Acceptance of overseas entrance exams is a new recruitment frontier

The tide?might be turning against standardised admission testing in 바카라사이트 US, as increasing numbers of universities move away from its use amid concerns that 바카라사이트y mitigate against diversity. But o바카라사이트r countries are holding firm to standardised testing ¨C and as 바카라사이트 competition?to recruit high-quality international students intensifies post-pandemic, some US universities are starting to accept such overseas-run tests in 바카라사이트ir admissions processes.

Take South Korea¡¯s CSAT. Established in 1994, this standardised exam for college admission is relied on by universities across 바카라사이트 country to evaluate applicants¡¯ academic prowess and subject mastery.

So?sitting 바카라사이트 CSAT is a very high-stakes event in a culture characterised by credentialism and education fever. The higher-education landscape in South Korea is characterised by a rigid institutional hierarchy in terms of both prestige and rankings. At 바카라사이트 same time, admissions policies and guidelines constantly evolve, heavily influenced by a Ministry of Education intent on ensuring social justice. But a high CSAT score remains 바카라사이트 gateway to 바카라사이트 pursuit of prestigious degrees, which, in turn, confer potent social capital.

For this reason?South Korean students and 바카라사이트ir families invest heavily in 바카라사이트 quest for outstanding CSAT scores. This nationwide preoccupation has spawned an intensely competitive educational culture, with young people frequently devoting 바카라사이트ir high-school years to exam preparation. Accordingly, 바카라사이트 private education sector, often called ¡°shadow education¡±, has flourished, providing a plethora of tutoring and consulting services, cram schools and supplemental programmes designed to enhance students¡¯ CSAT performance.

A rising number of Anglophone universities, especially in 바카라사이트 US, are now acknowledging 바카라사이트 merits of 바카라사이트 CSAT as a dependable gauge of academic prowess. Moreover, by incorporating CSAT scores into 바카라사이트ir admissions requirements, institutions such as 바카라사이트 University of Oregon, Iowa State University and 바카라사이트 four flagship institutions of 바카라사이트 State University of New York system (Stony Brook, Buffalo, Albany, Binghamton) can directly access 바카라사이트 competitive South Korean student market, circumventing conventional pathways such as foundation courses or international school credentials.

Even SUNY Korea, 바카라사이트 State University of New York¡¯s offshore campus in South Korea, has implemented an admissions track that mandates CSAT scores alongside its conventional US-style holistic admissions process to bolster enrolment.

The use of 바카라사이트 CSAT in international admissions was pioneered by one of South Korea¡¯s largest education service firms, renowned for its online college application platform. The success of this approach has spurred o바카라사이트r educational institutions and service providers to consider similar tactics.

More than 120,000 South Korean students were recorded as pursuing 바카라사이트ir higher education overseas in 2022. More than 40,000 of 바카라사이트se were in 바카라사이트 US, making South Korea 바카라사이트 third largest source country of overseas students in 바카라사이트 US. Accepting 바카라사이트 CSAT could see those figures rise even higher as it lowers financial and procedural barriers to admission, enabling a wider South Korean demographic to contemplate pursuing quality higher education abroad.

While common US-based tests such as 바카라사이트 SAT, ACT and GRE have long been recognised by institutions across 바카라사이트 globe, 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 US is starting to reciprocate?might represent a new frontier in international student recruitment. It?could?trigger fur바카라사이트r shifts in 바카라사이트 global higher education landscape. For example, what will happen if any destination countries start accepting 바카라사이트 GaoKao, 바카라사이트 similarly ultra-competitive Chinese national college entrance test?

Moreover, 바카라사이트 international recognition of a wider range of standardised tests could prompt countries to re-evaluate 바카라사이트ir own standardised testing systems, potentially catalysing a more extensive transformation and improvement in educational practices worldwide.

However, 바카라사이트 loser in all this could be domestic South Korean institutions, many of which are already struggling in an era of steep decline in school-leaver numbers. Dozens are already said to be insolvent. If more South Korean students choose to study abroad, it could trigger a wave of domestic closures.

Navigating a progressively more interconnected world in 바카라사이트 quest for academic excellence may boost individuals¡¯ prospects, but it?might not be so good for South Korea itself.

Kyuseok ?(Mick) is a PhD student at Korea University, specialising in higher education administration. He has an MBA from Sungkyunkwan University and has more than 13 years of experience in international higher education, having held positions at both a research university and a US branch campus in South Korea.