The past five years have been of decisive importance in shaping trends and choices, with the development of new technologies and the expansion of artificial intelligence reshaping the preference map for candidates taking the national university entrance exams. With the countdown underway until the announcement of exam results in the coming weeks, and admission scores expected to be announced at the end of July, the picture of rising and falling schools has more or less crystallized.
What experts find interesting is the drop in admission scores for historically high-ranking schools, as well as the shift of candidates from the first academic field to the fourth academic field. Specifically, there’s a noticeable move away from social sciences and humanities, as the technology field evolves into a major attraction. The development of artificial intelligence contributes in its own way to making polytechnic schools see an upward trend in many cases. At the same time, there’s been a decrease in the number of top-performing students from last year to this year.
Educators tell parapolitika.gr: Fewer top students, more prefer technology and psychology
“The number of top students who were candidates for law school decreased, so the admission score will drop. The first academic field shows lower grade percentages, which is evident from subjects like ancient Greek and history,” emphasizes educator and exam analyst Christos Katsikas to parapolitika.gr.
He observes a shift from the first academic field over the past four to five years, with candidates specifically turning toward economics schools and computer science programs. This happens because, as he explains, the fourth academic field has more schools and subjects are handled with greater ease.
Katsikas notes that top students are “slightly fewer than last year” due to more demanding exam questions in fields where grading is more rigorous.
How preferences changed over 10 years
The formation of trends over approximately ten years is analyzed by Eleni Alpanidou, career counselor at the Orientum center, speaking to parapolitika.gr. She finds that research conducted from 2012 to 2024, with a sample of 55,000 students, showed low demand for social sciences – essentially a move away from the first academic field.
The artificial intelligence factor has its own significance, with some candidates choosing schools based on the likelihood of easy replacement by new AI tools. For this reason, polytechnic schools remain high in demand, while in humanities many are turning to psychology, particularly in mental health.
Alpanidou points out that many students combine technology with their first degree. For high-demand sectors, she emphasizes those related to energy, sustainability, circular economy, clean technologies, and healthcare professions.
