With the announcement of the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) results, which will determine the future of millions of candidates, the official preference period began on July 1st. In this critical period, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the well-known program “Life is a Choice,” which has become a tradition in guiding candidates and their families. In the program, he outlined a roadmap not only for career choice but also for life itself.
Prof. Tarhan said, “Feel that you are making one of the two most important decisions in your life. Make your choices as if you are writing a letter to your future self or watching a video of yourself ten years from now.” He emphasized long-term, meaningful, and principle-based career planning over short-term goals imposed by popular culture.
Prof. Tarhan stated, “Visit the campus, meet the professors, and experience the social environment firsthand. Especially in an era of loneliness, a city university that keeps you connected to social life is a great opportunity.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan added, “A profession that resists digitalization will end up in the dustbin of history… In the future, those most in demand will be psychologists, physicians, engineers, and communication experts who can effectively use artificial intelligence.”
As the official preference marathon, one of the most challenging stages for university candidates, begins, the Presidentof Üsküdar University, psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, who is also the one who coined the name of the program, appeared once again on “Life is a Choice,” hosted by Şaban Özdemir, offering vital guidance to candidates and their families as he has for 12 years.
The neuroscientific basis of our choices
Prof. Tarhan emphasized that the idea “life is a choice” is grounded in neuroscientific facts. “When we say ‘life is a choice,’ it is not just a saying, but it originates from neuroscience. In neuroscience, our brain has a control center, that is, the frontal lobe. Information from outside, internally generated thoughts, and chemical signals from the body all converge here. The brain makes choices among these: ‘appropriate or not, valid or invalid, safe or unsafe, beneficial or not.’ There is a mental judge that decides: ‘do it or do not do it.’ Every action, even something as simple as placing an item somewhere, is a choice. There are two especially critical decisions in a person’s life: one is choosing a career, and the other is choosing a spouse. Right now, young people should feel they are making one of the two most important decisions in their lives.”
Make your choices like writing a letter to the future!
Warning against the trap of popular choices that many young people fall into, Prof. Tarhan stressed the importance of acting with long-term vision rather than pursuing immediate gains.
He noted that self-awareness and choosing a field they love is the healthiest path to success.
“Young people tend to follow popular choices. They say, ‘this profession earns the most,’ or ‘this one is trendy,’ and make their choices accordingly. Instead of following popular trends, they should think more principle-based and ask, ‘Will this choice still be right for me ten or twenty years from now?’
Feel that you are making one of the most important decisions of your life. Make your decision as if you are writing a letter to your future self or watching a video of yourself ten years from now.
It is crucial that they know themselves, such as, their goals, strengths and weaknesses, and life philosophy. Another important recommendation is to choose a field where they can experience ‘flow,’ where they lose track of time while engaging with their work. When someone chooses a field they love and feel passionate about, studying, working, and reading does not feel like a burden. It feels like a hobby,” he said.
A profession is not an unchangeable identity!
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that the meaning attributed to professions often creates unnecessary pressure on young people and their families, reminding that a profession is not an unchangeable identity but rather a tool on the path toward life goals. He continued:
"Especially parents tend to view a profession not as clothing that can be changed, but as skin, that is, something permanent. But a profession is not like skin; it is like clothing. It can be changed, adjusted, and adapted to new circumstances if necessary. We have life goals, and the profession is a vehicle to reach those goals, but not the goal itself. Do not see the profession as the ultimate purpose. A person with a goal might be in profession A today, and profession B tomorrow. You can build on or transform your profession. To make healthy decisions, it is very important to think with a visionary mindset. In the journey of life, those who choose by asking, ‘What is the best decision for me?’ are better at solving problems and overcoming obstacles. In fact, each obstacle becomes a developmental opportunity, a constructive challenge for them."
A critical question before making your choice:
“Where can I best learn the profession I aspire to?”
Prof. Tarhan stressed that a university should not merely be an institution for gaining a profession, but an ecosystem that produces research, informs society, and helps students gain social and emotional skills.
Stating that Üsküdar University was established with this vision and has taken pioneering steps in this area, he explained: “A university has four functions: providing a profession, conducting R&D, informing society, and commercializing knowledge. In the 21st century, the learning model has changed. Learning is no longer just about transferring knowledge but about learning through experience and projects. The half-life of knowledge has decreased from 30 years to 3. Students should realize that a university full of repetitive lectures and slide-reading professors will not add much value to their lives. That is why, in 2013, we introduced a course called ‘Positive Psychology and Communication Skills’ not just to teach academic skills, but also to help students develop social and emotional competencies.”
One who finds meaning cannot be unhappy...
Pointing out that the modern world pushes young people to chase pleasure, which leads to dangerous consequences, Prof. Tarhan said their goal as a university is to raise a generation that pursues meaning rather than pleasure.
He continued: “We encourage our youth to become meaning seekers. A person who finds meaning in life cannot be unhappy. Even when faced with difficulties, they bounce back like a sponge or rubber as they are resilient. This must be taught. If we do not teach this in universities, we are missing a great opportunity. Let them take this course. Let them grow up in such an environment. Because our children are not truly ours, and they are children of their time. That is why parents should send their children to universities that offer a healthy ecosystem; institutions that are pluralistic, freedom-oriented, inclusive, and support critical thinking. Our university’s motto is built on these four foundations. We teach these values not only in theory but also through modules like stress management, forgiveness, and gratitude. We even get feedback like ‘my relationship with my father improved’ from students. It is great for universities to have fun environments too. Networking is very important. Friendships formed in university are never forgotten. This is a place to form meaningful friendships, ad they should make their decisions with this in mind.”
