Top-Tier College Admissions 'Chaos Intensifies'
"We Need Detailed Admissions Information Announced Quickly"
The government has allowed medical schools to recruit up to the pre-increase level of 3,058 students for the 2026 academic year, assuming the return of medical students, and a major shift is expected in the admissions industry as well.
On the 7th, the academy sector expressed that uncertainty in admissions has increased due to the adjustment in medical school recruitment numbers. This is because the number of medical school admissions was significantly expanded for the 2025 academic year, then reduced again for the 2026 academic year after just one year, and there is a possibility of further adjustments in 2027 and beyond.
A promotional poster related to medical school entrance exams is posted on a private academy building in Gangnam, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
Jongno Academy stated, "Even if the results of the 2025 academic year admissions are released, the change in the number of medical school admissions for 2026 means that these results cannot be used as reference material for predicting admissions," and predicted, "This year's repeat test takers (N-su students) will inevitably face confusion due to changes in the 2026 medical school admissions process."
They also expressed concern that confusion will increase for students preparing for regional medical schools in the provinces in the 2026 admissions, especially since last year the regional talent selection in provincial medical schools was significantly expanded, causing changes in the medical school acceptance scores.
Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, said, "Given that the medical school recruitment numbers have caused significant confusion for three consecutive years, it is necessary to release the 2025 admissions results as soon as possible to minimize confusion," and added, "Detailed information such as the 2026 medical school selection methods, the ratio of regional talent selection, and the scale of early and regular admissions should be announced promptly."
Uway also anticipated confusion in top-tier admissions due to this adjustment in recruitment numbers. Lee Man-gi, director of Uway Education Evaluation Research Institute, said, "In 2025, there is a high possibility that some students entered medical schools with lower scores than expected, but in 2026, students will need much higher scores to be admitted," adding, "As a result, the number of repeat test takers and N-su students will increase significantly, and the top-tier natural sciences admissions could fall into great chaos."
With the reduction in medical school recruitment numbers again, there is also a forecast that top-tier students will flow into other departments or majors, intensifying competition. Lee explained, "Students who find it difficult to enter medical schools will suddenly have to seek alternative career paths," and added, "Especially, the cutoff scores for pharmacy, dentistry, Korean medicine, and veterinary medicine schools may fluctuate, and some students might consider KAIST, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Seoul National University College of Engineering, or advanced AI-related interdisciplinary departments as alternatives."
Kim Byung-jin, director of Etoos Education Evaluation Research Institute, also predicted that the restoration of medical school recruitment numbers will lead to an increase in admission scores in the natural sciences. Kim explained, "This will not only affect the medical field but also cause the top-tier admission scores in the natural sciences to rise," adding, "As aggressive applications decrease due to lowered expectations of admission scores caused by the previous increase, and more stable downward applications occur, admission scores for units other than medical schools will inevitably rise."
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