Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör this week offered advice to university candidates for the preference process in her weekly articles penned for 12 Punto. Here is Güngör's article titled 'Realistic Goal for the Right Choice':
With the announcement of university entrance exam results, the anxious wait has ended. However, the excitement of preferences has now begun. Exhibition areas for university promotion are packed. The same hustle and bustle is present on university campuses. On one hand, programs corresponding to the scores obtained are being listed, while on the other hand, a list of programs and departments the candidate wishes to study is being prepared.
To what extent do dreams align with reality? Candidates and their families are anxiously searching for the answer to this question. But it's very difficult. There are dozens of factors that will influence whether realities and dreams align or conflict. Entering the targeted program with the obtained score is, of course, ideal. But this is not easy at all. The main reason for this is that certain professions are fixed within areas of prestige in our society, especially, leading candidates to mostly gravitate towards those professions.
Because fields like medicine, engineering, and law have always maintained their place in this area of prestige, families set limited goals for their children from an early age, striving to raise them accordingly. The general societal goal being on the same path makes the competition tough.
Yet, all professions, all fields of work, all types of labor are valuable and respected. What matters is to produce, to contribute. No matter what professional field, job, or work environment a person works in, if they do their job properly, with genuine desire, energy, and enthusiasm, they will both perform well and achieve personal satisfaction. This is the satisfaction and joy of contributing to the world and life one lives in, of adding value. Therefore, to be happy, one does not necessarily need to have professions fixed within certain areas of prestige in society. Having a profession and achieving the necessary success in it is much more important. Respect, importance, and value do not stem from the profession or job itself, but rather from the way the profession or job is performed. Studying medicine does not mean we will be good doctors. If we cannot be good doctors, we cannot earn respect from society. But a car mechanic who does their job very well can also be defined as a respected professional, thus achieving job satisfaction and experiencing the joy of production.
Therefore, the hundreds of thousands of candidates gathered at university gates do not need to focus on specific professions, fields, or departments. It is beneficial for them to think broadly. There is definitely a program they can enroll in for every score. The number of universities, departments, and programs in Turkey is sufficient to meet the demand. Provided that our young people set their goals correctly and make the right choices.
Of course, it is much easier for those who score high to reach their goals. Those who did not get the scores they expected have no need to despair or be unhappy. Instead of fixating on specific professions, it is very important in making the right choice to keep goals broad, increase options, and perhaps even consider fields that had never been thought of before. Especially some candidates with low scores choose to wait, under the guise of taking a gap year, instead of entering a suitable program. However, starting somewhere as soon as possible is much more realistic for reaching a goal. My experiences and observations show that waiting often doesn't work. Very few of those who wait can achieve their target score in the next exam. Unfortunately, this is not true for the vast majority. Therefore, I think starting as soon as possible is the best course of action.
Instead of focusing on specific professional fields, and thus specific departments and programs, let's increase our options. I recommend candidates who did not achieve scores sufficient to enroll in their targeted undergraduate programs to consider associate degree programs. Both globally and in Turkey, there is a great need for mid-level staff in almost all sectors. For example, it would be much more realistic for candidates aiming for computer engineering but not getting sufficient scores to enroll in an associate degree program that provides computer technician training, starting from there to both be involved in production and eventually reach their engineering goal. Similarly, why shouldn't candidates aiming for medicine but not getting sufficient scores enroll in a health-focused undergraduate program such as nursing or midwifery and start immediately, continuing their education towards medicine later if they wish? It would be much more realistic for candidates who wish to work in the health sector but do not get sufficient scores to enter the relevant undergraduate programs to start the process by enrolling in one of the associate degree programs in the health field, and then continue to their desired undergraduate program through vertical transfer.
What is important is to start somewhere, as soon as possible. Associate degree programs are very suitable, especially for candidates with low scores. There are numerous associate degree programs. With so many program options available corresponding to all sectors, there is no need to wait at all.
In a world where change, development, and diversification are very rapid, where needs and demands are extremely varied, and where the rhythm of life is accelerating to its fullest, there is actually little room for waiting, postponing, or making long-term plans. Choices should be made correctly and quickly, and one should start as soon as possible. Let's not forget that if goals are set realistically, achieving them becomes easier. Instead of getting caught up in our dreams and waiting, it is best to keep goals realistic and achieve them as soon as possible. We will always have time to dream, but there is no need to shorten the time to reach goals.
The faster we take the path to our goals, the sooner we will reach our ideals.
Let's not forget.