Pay attention to this principle in one of life’s most important decisions!
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the vital importance of evaluating the academic staff when choosing a university and highlighted the Anatolian wisdom principle of being "trustworthy and competent."
“Just as a person seeks someone trustworthy and competent to repair a watch or for medical care, they should adhere to the same principle when making one of the most important decisions of their life,” said Prof. Tarhan. He underlined that university and faculty choices directly shape a student’s future.
He added that the careful evaluation of the academic staff by students and families is no coincidence — it is a conscious search for trust: “Being trustworthy is one of our strategic goals. The formula for this is to be open, transparent, honest, and accountable.”
University professors are the navigators of life
Prof. Tarhan stated that the competence of the academic staff alone is not enough and that real learning begins with the student’s demand.
“In universities, 90% of learning happens when the student actively seeks it. That is why students were once called ‘talebe’ — which means ‘seeker.’ Universities hold a treasure trove of knowledge, and professors are the key holders. They do not hand you the treasure itself, but they show you the path to it. They are the navigators of life.”
Emphasizing that the mentor-apprentice relationship is indispensable, especially in the field of healthcare, Prof. Tarhan concluded: “Medicine is not just a science, and it is also an art. And art is learned through the mentor-apprentice model. This principle applies not only to health sciences but also to engineering, communication, and social sciences.”
Today, a healthcare professional who knows software is preparing for the future by combining their profession with digital conveniences…
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that Üsküdar University set out as a "thematic" university, aiming to integrate fields like health, engineering, and behavioral sciences under the principle of “science is one.” He added that by naming classrooms after figures such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Avicenna, they aim to offer students a vision that is both modern and connected to the past.
Prof. Tarhan emphasized that university candidates should definitely ask themselves, "What will the profession I choose look like ten years from now?", underlining the importance of acting in accordance with both global and local realities. He noted that while classical professions like medicine and teaching will always exist, their content will be reshaped by the digital revolution.
He continued: “Before AI became mainstream, we discussed in our senate whether to include a software course for our medical students. We concluded that pursuing a double major in both medicine and software engineering would be too difficult. Instead, we proposed offering a minor or elective courses from the software engineering department. Today, a healthcare professional who knows software is preparing for the future by integrating digital innovations into their field.”
Prof. Tarhan advised candidates to choose universities that offer such interdisciplinary opportunities, as it will better prepare them for the competitive world of the future.
A profession that resists digitalization ends up in the dustbin of history
Touching on the subject of artificial intelligence shaping future professions, Prof. Tarhan said it should not be seen as a threat but as a great opportunity when used correctly if one knows themselves.
He explained: “We are living through a digital revolution. Just as electricity transformed the world in the 1800s, AI is now leading a similar transformation. Replacing humans is not theoretically possible at this point. But a person who knows themselves will not become a toy for AI. Someone who does not know themselves easily becomes manipulated by AI, and even to the point of being pushed toward suicide. With deepfakes and digital twins, deception is everywhere. A profession that resists digitalization will be discarded by history.
Young people must master this field, but never lose sight of their ego ideals and where they want to be in 10–20 years. In the future, the most in-demand professionals will be those who use AI effectively , such as psychologists, doctors, engineers, communicators. If you use AI well, do not be afraid. It will not eliminate your profession, it will help it evolve. AI is now a tool to make our lives easier and faster. Let’s not see it as a threat, but as an opportunity.”
The future needs psychologists, doctors, engineers, and communicators who use ai well
Responding to the question, “Can AI replace a therapist?”, Prof. Tarhan answered clearly: “Absolutely not. Because it cannot understand a person’s inner dynamics or read their emotional masks. However, it can speed up and ease the specialist’s work. Therefore, the most needed psychology professionals in the future will be those who can use AI well. If you are a psychologist who uses AI well, you have nothing to fear. If you are a doctor, healthcare professional, clinician, engineer, communicator, social worker, child development specialist, or geneticist who uses AI effectively , and again, do not worry. AI will not destroy your profession; it will help it evolve.”
It can reduce a 10-session treatment to 5
Prof. Tarhan explained that AI can read physical symptoms (like skin temperature, heart rate) to evaluate stress levels and even use facial recognition programs to estimate emotional states:
“Some people put on strong personas and walk around with emotional masks. AI can read micro-expressions, but it cannot read the subconscious or inner dynamics of a person. There is no mathematical model that can measure this — and theoretically, it may never exist. That is why AI cannot replace a professional, but it can reduce a 10-session treatment to 5. For this reason, psychologists should not stay distant from digitalization. They should integrate these technologies into their profession.”
A university that does not disconnect you from social life is a big advantage
Prof. Tarhan shared key advice for university candidates making one of the most important decisions of their lives:
“Do not base your choices on popular trends or high salaries. Think in the medium to long term. Take the 10-minute Holland Test (Career Test) on Üsküdar University’s website to find out what area you're inclined toward. Do your online research, but if possible, visit the campus in person. See the campus, the professors, and the social environment firsthand. Especially in this era of loneliness, a city university that keeps you connected to social life is a huge advantage. Never fall into despair or hopelessness. Do not worry about what the future holds. Remember: the darkest times are often the harbingers of the brightest days. Hope is the most important medicine.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)