"Staying in Science and Engineering After Graduation"...Continuation Rate Falls Below 80%
16% Change Their Major to Medicine or Pharmacy
Among Female Students, the Rate of Switching to Medicine or Pharmacy Nears 30%
It has been found that less than 80% of science high school graduates continue to major in science and engineering fields. Between 1 and 2 out of every 10 students change their major to medicine or pharmacy after graduation. This trend is particularly pronounced among female students. Experts suggest that universities should continue to provide a clear roadmap for science and engineering careers, and that effective policy measures are needed to support women in science and engineering.
On the 26th, Lee Mina, researcher at the Korea Educational Development Institute, and Lee Heehyun, senior research fellow, held an online briefing and released a report titled "Patterns and Implications of Career Choices Among Science High School Graduates" containing these findings.
The Korea Educational Development Institute conducted a follow-up survey of 613 students (515 male and 98 female) who entered eight science high schools nationwide in 2017. As of 2023, 16.2% of them (99 students) were found to be enrolled in medicine- or pharmacy-related universities.
The proportion who went on to engineering (54.7%) and natural sciences (25.1%) majors was 79.8% in total, meaning that, in line with the founding purpose of science high schools, not even 8 out of 10 graduates are actually continuing on science and engineering pathways.
By gender, the proportion of female students choosing medicine- or pharmacy-related majors after graduation was higher than that of male students.
Among science high school graduates, the major distribution for male students was 58.5% in engineering, 23.9% in natural sciences, and 13.6% in medicine or pharmacy, while for female students it was 34.7% in engineering, 31.6% in natural sciences, and 29.6% in medicine or pharmacy.
The rate of changing majors from science and engineering to medicine or pharmacy after entering university was also more pronounced among female students.
Among those who entered science high schools in 2017, 90.5% kept the major they initially chose, but the remaining 9.5% had changed their major at least once.
By gender, 8.0% of male students and 17.4% of female students changed their career path; among them, 73.2% of the male students and 75.1% of the female students chose medicine- or pharmacy-related majors.
The proportion of science high school graduates choosing medicine or pharmacy after graduation has been steadily increasing.
When science high school graduates first entered university in 2020, 30 students went on to medicine- or pharmacy-related majors; this cumulative number rose to 65 in 2021 and 88 in 2022. This is interpreted as an increase in the proportion of students who initially entered engineering or natural sciences programs and then switched to medicine or pharmacy by reapplying for university.
Researcher Lee Mina, who conducted the survey, said, "We have found many cases where students change to medicine- or pharmacy-related majors after confronting the realities of science and engineering at university," adding, "There is a need to continuously present a clear blueprint for science and engineering careers even after students enter university."
Regarding the fact that female science high school graduates tend to major in medicine or pharmacy, she added, "This may be less a matter of individual interest and more a result of social and cultural constraints," and said, "We need institutional support that enables women who enter science and engineering fields to maintain and develop their careers over time."
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