More than 1,700 waitlist admissions occurred in early admissions to medical schools nationwide for the 2026 academic year, as applicants who won multiple acceptances gave up their places to enroll at other medical schools. Some universities failed to fill their quotas even after admitting waitlisted candidates, shifting 50 slots to the regular admissions round.
An analysis by Jongro Academy of early admissions at 39 medical schools nationwide for the 2026 academic year, released on the 25th, found 1,728 waitlist admissions against a total of 1,812 slots. That equals 95.4% of the slots offered.
Waitlist admissions work by passing an offer to the next candidate in line when an initially accepted applicant declines to enroll. If that candidate also declines, the offer moves to the next-ranked applicant. The chain of waitlist admissions is attributed to applicants accepted by more than one medical school choosing the more sought-after institutions.
By track, the transcript-based admissions route produced 1,039 waitlist admissions against 920 slots, exceeding the number of places available. The comprehensive review route produced 689 waitlist admissions against 892 slots. Waitlist admissions amounted to 112.9% of slots in the transcript-based track and 77.2% in the comprehensive review track, a relatively higher share in the transcript-based route.
Despite the run of waitlist admissions, some universities could not fill all their early admissions slots. A total of 50 unfilled slots at 11 medical schools nationwide were carried over to the regular admissions round. Analysts attribute this to a smaller pool of eligible applicants, including those who failed to meet minimum score requirements on the College Scholastic Ability Test.
For the 2027 academic year, an expansion of admissions quotas tied to the introduction of a regional doctor program is expected to be a variable in filling medical school early admissions slots. "For the 2027 academic year, the expansion of admissions quotas under the regional doctor program could increase both multiple acceptances and withdrawals," said Lim Sung-ho, head of Jongro Academy. "As a result, more slots may go unfilled in early admissions and be carried over to the regular round."