Experts evaluating the lowering of the 2021 YKS threshold scores remind that the threshold rule only covers the second additional placement period. Exp. Psychologist Consultant Ece Tözeniş points out that a regulation regarding the rule of making higher preferences in the second additional placement is essential and states that candidates who will prefer associate degree programs should make their choices by August 20th to increase their chances of placement.
Regulation needed in the second additional placement…
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Education Institutions and Guidance Services Manager, Exp. Psychologist Consultant Ece Tözeniş, evaluated the lowering of the threshold in YKS.
Reminding that the introduced threshold rule only covers the second additional placement period, Tözeniş stated that a regulation regarding the rule of making higher preferences in the second additional placement is also essential. Tözeniş recommended that candidates who will prefer associate degree programs should make their choices by August 20th to increase their chances of placement.
"Base scores fluctuate, preferences should be made according to success rank"
Exp. Psychologist Consultant Tözeniş, drawing attention to the importance of making correct choices and acting according to preference rules, said, “Students primarily have the right to make 24 choices. But they do not have to make all of these choices. They can create their preferences according to the associate degree and undergraduate departments and programs they desire. The most important criterion here is that we have a base score and a success rank. Students must primarily make their choices based on success rank, not on score. In other words, they should set aside their scores and create a preference list by comparing the success ranks formed last year with the success ranks they see in their own result documents this year, because the base scores fluctuate a lot due to the changing successes of students taking the exam every year. For us, making preferences according to success rank is a more accurate criterion. So, they should consider the success ranks beforehand.”
"A highly preferred department last year may be less preferred this year"
Exp. Psychologist Consultant Tözeniş, sharing insights on which departments candidates taking the exam this year might prefer, said, “The most important criterion here is that we are actually talking with some statistical data… We do not know the preference tendencies of students. Therefore, making half as many upper preferences and half as many lower preferences is both reassuring and an important criterion for candidates. There is such a surprise every year. Because we don't know which departments this year's students will prefer. Yes, we know the students in numerical, equally weighted, and verbal fields, but we cannot know or foresee their preference tendencies. A numerical student can go to an equally weighted field. An equally weighted student can go to a verbal field. There won't be very big fluctuations in the top ranks; the student who will prefer numerical fields like medicine or dentistry is clear here. In equally weighted fields, the students who will prefer law or psychology are somewhat clear, and here we are talking about departments that also have threshold success ranks. They need to stay within those threshold success ranks in those departments, but there is always a chance for us to be placed in a higher preference. A department that was highly preferred last year may be less preferred this year.”
"Students should listen to their hearts and make their final decisions"
Exp. Psychologist Consultant Tözeniş, emphasizing that prospective students should choose the departments they genuinely want to enter, said, “Currently, there are additional scholarships offered during the preference period. They need to discuss these in great detail. How long will these scholarships continue, or if they are considering moving out of the city, they need to research well whether the faculty they will attend is within the city or sometimes the faculty can be in different districts. As soon as they move out of the city, the most important priority will be accommodation. They need to research all of these, such as what the state dormitories are like there, and in which areas the school's dormitories are located, before making their choices. The second thing is that while creating a list, they also do this. Currently, of course, their anxieties are high; after all, they are curious about where they will be placed and what will be appropriate for the subject. Sometimes, they fall into great despair here and say, 'No matter what, I must be placed,' and write down departments they actually don't want and have never considered before, and unfortunately, they experience sadness when they are placed there. Students should listen to their hearts and make the final decision themselves. Of course, the experience-based suggestions of both family and elders are very important, but ultimately, it is my student friend's life, and it is right for them to make the final decision.”
"The threshold application will be valid during the second additional placement period…"
Tözeniş, also evaluating President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements that candidates with a TYT score of 140 and an AYT/YDT score of 170 or higher will be able to make preferences in the second additional placement, said, “The first placements will be completed between August 05-20, 2021, without any changes to the threshold scores. Electronic registrations for placed students will take place between September 4-8; in-person registrations will take place between September 6-10. Additional placements will be opened for the remaining vacant quotas after registrations. The rules of the first placement will also continue in the additional placements. After the central and additional placements are completed, a ‘second additional placement’ will be made for the remaining vacant quotas. In the second additional placement, candidates with a TYT score of 140; AYT/YDT score of 170 or higher will be able to make preferences.”
"Regulation is a must in the second additional placement!"
Reminding that “In additional placement, candidates did not have the chance to make higher preferences because the rule required the candidate's score in associate degree and undergraduate programs to be equal to or greater than the program's lowest score in the relevant score type,” Tözeniş stated, “A regulation regarding this rule needs to be made for the second additional placement.”
"Candidates considering associate degree should make their preferences by August 20th!"
Tözeniş made the following recommendations: “Since additional placements will be made based on the remaining vacant quotas, candidates considering preferring associate degree programs making their preference declarations by August 20th will increase their chances of placement through more quotas.”