Special admissions system to be expanded next year

In the 2012 college entrance exam, students recruited through special admissions at universities but did not register will receive another chance, boosting the share of students admitted through such admissions.

Special admissions accounted for more than 60 percent of overall admissions this year, but colleges have transferred 20-30 percent of them to regular applications.

The Korean Council for University Education announced Monday a plan for the 2012 university entrance exam for 200 four-year universities nationwide, including industrial universities.

A combined 382,773 students will be recruited for the 2012 exam, with 62.1 percent (237,640) being recruited under special admissions. From next year, universities can recruit students unregistered over the special recruitment period Dec. 15-20 after the period ends.

“By setting the dates for additional special admissions recruitment, universities can recruit students who did not enroll previously and students can also be aware of when additional recruitment will be made,” the council said.

The number of universities adopting the admissions officer system will increase to 122 from this year’s 118, and that of recruitment will also increase to 41,250 (10.8 percent) from 36,896 (9.6 percent), accounting for more than 10 percent of overall recruitment.

Students can apply to college under the admissions officer system from Aug. 1 next year, or a month ahead of other admissions, in a move to allow universities to better evaluate student potential.

The number of universities reflecting class records 100 percent on regular admissions will increase to 90 from 84 this year, and the share of such applications will also increase. Despite the government’s measures to restrict admission essay tests, the number of universities implementing the test will increase from 34 to 35, including Kyungpook National University and Sogang University.

Students cannot apply to certain universities because of overlapping exam dates and time, but from next year, universities must give notice of the date and time of the exam before receiving applications.

Universities will also allow students living in the provinces to take the test in their respective regions.

kini@donga.com