Surge in Cross-Applications to Seoul National University Humanities... 1 in 4 Applicants from Natural Sciences

Analysis of JinHakSa 2022 College Entrance Score Disclosure Users
27.04% of Seoul National University Humanities Applicants Are Natural Science Examinees
Applicants Surge Despite Second Foreign Language and Classical Chinese Test Requirements

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] In the first year of the integrated CSAT, the 2022 academic year, it was found that one out of four applicants to the humanities departments at Seoul National University (SNU) was a natural sciences examinee. This result deviates from the expectation that cross-application would be low due to the requirement to take a second foreign language or Chinese characters.

On the 9th, an analysis of natural sciences examinees (those who took the science exploration test) who used JinHakSa's regular admission acceptance prediction service and simulated applications to SNU showed that 28.06% of examinees took the second foreign language or Chinese characters. This is an increase of 25.86 percentage points from the previous year (2.2%). Among top-tier universities, SNU is the only one utilizing the second foreign language or Chinese characters, suggesting that applicants considered the possibility of cross-applying to SNU's humanities departments from the time of CSAT registration.

Considering that it was rare for natural sciences examinees to apply to SNU's humanities departments, this is an unusual phenomenon. Among JinHakSa's score disclosure users, the proportion of natural sciences examinees applying to SNU humanities departments increased significantly from 0% in the 2021 academic year to 27.04% last year. Although lower than Yonsei University and Korea University (45.90%), the number of applicants increased greatly despite the requirement to take the second foreign language or Chinese characters.

Natural sciences examinees had not applied due to their preference for science and engineering fields, but it is interpreted that cross-application increased as the integrated CSAT made it advantageous to secure high scores in the mathematics section.

This year, the number of examinees cross-applying is also expected to increase significantly. However, since SNU will reflect school record evaluations in regular admissions starting this year, the proportion may decrease somewhat.

From the 2023 academic year, SNU will incorporate school record evaluations in regular admissions. It evaluates the fulfillment of course completion and academic performance necessary for the academic field related to the department by reflecting the academic development status in the school life record (course completion status, academic grades, detailed abilities, and special notes).

Oh Woncheol, head of JinHakSa's Admission Strategy Research Institute, said, "Many natural sciences students will expect to cross-apply to SNU in the 2023 regular admissions as well, but it is important to note that the 2022 regular admissions was the first year the integrated CSAT was applied." He added, "In the 2023 academic year, with the change in SNU's regular admission selection method to include school record evaluations, there is a possibility that natural sciences students applying to humanities departments may receive lower grades in the school record evaluation, which should not be overlooked."