With the announcement of YKS results, prospective students are now experiencing the excitement of university preferences. Experts remind candidates to make the most of university promotion days during this period to see the university environments they might choose and meet other current and alumni students. Emphasizing the importance for candidates to ask themselves questions that help them better understand themselves and career fields, Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör advised them to follow their hearts, but always under the control of their minds…
Prospective university students are now facing a challenging preference marathon. Candidate students will make one of the most difficult decisions of their lives regarding which department to study and which university to choose. This decision, to be made by young people who have taken the university exam today, will affect their entire lives moving forward. This decision is not just about attending university. It will also determine what kind of life they will build for themselves and their families in the future, and what kind of professional life they will have with their chosen profession. To ensure all these factors are placed on a sound preference foundation, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör offered important recommendations to prospective students to support them in their selection process.
“They should try to understand career fields by asking themselves questions that help them know themselves better”
Advising students who are just at the beginning of the preference marathon to first question themselves thoroughly, Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör said, “Our university candidates should examine what they can do, what they enjoy, their interests, topics they would be interested in, professions they love, and their preferred work and lifestyle. They should think about what kind of future they imagine. First and foremost, they should question their talents, potential, interests, pleasures, feelings of joy, and job and professional fields by asking themselves questions that help them know themselves better. Then, they should decide on a department accordingly. Secondly, they should analyze which universities would be suitable for them to study this field or department. When deciding which university to attend, they should definitely visit the universities' websites, examine the academic staff and the CVs of these academics. They must gather information about the academic achievements of the faculty both domestically and internationally.”
“Question how much the university you choose will elevate you to an international level”
Drawing attention to the fact that another important point in university preference is connection with international platforms, Güngör said, “The overseas opportunities offered by the universities students choose are very important. We are now living in a globalized world. None of us are confined within the borders of a single country. Therefore, universities should review their strategies in terms of opening up to the world, benefiting from all opportunities of the global world, doing business in the global world, and setting a global vision. In the new world order, the opportunity for mobility that universities can provide at an international level emerges as a distinguishing factor.”
“Understand the Erasmus and internship opportunities offered well”
Speaking about the Erasmus and international internship opportunities offered by universities when making their choices, Güngör said, “In your preferences, it is important for your university to have institutions and organizations that are scientific and practical partners. Because internship and job opportunities within the same group and sister organizations for application and practice make a difference in students' education. Moreover, important collaborations abroad and exchange programs in different countries are also very significant. Furthermore, master's and doctoral education after completing undergraduate studies, though seemingly distant now, is a detail that should not be forgotten.”
“Don’t forget to ask about social opportunities that will make you happy, in addition to scientific production”
Güngör, highlighting that students dedicate 2 to 6 years to university education and that the best years of youth are spent at university, said, “The location of the university students will attend, the offered preference scholarships, and social facilities are also determining factors. We want these years to be both productive and enjoyable. We strive to provide productive education and teaching in a good scientific environment, as well as a pleasant social environment. We produce science, we provide education and teaching, but we are also social beings. Therefore, our social life must be enjoyable. For this reason, the diversity of student clubs is important for a meaningful university life. Students prepare for real life by carrying out various activities and social responsibility projects in these clubs. For example, Turkey unfortunately experienced an earthquake disaster this year. Approximately 25 of our students from our university went to the earthquake region with their instructors and tried to provide clothing and food aid and boost morale for the people there for a week. Perhaps these were bad experiences, but being with our earthquake-affected citizens was very meaningful for our students too.” With these words, she emphasized the importance of social life at the university.
“We aim for young people who want to prepare their future with an idealistic perspective”
Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, also drawing attention to Üsküdar Üniversitesi's perspective on student development, said, “A university’s primary mission should be to raise individuals with highly developed professional and humanistic qualities for the world of the future. The primary duty of academics and universities is to take responsibility for a better humanity. Therefore, we target young people who make rational decisions by thinking about themselves and their future, meaning not ‘I just want a university diploma, no matter what,’ but truly aiming to obtain a significant diploma, educate themselves, and prepare for their future with an idealistic perspective.”
“We must focus on tomorrow, starting today”
Underlining that students should make their choices with confidence that they will receive highly qualified education in a pleasant socio-cultural environment and be prepared for the world of the future, Güngör said, “We are talking about being ready not only for today but also for the world of the future. As in every field, we must focus on the future of education starting today. We place great importance on the emphasis on the future. When we talk about the world of the future, we think of technological advancements, new breakthroughs in science, genetics, artificial intelligence, and scientific fields based on digital technologies. They should research universities that have completed their preliminary actions for the scientific fields of the future. Since the future will be built on the shoulders of young people, then young people need to walk confidently towards the future. Change can only happen with quality minds. At this point, they should definitely have information about the R&D and research application centers of the universities they will choose. Because our students being entrepreneurial and project-oriented, looking at discovery with sympathy, and environments where their curiosity is supported bring new scientific discoveries. Therefore, they should consider all these. They should list universities where they will spend time in laboratories and libraries according to their interests and which produce many projects.”
“Let them go where their hearts lead, under the control of their minds”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör concluded her words with the following advice to candidates:
“Prospective students should question themselves very well. They should be rational, listen to their hearts, and heed their hearts. What are their excitements? What are their desires? What are their passions? What could make them happy? What kind of job, what kind of department? Let them go where their hearts lead, but always under the control of their minds. That is, the mind will guide them on their journey, and the heart will give them excitement. Therefore, let it be a department they will love and be excited about, but also let it be a field and department that will strongly prepare them for the future.”
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, who recommended career tests to those still undecided about their field, invited candidates to Üsküdar Üniversitesi’s promotion and preference days between July 20th and August 8th.