Prof. Nazife Güngör: “Instead of Taking a Gap Year, Start Your University Journey!”

Addressing candidates who are considering “taking a gap year” because they could not achieve their desired scores in the YKS placement process, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör, stated that it is important for young people to evaluate the options they can reach with their current scores instead of spending a year waiting. 
Prof. Güngör, pointing out that it is possible to prepare for YKS again while studying at university, said, “Whatever scores they receive, they should try not to be left without a place. Let them start a program; they can prepare for their goals again while continuing their university education. Instead of taking a gap year, let them embark on a path; as they progress on that path, let them reshape their future with new goals.”
 

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör advised candidates to definitely review the available opportunities during the preference period.

The decision they make today can affect their entire lives

Prof. Nazife Güngör, stating that young people are going through a very special and critical decision-making period, said, “They will make a decision these days, and that decision will affect their entire lives. Therefore, their excitement is very justified, their apprehension is very justified, and their concerns are very justified. But my advice to them is to transform all this anxiety, apprehension, excitement, and future concern into a magnificent future strategy. Because a decision they make today will affect them throughout their lives; it will determine their future lifestyles, life practices, and visions.”

We do not look at it as “low score, high score”

Prof. Güngör, expressing that she congratulates all young people who took the exam for their efforts, said, “I congratulate both those who scored low and those who scored high. Because we do not qualify this as low and high scores or success and failure. Ultimately, each of our young friends received a score. They should know that there is definitely a place they can enter with the score they received. They can enter a program, a department, a university program.”

Whatever your score, try not to be left without a place

Prof. Güngör, stating that it may not be correct for candidates who could not get enough scores for their desired department to consider “taking a gap year” as the first option, continued as follows:

“Sometimes they don't get a satisfactory score, or they set a goal, and when they don't get a score that matches that goal, they use a concept like ‘taking a gap year’. But I tell them to try to enter a place with the score they received in the short term. If they wish, the path to the university exam is open again; they can take the university exam while studying at a university. Let them start their university education on one hand, and look at their goals again on the other hand.”

It's important to embark on a path, not to take a gap year

Prof. Güngör, emphasizing that there is no obstacle for a student starting university to change or raise their goals, pointed out that university education should not be seen as a one-way and unchangeable path.

“Don't take a gap year; enter a department, start any program. After that, you can feed your future plan forward with new goals focused on that program, there is no problem.” said Prof. Güngör, who noted that it is important for students to know their own talents, competencies, skills, and motivations for life well in order to establish the right strategy.

Prof. Güngör, pointing out that it is possible to prepare for YKS again while studying at university, said, “Whatever scores they receive, they should try not to be left without a place. Let them start a program; they can prepare for their goals again while continuing their university education. Instead of taking a gap year, let them embark on a path; as they progress on that path, let them reshape their future with new goals.”

You don't have to give up on your goal

Prof. Güngör, stating that getting placed in a program does not mean giving up on the main goal, used the following expressions: “Let's say one of our young friends wanted to study medicine. They got a score that gave them no chance to enter a medical faculty, but they are at a level to enter one of the two-year associate degree programs. Ideals and goals might have been set high, but something went wrong in the exam, they couldn't focus that day, they got a score below what they expected. They shouldn't be sad. The goal might be medicine, but they can start with an associate degree; on one hand, they study a program, on the other hand, they continue to work and prepare for the university exam, and take it again the following year.”

Prof. Güngör, noting that alternative educational paths should also be explored, said, “For example, they can enter a two-year program related to health services, successfully complete it, evaluate vertical transfer opportunities, and create a new path for themselves within health sciences. Here, it is necessary to set goals correctly rather than just measuring success with scores.”

Waiting a year can also prolong indecisiveness

Prof. Güngör, also pointing out that candidates who take a gap year and new candidates who will take the exam the following year meet in the same exam pool, said, “Our friends take a gap year saying ‘We couldn't get enough scores this year’. The following year, those who took a gap year and new entrants accumulate again, and the number further increases.”

Prof. Güngör, stating that the waiting process can prolong uncertainty among young people, used the following expressions: “That waiting continues; that indecisiveness, the ambiguity on the path to the goal, the curtain of fog continues. Therefore, they should open their paths as soon as possible, embark on a path. On that path, they should also determine new strategies towards their goals.”

Prof. Güngör also emphasized that young people should not make decisions by only looking at scores and rankings, and advised them to get closely acquainted with the academic staff, departments, and opportunities offered by universities.

In university preference, people first

Prof. Güngör, pointing out that university education is not just about acquiring a profession and a career, said, “People can achieve the success they desire in life, reach their goals, earn as much money as they want, and rise to prestigious positions, but most importantly, it is to be a good person.” 

Güngör, stating that in an era where technology and artificial intelligence are rapidly developing, university students should be equipped to manage technology instead of staying away from it, gave the message, “Know everything, follow technology, be within technology, manage technology, but without forgetting that you are human.”

Seize the opportunity that life presents you

Prof. Nazife Güngör, calling on young people not to fall into the idea that a single exam result determines their entire future during the preference process, emphasized that what is important is to take action, enter educational life, and reshape goals within the process.
Prof. Güngör concluded her words by saying, “Let them embark on a path, and on that path, let them also determine new strategies towards their goals. Whatever opportunity life has presented them right now, let them make the best of that opportunity.”