With the announcement of YKS results, it's time for preferences, one of the important steps in the university journey… Considering the number of candidates taking the exam, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in his capacity as an educator and psychiatrist, offered guiding recommendations to candidates regarding the preferences that closely concern a significant part of Turkey. Stating that the first condition for the right choice is for the person to know themselves and the profession, Tarhan said that a connection should be established between personal characteristics and the characteristics of the profession. Reminding that a profession is important not only for livelihood but also for one's self-satisfaction, contentment, and happiness, Tarhan stated that a correctly chosen profession has a therapeutic effect.
University exam results have been announced, and success rankings are clear. Now, it's time to make preferences. University candidates will make their preferences according to their success rankings until August 8, which is the final application date announced by YÖK. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that considering their families, 15 million people are in the preference period, talked about methods for making correct decisions and explained the key points for choosing suitable professions.
Candidates should not choose departments they would 'absolutely never go to!'
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, 'There are two important choices in a person's life: career selection and marriage. Research on decision-making behavior shows that 52% of people cannot choose the profession they initially desired. For this reason, the rate of retaking the exam is very high. Young people realize they won't pursue that profession while studying, then they want to change places. They retake the exam. Nearly one-third of those who take the exam retake it. Although the horizontal transfer system is becoming widespread, students should not choose a department they do not want. They should not include departments they would say 'I would absolutely never go to' in their selection lists,' he warned.
There is a serious connection between personality traits and profession
Tarhan listed the stages of choosing the right profession as follows: 'In the first stage, a person needs to prioritize by knowing themselves; their talents and competencies. The second stage is to get to know the profession they will choose. What are the weak and strong points of the profession, what is the concept of working hours? Will they be both happy and successful when doing this job? Have they observed people doing this profession? What impression did they get?... they should look at such details. In the final stage, they need to establish a connection between their own personality traits and the characteristics of the profession,' he said. Explaining the issue of choosing the right profession with examples, Tarhan said, 'Someone who loves to interact with people, talk to them, chat, and help can choose nursing or psychology as a profession, while a person with low social scores who does not like to interact with people and does not want to talk can choose a profession requiring technical skills. A person with more developed social and emotional skills and a sense of compassion can choose the teaching profession. Therefore, there is a very serious connection between personality traits and profession,' he stated.
A correctly chosen profession has a therapeutic effect
Tarhan stated that the issue of 'livelihood' is usually prioritized in career choices, and added, 'A profession is not just about livelihood but also important for one's self-satisfaction, contentment, and happiness. Doing one's job with love, having a purpose when waking up in the morning, having a planned life, and being able to plan today and the future are important for mental health. For example, in therapies, we set having a purpose when waking up in the morning as a therapeutic goal. A correctly chosen profession also has a therapeutic effect. It should not be considered solely as financial gain. Therefore, we advise students, when making their choices, to make a decision not just for their 4-year university education, but one where they can say, 'I want a profession that I will carry like a sword throughout my life and spend my life with.''
The candidate will make the final decision!
Emphasizing the importance for young people to consult everyone who knows them and a preference advisor during this period, Tarhan said, 'A person's university life is one of the most important social periods. While their personality is shaping, their profession is also shaping. Friendships and peer relationships in universities are truly important. Therefore, the child will make the final decision by asking their parents, getting the opinion of the guidance counselor and class teacher who knows them at school, and consulting a preference advisor. They will bear the responsibility for their decision. If they regret it, they will experience the pain themselves. Later, they should not say, 'My mother wanted it, my father wanted it, you misguided me.' Parents are guides and mentors. They will express their opinions but will not pressure or force a department choice. They will ask themselves not for a profession from their own dreams, but 'which profession is most suitable for their child's future.' The young person will make the final decision. In addition, they can draw up a roadmap by researching places where they can receive counseling services,' he advised families.
With a career test, 'Which university?'
Emphasizing the importance of 'Career Tests' in guiding individuals towards the right professions in their decision-making, Tarhan said, 'There is a career test on Üsküdar Üniversitesi's website that helps individuals understand their strengths and weaknesses. This test provides results on which artistic, academic, social, or verbal areas a person is successful in. Although verbal, numerical, or equally weighted scores are currently known, it is also beneficial to consult a career scale. Preference advisors, who have counseled tens of thousands of people in universities, guide candidates in this regard. These advisors rank according to success order and individuals' wishes. For example, if a candidate unknowingly places a less desired department higher and the desired department remains in second place, they have made a wrong ranking. Therefore, they should benefit from preference advisors and YKS robots. Thus, they would prevent the risk of accidents on the path opened before them,' he said, guiding university candidates on making the right choice.
Preference checklist from Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, telling students not to make quick decisions and to use the time until August 8 efficiently, concluded his words by listing the key points of making preferences:
√ Be a university student for learning, not just for a diploma. For this, choose universities that say, 'Let those who want to learn come.'
√ Remember, the university you choose is the biggest investment you make in your future.
√ Choose departments where you believe you can be both happy and successful. Not everything is about success.
√ Look at the websites of universities and the departments you want.
√ Examine the academic staff on those pages.
√ Visit the Bologna Information System page, learn the curricula.
√ Does the university use the Bologna Information System? Has it declared the courses it will offer?
√ Are these courses compatible with the quality system? Are the learning outcomes sufficient? Make sure to find out.
√ In the big data century we live in, no matter which profession you choose, opt for universities where you believe you can learn artificial intelligence, English, a second foreign language, and software.