What are the popular websites for Korean students to research their study opportunities within Korea and abroad? Our guest blogger Yaeri Kim, a Case Western Reserve University graduate student, explains the most popular sites so that you can improve your marketing and recruitment in South Korea.
When a Korean Student Applies to a College in Korea
Korean students use a variety of sites to research colleges. Uway (Figure 1), Jinhak and Daeseon Mimac are well-known sites used by Korean students. Because these sites usually provide similar information, I would like to introduce how Korean students employ these sites when they research colleges and what kind of information these sites offer. I will use Uway as my example.
Figure 1--Uway
According to Figure 1, Uway provides six different services to students. First, students can easily apply to most colleges located in Korea through this site (No.1 in Figure 1). Thanks to this service, students do not need to visit individual college websites. That is, they can apply to various colleges through this service, similar to the Common Application in the US. Second, Uway provides information, such as admission policies offered by the Korean government and individual colleges (No.2 in Figure 1). Third, students can analyze their grades (No.3 in Figure 1). This site has collected students’ SAT scores for more than 15 years. Therefore, students can compare their mock SAT scores with past students’ actual SAT scores. (Note: In Korea, students take the mock SAT in June and September before taking the actual SAT in November. Korean students can take the actual SAT only once a year.) Because this site also provides current students’ mock SAT scores, students can compare their scores with current students’ scores as well. Fourth, students can make an appointment with a consultant who works in this company in order to analyze their grades (No.4 in Figure 1). Based on the database, which includes past students’ SAT scores and GPAs, the consultant recommends various colleges to which the student can be admitted. In Korea, SAT scores and cumulative GPA are the most important factors for admission. Fifth, experts proofread a student’s letter of self-introduction required by some colleges (No.1 in Figure 1). Sixth, Uway also offers information about colleges in foreign countries, such as the U.S. and Canada.
When a Korean Student Applies to a College in an Overseas Country
Although Uway, Jinhak, and Daeseong Mimac provide services related to foreign colleges, many students who want to study abroad use different sites. For example, many students use Uhak.com (Figures 2 and 3) and YESuhak (Figure 4). Because these sites are very similar, I want to explain how Korean students use these sites when they apply to foreign colleges. Uhak.com, the most popular site, will be my example.
Figure 2--Uhak.com
Figure 3-- Uhak.com
Figure 4-- YESuhak
Uhak.com helps students who want to study abroad in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Malta, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Most Korean students prefer English-speaking countries, especially the U.S., because their second language is generally English and many American universities are well-known in Korea. The information Uhak.com provides is fairly similar but different from Uway. For instance, the process to apply to each college and information about the colleges, such as minimum SAT scores required and minimum TOEFL scores required, are described in the site. However, differently from Uway, Uhak.com explains characteristics of each country, including culture, safety, and the education system, as well as, important information about the visa process. Unfortunately, Uhak.com, including YESuhak, does not have enough data about past students’ SAT scores or GPA. As a result, students cannot accurately predict whether they will be accepted by colleges by comparing past students’ data. However, the most powerful advantage of this company is that it cooperates with various educational organizations, such as ELS Language Centers and KAPLAN.
The Most Popular Sites Besides the College Specific Web Pages Used by Students
Korean teenagers also use popular sites, such as EBSi (Figure 5), which is free, and Megastudy, which is not free, to take online courses. Even though they provide information about colleges in Korea like Uway, they concentrate on offering online courses, such as Korean, English, Math, and Science. They also focus on courses in order to prepare students for the Korean SAT. Differently from EBSi, Megastudy provides courses for various tests for foreign colleges, such as the SAT. However, these courses are not as popular as courses related to the Korean SAT.
Figure 5-- EBSi
