Seoul Increases Recruitment by 980... 5,271 More Examinees Flock
88.1% of Universities with 'Effectively Underenrolled' Regular Admissions Are Regional Universities
In the recently closed 2024 college entrance regular admission, it was found that more than 30% of universities recorded a 'practically under-enrolled' rate as their competition ratio failed to reach 3 to 1. Additionally, the competition ratio between universities in Seoul and provincial areas showed a difference of more than four times, indicating a deepening 'metropolitan concentration' phenomenon even in regular admissions.
On the 9th, Jongro Academy analyzed the application results of 188 universities nationwide, whose regular admission applications ended on the 6th. A total of 483,975 applicants applied for 103,808 spots, with a nationwide average competition ratio of 4.67 to 1, similar to last year's 4.61 to 1.
Looking at the competition ratio in detail by region, it was ▲Seoul area 41 universities (5.79 to 1) ▲Gyeongin area 39 universities (5.96 to 1) ▲Provincial area (3.57 to 1). Compared to last year, the Seoul area rose by 0.01 points, almost the same, but despite an increase of 980 recruitment spots, the number of applicants increased by 5,271, reaffirming examinees' preference for the metropolitan area.
The average competition ratio of 108 provincial universities was 3.57 to 1, up 0.08 points, but despite provincial universities reducing their total recruitment quota by 2,541 compared to last year, the number of applicants decreased by 4,509, showing that the extinction crisis of provincial universities is approaching.
Universities with a competition ratio below 3 to 1, so-called 'practically under-enrolled,' numbered 59 out of 188 nationwide (31.4%). The reason for considering below 3 to 1 as practically under-enrolled is that examinees can apply up to three times in groups A, B, and C, which poses a risk of shifting to other universities. Among universities with a competition ratio below 3 to 1 in the 2024 regular admission, 52 (88.1%) were provincial universities, with 4 in the Seoul area and 3 in the Gyeongin area. However, this number decreased compared to last year's 66 practically under-enrolled universities, of which 58 were provincial universities.
The average competition ratio by city/province was ▲Incheon 6 universities (6.32 to 1) ▲Gyeonggi 33 universities (5.89 to 1) ▲Seoul 41 universities (5.79 to 1), with the top three regions all in the metropolitan area. The highest competition ratios in the provinces were ▲Sejong 2 universities (5.7 to 1) ▲Daegu 3 universities (5.42 to 1). In Sejong's case, the advantage seems to be the presence of branch campuses of universities headquartered in Seoul.
The city/province with the lowest average competition ratio within the region was Jeonnam (7 universities) at 1.88 to 1, followed by ▲Gwangju 8 universities (2.39 to 1) ▲Gyeongnam 9 universities (2.84 to 1), all significantly lower than the average competition ratio.
Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, predicted, "Universities with a competition ratio below 3 to 1 may inevitably conduct additional recruitment in regular admissions due to examinees withdrawing after being accepted by multiple universities." Additional recruitment is scheduled to take place from the 22nd to the 29th of the following month after all regular admission unregistered spots are filled.
Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University Regular Admission Average Competition Ratio 4.42 to 1
Meanwhile, in the 2024 regular admission, the so-called 'SKY' universities?Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University?recorded an average competition ratio of 4.42 to 1, the highest in the past five years.
On the 5th, Jongro Academy reported that 23,639 applicants applied for 5,352 spots in the regular admission of Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University, recording an average competition ratio of 4.42 to 1. This is the highest figure since Seoul National University and Korea University began increasing the proportion of regular admissions in 2020. Looking at the competition ratio by each university, it was ▲Seoul National University (4.44 to 1) ▲Korea University (4.19 to 1) ▲Yonsei University (4.62 to 1).
In the case of medical schools, Korea University had the highest competition ratio at 3.53 to 1, followed by Yonsei University (3.43 to 1) and Seoul National University (3.15 to 1). The number of applicants to the three universities' medical schools was 450, an increase of 17.7% (71 applicants) compared to the previous year. Korea University's medical school had 8 vacancies in early admissions but recorded the highest competition ratio among 'SKY medical schools' in regular admissions. Since schedules vary by university for regular admissions results, it is important for examinees to carefully read the recruitment guidelines of the universities they apply to.
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