College Admissions News — May 16, 2026

Today's Headline

2028 Early Decision Rises to Record 80.8% — "Growth or a New Burden?"

• What’s happening?: Analysis of the 2028 college admission plans shows that early decision (susi) enrollment has hit an all-time high of 80.8% on average across universities. The growing imbalance between early and regular (jeongsi) admissions is a major point of concern.
• Who is affected?: Students currently in their first year of high school (the class of 2028), parents, and middle school students.
• Why does it matter?: With early decision exceeding 80%, relying solely on the CSAT (Suneung) is becoming increasingly difficult. Managing student records and extracurricular activities is now the key to success.

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ccdn.co.kr

ccdn.co.kr

"Will Weakening the CSAT Equalize Opportunity?" — A Heated Debate

• What’s happening?: Since the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced a plan in December 2025 to potentially phase out the CSAT by 2040, columnists and experts have been debating whether this move might actually deepen inequality.
• Who is affected?: All students and parents, especially those with limited access to private tutoring.
• Why does it matter?: Many argue that the CSAT acts as a fair, equalizer-like mechanism regardless of socioeconomic background. This will remain a core issue in future policy discussions.

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betanews.net

[윤석범 칼럼] 수능을 약화하면 기회는 평등해지는가

Key Trends by Admission Type

Early Decision (Susi)

Record 80.8% reached for 2028. Early decision now accounts for 80.8% of seats nationwide. Within this, the "Student Record-based Subject" category holds the largest share at 56.4%, followed by Comprehensive Student Records and Essay-based admissions. Experts recommend that students reassess their strategy for managing school records.

2026 Teacher’s College admissions drop. Total enrollment for elementary education programs (Teacher's Colleges) has been reduced to 3,711, a decrease of 498 from the previous year. With fewer spots available, a strategic approach is more important than ever for aspiring teachers.

Regular Decision (Jeongsi)

2026 early decision reached 79.9%. For 2026, early decision accounted for 79.9% of total admissions. Regular decision consisted of 92.2% CSAT-based applicants. Students should note that university-specific English score conversions (bonus/penalty points) can significantly impact their chances, making it vital to check each school's specific formula.

CSAT & Mock Exams

2027 CSAT June Mock Exam (Scheduled for June 4, 2026). Students are currently analyzing potential difficulty levels and question trends ahead of the mock exam scheduled for June 4, 2026.

Policy & Institutional Changes

The Future of the CSAT — 2040 Reform Plan. The debate over the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s proposal to abolish the CSAT continues. Proponents argue for skill-based evaluations, while opponents insist the CSAT is the only mechanism providing equal opportunity regardless of private tutoring access.

2028 Reforms and the Meaning of Early Decision Expansion. While the expansion of early decision aims to normalize school education and reduce private education costs, critics point out it creates a paradox where preparation times and costs actually increase for families.

University-Specific News

Sungkyunkwan University — 2026 Changes. The university has launched a new "Sungkyun Talent" track under the Comprehensive Student Record category and modified its grading method for subject-based admissions. The essay-based entrance exam has been split into language and mathematics tracks.

Teacher's Colleges Nationwide — 498 fewer spots. National elementary teacher training colleges have reduced their intake by 498 students. Both early and regular admission numbers have decreased.

General Timeline. Following the CSAT (November 13, 2025), key dates regarding result announcements and remaining vacancies have been set. Candidates are reminded they have three opportunities to apply across the Ga, Na, and Da application groups.

Analysis & Outlook

The "80% Era" of Early Decision: Managing your student record is the new strategy. Early decision is now the mainstream, not an alternative. Failure to manage subject grades, teacher evaluations, and extracurricular activities makes getting into top universities very difficult.

Fairness vs. Competency-based Assessment. As the debate over the CSAT continues, the fundamental question remains: does it reduce or increase inequality? While it applies a uniform standard, critics argue the emphasis on other holistic factors (like in Comprehensive Student Records) inevitably fuels demand for private tutoring.

Important Dates to Remember

Checklist for Students & Parents

1. Prepare for the June 4th Mock Exam: Treat it like the real thing to adjust your strategy for early vs. regular admissions.
2. Design your path for the 2028 cycle: Early high schoolers must focus on their student records immediately.
3. Teacher's College applicants: Be aware of the reduced capacity (3,711 total) and plan accordingly.
4. Verify English conversion scores: Different universities handle English grades differently (bonus/deductions), which can be a make-or-break factor in regular admissions.

Issues to Watch

1. Follow-up on the "Future-type Admissions Reform": Will the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's 2040 plan become reality?
2. Medical/Pharmacy school admissions: Watch for changes in how top-tier programs handle the expansion of early decision.
3. Difficulty predictions: Post-mock exam analysis will be critical for predicting the final CSAT difficulty.