majors. Most schools have never taught the emotional impact of Bach’s cello suites. While violin sounds are familiar, the beautiful and sorrowful sound of the Korean traditional instrument ajaeng remains unfamiliar. This situation is the result of the flawed university student admission process that has affected the elementary, middle, and high school curricula.
There is a need to improve the current entrance examination system, which evaluates students’ entire middle and high school process solely based on scores without properly assessing diverse talents or character. The solution lies in student interviews, high school character evaluations, and recommendation letters. The next article will explain this in detail.
Jung Kyu-young, Chairman of the Nonprofit Organization Studying Athletes, Exercising Students and CEO of Lorus Enterprise
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