Seoul National University medical student who won early admission to six medical schools shares study tips: "Finish 10th‐grade math by middle school"

[Financial News] A student who won early admission to six medical schools, including Seoul National University (SNU), has revealed her study methods, drawing wide attention.
On the 31st of last month, the YouTube channel Studio S uploaded a video titled "Top of the class SNU medical student shares habits for top grades."
The video features the story of how SNUCM student Lee Joo-an succeeded in the college entrance process.
In 2024, Lee was accepted to six medical schools: SNU, Yonsei University, Korea University (KU), The Catholic University of Korea, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), and Chung-Ang University. She attended a general high school in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, maintained a grade point average of 1.07 on a 1.0–5.0 scale, and said she also earned the top grade in every subject on the regular admissions exam.
Lee explained that she decided to become a doctor after seeing friends and people around her struggle both physically and mentally.
She pointed to the study habits she established in middle school as the key to her success in college admissions.
Lee said, "Your middle school grades themselves are not decisive, but that period is important because it is when you figure out how you will study in high school," adding, "Back then I developed my own way of taking notes on what teachers said in class."
She went on to say that during class she compared the textbook with the supplementary workbook and jotted down only the key points, creating her own note-taking style that she kept using through high school. She also said she developed a personal test routine, including a set order for studying each subject.
Lee remarked, "I thought it was important to study at my own pace," and added, "So if I was just sitting in a cram school class passively listening without understanding, I felt that was a waste of time."
She continued, "When I went to a cram school, I made sure I understood everything taught that day before going home. If there was anything I didn’t fully get, I would immediately go to the teacher, ask questions, and resolve it," adding, "Instead of just sitting there, listening to the lecture, and stopping at basic understanding, I tried to digest what I learned on the spot. That way, the time spent at the cram school effectively became my own study time as well."
Lee said that rather than pushing herself to stay up all night, she slept seven to eight hours a day and focused intensely during her waking hours.
She also recommended getting ahead in math and science before entering high school.
Lee said, "It really helps your high school grades if you finish at least 10th‐grade math while you’re still in middle school," and added, "Even if you can’t solve every advanced problem perfectly, it’s important to at least try them once and get a feel for the level."
She went on, "For science, I think having a solid foundation in middle school science is crucial. Science is a subject where concepts build on one another," advising that if your understanding of the middle school curriculum is firm, you will not be easily shaken in high school.
Lee also shared that to achieve her high grade point average of 1.07, she studied even during lunch breaks to stay focused, categorized her math mistakes by type, and organized them, and approached Korean literature concepts by structuring them systematically, similar to math.
She added that she had been an avid reader since childhood, and that this reading habit naturally developed her reading and comprehension skills.
However, she emphasized that in elementary school, gaining experiences is more important than studying.
Lee said she took part in a variety of school programs when she was young, including music, orchestra, and sports. She added that she also explored her interests directly by joining activities such as a science magazine reporters’ club, building up a range of experiences.
She further noted, "My parents didn’t force me to study; instead, they allowed me to have many different experiences," adding, "Those varied experiences really helped nurture my intellectual curiosity."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter