While the university candidates' preference marathon continues, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör pointed out that young people are caught between their scores, future dreams, and family expectations, stating, "Family members must also be realistic. Ideals are important in making the right choice, but realities should not overshadow ideals. When making choices, let's not forget that there is definitely a job and professional field for every individual. No profession is more or less respectable than another. The social system is possible with the coordinated operation of all job and professional branches. There are opportunities for everyone to become functional in society, as long as young people are eager to seize these opportunities."
Güngör stated that some young people received the scores they deserved for their disciplined work, but on the other hand, they struggled with choosing a department/program and profession. She said, "The main problem at this point is the lack of full alignment between young people's decisions about their own lives and the expectations of family members. The generation gap is quite effective here. In this process, family members must also be realistic and consider the young person's wishes, expectations, and capacity before their own desires and expectations. Ideals are important in making the right choice, but realities should not overshadow ideals."
Güngör pointed out that the rapid digitalization of the world and the fact that young people were born into and grew up with digital technologies differentiate them from previous generations in many ways. She stated, "With digital technologies, the opening of new professional and occupational fields and the emergence of interesting opportunities with computer-based technologies also mean the development of different ideals and perspectives in future plans for young people. For example, while computer-based professions (software, digital game design, artificial intelligence engineering, etc.) become much more attractive for young people, professions like medicine, law, and traditional engineering fields still appeal to parents. While families try to direct their children to professional fields considered reputable and offering job security in their own time, young people's preference is to activate their creative and entrepreneurial potentials within the new fields opened by technological developments, and if necessary, to embark on an adventure for their dreams and ideals."
Young people should be left free in their choices
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör stated that young people should plan their lives as they wish, saying, "My suggestion is that young people should be left free in their choices. Let's not forget that behind all the serious developments and transformations in human history to date, there are creative, entrepreneurial, brave, and even brilliant people who are not afraid to embark on adventures. Let them make their choices as they wish. This is their life. Let's trust them, because they know their own capacities and desires much better. And let's be proud of their successes."
Realities should not overshadow ideals
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör pointed out that one of the important problems encountered during the preference process is the discrepancy between the exam scores and ideals. She said, "Not every student can be expected to study with the same discipline and enthusiasm. Moreover, even with determination and discipline, there is no such thing as every individual having the same capacity. Not everyone has to study medicine or engineering. There are many professions and job fields. There is definitely a university department that every student can enjoy studying; a job and professional field where they can be successful, provided that one is realistic." Güngör emphasized that at this point, family circles should primarily not exert pressure, stating: "It is very important to leave the young individual free to analyze their own capacity, to freely understand their desires and expectations, ideals, and dreams for life. Of course, they can offer some suggestions, they can consult, but in this process, family members must also be realistic and take into account the young person's wishes and expectations, and capacity before their own desires and expectations. Ideals are important in making the right choice, but realities should not overshadow ideals.
When making choices, let's not forget that there is definitely a job and professional field that every individual can do. No profession is more or less respectable than another. Since the social system is possible with the coordinated operation of all job and professional branches, there are opportunities for everyone to become functional in society, provided that one is eager to seize these opportunities.
Associate degree graduates do not remain unemployed
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör also advised candidates who scored low on the exam that they could choose associate degree departments and programs. Güngör said, "By choosing associate degree programs that train intermediate staff for various sectoral areas, young people can make significant career advancements and seize job opportunities. There is always a need for intermediate staff in all sectors. Therefore, it is out of the question for young people studying an associate degree program to remain unemployed. Furthermore, after graduating from associate degree programs, it is possible to transfer to relevant bachelor's degree programs with a vertical transfer exam. University doors are not closed for young people who score low on the exam. There is no need for them to stop and wait to pursue their ideals, or to postpone becoming a university student. They can consider starting by enrolling in an associate degree program as soon as possible. After that, with determination and disciplined work, they can plan a future in which they can realize their professional or academic ideals."
Benefiting from experience provides advantage…
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör noted that for the right choice, an individual must know themselves very well, analyzing their capacity, tastes, ideals, and expectations from life. She added that family members should also try to understand the young person's dreams, expectations, and ideals before their own. Güngör said, "Families must give young people the opportunity to realize themselves. But young individuals should also not be entirely closed off to the suggestions of their family circle and elders. Experiences, knowledge, and accumulations are always important, so benefiting from the experiences of those who have experienced life more than us does no harm, it provides benefit. Family members should empathize with young people, but young people should also not neglect to empathize with their elders. A middle ground that will please them all can surely be found." Güngör stated that mutual and open communication is very important in finding a middle ground, adding, "The young individual should openly share their wishes, expectations, and ideals with their elders, and the elders should receive the young person's future planning with understanding and support them. Therefore, open communication and the principle that two heads are better than one are very important for the right choice.
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