"What to Do After Graduating from Seoul National University" Jumps in 5 Years... Where They Went Revealed

Jongno Academy, University Information Analysis Results
2,126 Students Dropped Out Midway from SKY Last Year
"Expected to Increase Further Due to Medical School Enrollment Expansion"

Last year, the number of students who dropped out or left Seoul National University (SNU) midway was the highest in five years. The prevailing analysis is that these students initially entered as liberal arts majors through cross-application and then left after being admitted to medical schools or similar programs the following year.

Seoul National University Main Gate, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 1st, Jongno Academy analyzed the 2023 academic year dropout status of Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (SKY) as disclosed by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Council for University Education's 'University Alimi'. The analysis showed that the total number of dropouts from the three SKY universities was 2,126. The reasons for dropout include not only withdrawal but also non-registration, failure to re-enroll, academic warnings, and expulsion due to failing grades. Most were voluntary withdrawals, with 1,776 students, accounting for 83.5% of all dropouts at SKY last year, having quit on their own.

Although these schools are relatively difficult to enter, it is estimated that students either could not adapt after admission or took a gap year to reapply for majors in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, which offer more job stability.

Last year, SNU had 436 dropouts, a 59.7% increase (163 students) compared to 273 in 2019. The number of dropouts at SNU steadily increased from 317 in 2020, 405 in 2021, to 412 in 2022. By department, the humanities had 17 dropouts, and in the natural sciences, Chemical and Biological Engineering had the highest number with 30 dropouts.

Yonsei University had 830 dropouts last year, a 62.4% increase (319 students) compared to 511 five years ago. Korea University had 860 dropouts, slightly down from 897 the previous year. At Yonsei, the humanities dropout numbers were highest in the social sciences (61 students), and in the natural sciences, engineering had the most (129 students). At Korea University, the humanities dropout numbers were highest in business administration (36 students), and in the natural sciences, the life sciences department had the most dropouts (55 students).

Jongno Academy stated, "With the introduction of the integrated CSAT, it is estimated that science students initially applied to liberal arts majors through cross-application and then transferred to natural science departments or medical schools." They added, "With the expansion of medical school admissions in the 2025 academic year, the number of dropouts this year is expected to increase further," and predicted, "The trend of liberal arts dropouts will continue to rise until the 2027 academic year, as long as the current college admission system remains."