This blog post introduces an actual sample academic plan from a student preparing to major in economics.

Writing About Academic Experience and Reflections

The most challenging aspect of transitioning from middle school to high school was adapting to a completely different study method. The very format of exams changed drastically, making it difficult to achieve good grades using my previous approach. Above all, keeping up with the current workload alone felt overwhelming. Naturally, I desperately needed a faster, more effective way to study and a learning method that could efficiently digest more content.
After much trial and error, I finally found my own study method: organizing my wrong answers while grasping the underlying concepts.
Initially, I started organizing my wrong answers without much thought, simply because all my friends were doing it and teachers emphasized, “You absolutely must organize your wrong answers.” However, merely re-solving and checking the wrong problems wasn’t very effective. Above all, time was scarce, and the sheer volume of wrong problems meant re-solving them didn’t guarantee I’d remember everything.
Furthermore, I hadn’t sufficiently solidified my concepts during middle school, so I found myself needing to organize them only after entering high school. After wrestling with this dilemma, I asked myself, ‘How can I study more efficiently in one go?’ The method I devised as a result was to organize concepts while reviewing my wrong answers.
From then on, I diligently solved problems at school and, upon returning home, consistently dedicated about three hours daily to studying by combining error analysis with concept learning. I meticulously reviewed each wrong answer, identifying which unit it came from and pinpointing exactly which concept I hadn’t grasped. This process naturally made me familiar with problem types and gradually solidified my understanding of the concepts I’d previously struggled with.
Most importantly, this study method didn’t just help improve my grades. The process itself—recognizing my weaknesses, analyzing their causes, and finding solutions—became a valuable asset. Through that experience, I gained the confidence that I could overcome any future studies or challenges, and this remains the driving force behind my motivation to learn even now.
There is no single correct way to study. However, the process of constantly reflecting on and discovering the method that works best for you is absolutely essential. For me, the “study method of organizing wrong answers to grasp concepts” was that solution, and this approach brought a major turning point to my academic journey.
To those reading this now, if you go beyond simply organizing your wrong answers and instead ask yourself ‘why I got it wrong’ and ‘what concepts I’m lacking,’ and then organize those insights, you will undoubtedly build a more solid foundation of knowledge. And that process will surely become an experience that strengthens you beyond just studying.

Writing about major school activities and reflections

“The activity I pursued with the most passion: my first-ever class president role”
Reflecting on my three years of high school, I thought about the activity outside of academics that I poured the most passion into. The first thing that came to mind was undoubtedly my role as class president during the first semester of my sophomore year—my very first time holding such a position. While it might be a familiar and common experience for some, for me, it was a huge challenge and a special experience.
Truthfully, I had always avoided the position of class president. Being president often meant having to buy drinks or snacks for events, and given my family’s financial situation at the time, I was cautious about even such small expenses becoming a burden on my parents. As our financially strained circumstances persisted, I naturally steered clear of such roles.
However, when I entered my sophomore year, the situation changed. Thanks to my consistent diligence in studying and my efforts to share my own study methods with friends, both my teacher and classmates recognized my efforts. This led to my nomination as a class president candidate. Ultimately, I was elected through a vote and took on the role of leading the class.
My classmates understood my circumstances well. None of them blamed or complained about a class president who couldn’t afford to buy them an ice cream during events like the sports day. Instead, they trusted and supported me, and I was incredibly grateful for that kindness. This made me feel even more responsible and I tried my best to fulfill the role of class president.
The task I focused on most was systematically utilizing the bulletin board at the back of the classroom. I organized and posted information about volunteer activities, contests, and various competitions, and tidied up the board so that performance assessments and assignment schedules could be seen at a glance. As the grade level increased, the assignments piled up and schedules grew more complex, so I really wanted to be a small help to my friends. I thought that if I could help someone remember something, that alone would be enough.
Of course, there were times when it was tough and annoying for me too. But whenever the teacher gave instructions, I made sure to check them carefully and strive to pass them on to my friends without missing anything. Sharing information and guiding class activities through the bulletin board proved very convenient for both the teacher and my classmates. Hearing comments like, “It’s great because I don’t forget my homework anymore,” always made me feel proud.
Through this experience, I learned how to effectively organize and convey information. Maintaining the bulletin board consistently was also a valuable time that helped me develop the ability to write concisely and clearly, and to grasp and communicate key points.

