“Actual Benefit Better Than Reputation” University Preference Changed

Mr. C (19), who was admitted to both the School of Engineering, Seoul National University (SNU) and a medical school of a local national university, finally selected the latter and gave up the former.

Mr. C said, "Even after I enter the engineering college, I have to compete to select my major, and it is hard to find employment after graduate the college. Hence I chose to go the medical school, which guarantees stable employment, though it is local university."

The ratio of student enrollment for those admitted to SNU for the 2002 school year was 89.6 percent, the lowest in its history. SNU opened additional admission spots for the first time.

Previously students applied for any department at SNU according to their scores due to the reputation, but nowadays considering future employment, students place `actual benefit` before `reputation of the university`, which is the cause for the recent trend.

At the bottom of this trend in selecting a university lies the avoidance of the engineering department, which is getting serious recently and increasing worries that national competitiveness might fall.

▽ Employment takes priority = SNU closed 1st scheduled enrollment for 2002 school year on the 5th, and the ratio of enrollment was 89.6 percent, decreased by 3 percent from 92.5 percent in the 2001 school year. SNU Engineering College, which previously required highest scores in Science and Engineering department, finished its registration at the rate of 81.7 percent, decreased by 8.9 percent from 90.6 percent last year. The ratio of enrollment in the Science College also fell to 81.9 percent from 89.5 percent. There were 4 registered students in the department of business administration and 1 in law department, which recorded 100 percent enrollment ratio last year.

Moreover, the departments in Science and Engineering College showed much lower enrollment ratio than total average like △ 70 percent in Agriculture department, △ 57.6 percent in nursing science and △ 63.6 percent in pharmaceutical department.

One the causes for such low enrollment ratio is that previously companies favored SNU graduates regardless of their major, but now they employ primarily those who majored in related subjects. Students think that it is practical to select the college that is advantageous for employment like medical schools or department of business administration by going to a university of a lower reputation rather than selecting unfavorable departments in SNU.

Yong Park parky@donga.com