Today's College Admissions News — 2026-07-20
A seminar in Seoul offered strategic advice for the 2027 college entrance exam, highlighting the risks of focusing solely on rolling admissions. According to Jinhaksa, over 70% of regular admissions applicants are those who failed their rolling applications, making exam preparation a vital safety net.
Today's College Admissions News — 2026-07-20
Today's Headlines
2027 Special Seminar on Rolling and Regular Admissions Strategy Held
- What happened?: On July 19, the '2027 Special Seminar on Rolling and Regular Admissions Strategy' was held at Gangnam Jongro Academy in Seoul. It served as a venue for parents and students to gather information and build their admissions strategies.
- Who is affected?: High school seniors and parents preparing for the 2027 college entrance exam.
- Why it matters?: The importance of regular admissions is being highlighted this year, with a strong emphasis on maintaining a balanced approach between rolling and regular applications.
72% of Regular Admissions Applicants Failed Rolling Admissions — The Importance of CSAT Preparation
- What happened?: An analysis by Jinhaksa of 2026 regular admissions applicants showed that approximately 72% applied after failing their rolling admissions. Conversely, 57% of those applying for rolling admissions reported they were not preparing for regular admissions.
- Who is affected?: Current high school sophomores and students agonizing over whether they will pass their rolling applications.
- Why it matters?: Experts advise that since failing to get into college through rolling admissions means regular admissions are the next step, the CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test) must be treated as a "safety net." Preparing for the CSAT is essential in case of failure in the rolling process.
"Don't Rely Only on Rolling Admissions" — Regular Admissions Filling Rate Analysis
- What happened?: According to a report by Seoul Economic Daily, while 6 out of 10 applicants for rolling admissions do not actually prepare for regular admissions, more than 7 out of 10 actual regular admissions applicants are filled by those who failed the rolling process.
- Who is affected?: Students who need to pivot to regular admissions after failing their rolling applications.
- Why it matters?: This highlights the dangers of an "all-in" strategy for rolling admissions and emphasizes the need to study for the CSAT simultaneously.
Trends by Admission Type
Rolling Admissions
The 2026 academic year admissions process is currently underway, and the fundamental details of rolling admissions for major universities have been finalized. Notable changes include Sungkyunkwan University's "Sungkyun Talent" screening (comprehensive student records) and Korea University's relaxation of the minimum CSAT score requirements. According to Veritas Alpha, the proportion of GED graduates among the top 15 universities has reached a record high of 2.01% (1,198 students).
Regular Admissions
For the 2027 academic year, policies to eliminate mandatory subject requirements (mathematics, science) for the CSAT are expected to expand. Students will have a wider range of choices in the regular admissions process, and it is anticipated that competition based on conversion scores—according to each university's CSAT reflection ratio—will intensify.
CSAT and Mock Evaluations
2026 CSAT Schedule and Trends
The 2026 CSAT is scheduled for November 13, 2025. Basic systems, such as the handwriting verification section for the June mock evaluation and the CSAT, have been finalized. The mock evaluation supervised by the KICE (Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation) is set for Wednesday, September 2, and the mock exam by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20.
Policy and Institutional Changes
2027 College Entrance Schedule Finalized
According to the schedule organized by Veritas Alpha for the 2027 academic year, the application window for rolling admissions will be at least three days between Monday, September 7 and Friday, September 11. The rolling admissions period runs from Saturday, September 12 to Thursday, December 17, with successful candidates announced by Friday, December 18. Registration for rolling admissions is from Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 23, and the deadline for notifying waitlisted candidates is Tuesday, December 29.
News from Major Universities
Seoul National University Releases 2027 Admissions Guide
Seoul National University recently released its "2027 College Freshman Admissions Guide." This material, containing detailed information on each screening process, is an essential resource for students planning their applications. Veritas Alpha reported that Seoul National University plans to announce its rolling admissions guidelines in May, following the annual release of its admissions plan.
Changes in Minimum CSAT Requirements at Major Universities
Top-tier universities, including Korea University, are showing a trend of relaxing minimum CSAT requirements starting from the 2026 academic year. While this may reduce the burden of CSAT preparation for rolling admissions applicants, it could simultaneously lead to intensified competition in regular admissions.
Analysis and Outlook
The Necessity of Dual Preparation
The analysis of the 2026 admissions results clearly shows how dangerous it is to abandon regular admissions preparation in hopes of succeeding only in rolling admissions. The statistic that 7 out of 10 regular admissions applicants are those who failed their rolling applications suggests that, realistically, many students turn to regular admissions only after failing rolling. Since the CSAT acts as a "safety net" for successful admissions rather than just an option, expert advice for high school sophomores and juniors to maintain consistent CSAT preparation alongside mid-term exam studies is gaining traction.
Increase in GED Graduates and Diverse Admissions
The fact that GED graduates account for a record high of 2.01% at the top 15 universities indicates that the doors to college are becoming more diverse. The trend of talents from various backgrounds, not just those with conventional school records, entering universities is accelerating.
Must-Watch Schedule for This Week
- Late July–August: Final verification of 2027 rolling admissions plans and drafting the list of target universities.
- Wednesday, September 2: KICE-supervised mock evaluation (2027 academic year).
- Monday, September 7–Friday, September 11: 2027 rolling admissions application period (choose at least 3 days).
Checklist for Students and Parents
- Parallel CSAT Preparation: Establish a study schedule for the CSAT alongside rolling admissions prep — it is a mandatory safety net in case of rolling admissions failure.
- Check Minimum CSAT Requirements: Confirm whether target universities have relaxed their minimum CSAT requirements (check changes at major universities like Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, etc.).
- Note 2027 Rolling Admissions Dates: Mark key dates on your calendar, such as application submission (9/7–11), screening period (9/12–12/17), and results announcement (12/18).
Issues to Watch
- Expansion of Abolishing Mandatory Subjects for 2027 Regular Admissions: Specific implementation methods for the policy of abolishing mandatory mathematics and science subjects and how each university will respond.
- Changes in Minimum CSAT Requirements at Top-tier Universities: Shifts in regular admissions competition ratios depending on whether more universities relax or maintain these requirements.
- Direction of 2028 Admissions System Reform: Detailed content on the reform plan announced by the Ministry of Education and the status of implementation preparations.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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