My Favorite Activity: Reading Books in the Book Club

If I had to pick one favorite activity, it would undoubtedly be the book club. I’ve loved reading novels since childhood, but joining the book club deepened that enjoyment significantly. Above all, meeting great seniors and friends, recommending books to each other, and sharing our thoughts was a huge inspiration for me and naturally broadened my reading horizons.
Initially, I mainly read novels, but through interactions with seniors, I gradually developed an interest in nonfiction. I especially had more opportunities to encounter economics-related books, and several of them were so impactful they changed the direction of my life. What I found most fascinating about reading economics books was learning insights that pierced through society and the future, hidden within small everyday phenomena.
Reading the works of economists who predict and analyze the future through a single small figure or a minor change felt like putting on a pair of glasses that let me see the world differently. That insight and analytical power captivated me, and I naturally began to dream of becoming an economist myself.
Furthermore, through my activities in the reading club, I was able to consistently practice reading books and writing reviews. This process also greatly strengthened my writing skills. It wasn’t just about jotting down feelings; practicing how to organize my thoughts on how I read a book and what perspective I took greatly helped me structure and express my ideas.
Looking back, my activities in the reading club gave me more than just books. They gave me encounters with good people, curiosity about diverse fields, and even the opportunity to set the direction of my life. It was a precious time, deeply meaningful and influential, truly deserving of being called my favorite activity.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

“As class president, to help classmates falling behind”
Among my efforts to foster cooperation and manage conflicts, the most memorable experience was organizing and running a study group. At the time, my school had a significant gap in academic ability among students, and our class in particular had both the top and bottom students in the entire school. Even the teachers struggled with how to conduct lessons. If the lesson level was set for the top students, the lower-performing students struggled to keep up; conversely, if it was set for the lower students, the lesson became inefficient for the top students.
To address this problem even slightly, as class president, I proposed a study group initiative during our class meeting. Perhaps because the mood in the class was ripe for it, the proposal passed smoothly, and we began operating the study group in earnest. The purpose of the study group was to reduce the academic gap by studying basic concept books together with friends who were struggling with their studies. I took charge of overall management and operation, checking the assigned daily study content (10 pages) and providing feedback each morning.
However, it wasn’t as easy as I had imagined. Many students lacked interest in studying, so they often failed to complete their assigned work or gave up quickly if they found it slightly challenging. The most difficult cases were those who outright refused to study, saying, “I can’t do it because I don’t understand.” In those moments, even my position as class president felt powerless, leaving me feeling utterly helpless. I even began to doubt whether this study group could truly be of any practical help.
Still, I refused to give up, thinking, ‘Since I’ve already started, I’ll see it through to the end.’ After leading the group alone for about half a semester, I began to sense a gradual shift. Teachers and some classmates, seeing my quiet persistence, started offering help voluntarily. The teacher offered generous advice and encouragement, while academically strong classmates began stepping forward to help those struggling with their assignments.
As a result, the study group that had started so difficultly gradually came alive. Furthermore, it positively influenced the atmosphere of our entire class. It transformed into a classroom where everyone learned together, a classroom where we grew by helping each other.
Through this experience, I gained an important realization: effort is never wasted, and sincere effort ultimately moves the hearts of those around you. It was a precious experience that made me truly understand the saying, “God helps those who help themselves,” and it was also an opportunity to personally feel what genuine cooperation and consideration truly mean.
Moving forward, I aspire to be someone who never hesitates to help others and continues even small acts of kindness. This experience became a valuable asset, deeply engraving the values of sharing and cooperation into my life, far beyond the scope of a simple class president role.

Motivation for Application and Career Plans

“Economics: The discipline you must study to stay ahead of the times.”
The primary reason I decided to major in Economics at The Catholic University of Korea is that this discipline resonated most profoundly with me. Initially, I viewed economics as merely a skill for calculating numbers or money. However, upon reading economics-related books, I realized how fragmented and superficial that perception was. Economics is not simply a discipline dealing with numbers. It was a profound field that reads the currents of society, predicts the future, and analyzes human behavior and choices.
The particular appeal of economics lies in ‘prediction’. The process of discerning major societal trends from small clues felt like carefully unraveling a tangled thread. By focusing on one phenomenon, examining the underlying structure, and thereby understanding larger social changes, economics presented itself to me as an incredibly fascinating and compelling discipline. For these reasons, I decided to major in economics.
After admission, my career plan is to discover and solidify my dreams within the framework of economics. The second reason I chose economics is its expansiveness. I believe economics forms the foundation for all other disciplines and social phenomena, making it essential for anyone seeking to understand the world one step ahead.
I believe this: To understand an era, one must first understand ‘money’. And to move an era, one must be able to read the ‘flow of money’. We must know how funds were used in the past and what economic structures formed as a result. We must also be able to analyze how consumption occurs today and how new consumption patterns emerge. Economics provides a powerful tool for understanding and analyzing these flows.
Therefore, I aim to broaden my perspective on the world through economics and, building on that foundation, solidify my career path. I believe that as my knowledge of economics deepens, the direction I desire will become clearer. Economics isn’t merely about learning theory; it’s closely intertwined with real-world social phenomena. The more I study it, the more questions and curiosity arise, and with that comes greater opportunity for growth.
My ultimate dream is to help ‘people doing new things’—specifically, to work in venture investment and entrepreneurship. I want to support individuals with innovative ideas and help create an investment environment where they can realize their larger visions. Achieving this requires diverse skills and insights; it demands more than mere knowledge. Furthermore, I believe I must identify my own strengths and cultivate the professional capabilities that align with them.
Economics is the most fundamental and powerful discipline for cultivating an eye for understanding industries. Therefore, through this major, I aim to gain insight into the trends of our times and gradually move closer to my dream. While I am currently standing at the starting line, I want to forge my path through clear goals and persistent effort.