Foreign Language and Science High School Admits to SNU Halved... Repeaters at 8-Year Low

Proportion of Successful Applicants from General High Schools
Exceeds 60%, Highest in a Decade

This year, the number of successful applicants to Seoul National University’s regular admissions from foreign language high schools and science high schools was halved compared to the previous year. In contrast, the proportion of successful applicants from general high schools exceeded 60% of all admitted students, marking the highest level in the past decade.

According to an analysis by Jongro Academy on January 30 of the high schools attended by successful applicants in the 2026 Seoul National University regular admissions, only 10 students were from science high schools, a 54.5% decrease from the previous year’s 22. The number of students from foreign language high schools also dropped by 47.5%, from 59 last year to 31 this year. The number of students from international high schools decreased from 16 to 14, a 16.7% decline, and those from gifted high schools fell from 48 to 40, a 12.5% decrease.

On the other hand, the number of successful applicants from autonomous private high schools increased by 8.0%, from 287 last year to 310 this year. The number of successful applicants from general high schools also rose by 3.8%, from 999 last year to 1,037 this year. As a result, the proportion of successful applicants from general high schools reached 65.3% this year, the highest since data collection began in 2016.

Seoul National University Main Gate. Seoul National University Homepage

However, the proportion of so-called “repeaters” (students who retake the college entrance exam) has decreased. The number of successful repeaters dropped by 2.4%, from 901 last year to 879 this year, while the number of successful current students increased by 4.9%, from 633 to 664. Consequently, the proportion of repeaters fell to 55.39%, the lowest in eight years since the 2018 academic year.

Jongro Academy attributed this to a large number of top-scoring repeaters leaving the admissions competition after being accepted into medical schools, which increased their intake last year. The decrease in the number of successful applicants from special-purpose high schools was also interpreted as a result of the easing concentration of top students in these schools, leading to more talented students attending general high schools.

Lim Seongho, CEO of Jongro Academy, stated, “Since admissions to medical schools are entirely blocked for science high schools and gifted high schools, many top students are now choosing to attend general high schools instead.” He added, “Foreign language and international high schools are so fiercely competitive in terms of internal grades that top students tend to avoid them more than before.” He continued, “As the five-level grading system for internal grades increases the pressure on students, it is likely that the current proportion of successful applicants from general high schools to Seoul National University’s regular admissions will continue.”