Üsküdar University Education Institutions and Guidance Services Manager, Exp. Psych. Couns. Ece Tözeniş and Journalist-TV Program Presenter Şaban Özdemir met with Gebze Özelsin College students within the scope of "Life is a Choice" programs. The duo answered all the questions candidates preparing for the university exam were curious about.
Şaban Özdemir: "It is very important to be demanding"
Journalist Şaban Özdemir, emphasizing the importance of making conscious decisions during the university selection process, stated: "Some students can graduate from their university without demanding anything. They don't demand anything. It is not enough for universities to offer all kinds of opportunities to their students. Students themselves also need to be demanding. The process can only go so far with the university's, or the academician's, coercion. Sometimes you might be the demanding party, and your university might not be able to respond to your demands. In such cases, our student friends need to be persistent in their demands. When going to universities, it is necessary to go with a bit more awareness and consciousness. Most importantly, you need to have decided what you will do and in what field. I remember my own selection period. I didn't have a good guide. I made all my choices with my own means. Fortunately, I am doing a job I love now. I discovered my own talents and guided myself. Today's candidate friends are very lucky. There are widespread and quality guidance services," he said.
"Answering the question 'What do I enjoy doing?' is the most correct step"
Özdemir, speaking about the opportunities of digitalization that became widespread with the pandemic, said: "It is important not to get too hung up on a specific profession, but rather to correctly identify in which business areas one can do things. Because a profession can be a bit limiting. When we say 'field of work,' it's more comprehensive. For example, if you love talking and explaining, you can be a good tourism professional, a good TV program host, a good consultant, or a good marketer. Therefore, providing a healthy and sincere answer to the question 'What do I enjoy doing?' is, in my opinion, the most correct step. We weren't as lucky as you are. Guidance counselors provide immense advantages and support in this process. Digitalization is such a valuable thing that if you can use it, I believe the difference between studying in Turkey and studying abroad has truly disappeared. Now, many universities have opened many of their courses to everyone, some for a small fee, some freely accessible. In this context, Üsküdar University also has collaborations with international universities. So, even if you are in Turkey, know that you have the opportunity to receive education at world universities. That's why you are much luckier than us. Still, experience abroad. You can spend a few periods of the year there and practice to improve your language. Because the culture is different, the environment is different, but even if you study in Turkey, I don't think there will be a significant gap. I believe you can overcome this with your own efforts and the opportunities provided, as digitalization is a great opportunity," he stated.
Ece Tözeniş: "Gaining experience before moving to a higher class is very important"
Exp. Psych. Couns. Ece Tözeniş, who answered many questions from the candidates, also emphasized the importance of demanding and gaining experience while still a student in student life. Tözeniş included the following statements in her speech: "I spoke with a student studying at the medical faculty; as you know, their internship periods are different. They had just started, but their dream had been to study medicine for a long time, and they succeeded after three years. They connected with their friends working in the emergency room in higher classes and asked them for a favor. In the evenings, they would go with their friends and stay with them in the emergency room. He says, 'I want to see what they do professionally and experience it with them. That's why, by staying with them in the emergency room, I get the opportunity to observe what they do and how they intervene with incoming patients.' So, to observe them, they go and stay with them a few days a week, gaining experience before moving to higher classes. Indeed, demanding these things and doing them is very important in student life," she said.
Threshold scores abolished…
Noting that the 150 and 180 threshold scores used in associate and undergraduate preference selections have been abolished with the change, Ece Tözeniş stated the following:
"With this change, the system applied since 1974 has been terminated. In 2021, approximately 2.6 million candidates applied for YKS. The scores of 1,627,539 people were calculated, and more than 700,000 candidates could not make preferences because they did not pass the threshold. This led to a large number of quotas remaining empty in state and foundation universities. In the new system to be implemented, candidates who score at least half a net from Turkish or mathematics in TYT; and at least half a net from one of the two tests that form the basis for their AYT score calculation, will have their raw scores calculated. After the secondary education achievement scores are added to their raw scores, candidates will have the right to make preferences with the resulting scores."
The conclusion that everyone will be a university student should not be drawn
Warning that "It is not correct to conclude from this change that everyone will become a university student," Tözeniş said, "This is a ranking exam, and candidates will be placed in the departments they prefer based on a ranking from the highest to the lowest scores they obtain this year. While more students will have the right to make preferences, there will continue to be differences in departmental quota occupancy according to preference trends," she added.
Tözeniş, emphasizing that candidates should continue their remaining days with regular study without losing motivation, pointed out that the success ranking condition would continue in some departments. Tözeniş said, "The success ranking condition applied for some departments in previous years also continues in the 2022 YKS. Medical Faculty: minimum 50,000; Dentistry: minimum 80,000; Pharmacy Faculty: minimum 100,000; Law Faculty: minimum 100,000; Architecture programs: minimum 250,000; Engineering programs: minimum 300,000; Teaching programs (including Guidance and Psychological Counseling program): minimum 300,000 success ranking condition will be sought. Candidates who prefer these programs will be able to make their choices according to the lowest success ranking determined in the relevant score type," she stated.
Following the speeches by Ece Tözeniş and Şaban Özdemir, the program concluded with a group photo session.