YKS results have been announced. After this, the preference period awaits candidates. Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, addressing the points university candidates should pay attention to during this period, points to the importance of career choice. Noting that a profession is like clothing, not skin, Tarhan emphasized that career and lifestyle should not be confused. Reminding that university candidates must choose fields they are interested in and will love, Tarhan said, “Candidates must have a pyramid of priorities. The most desired department should be placed at the top. Other options should be given a place below.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made evaluations regarding university candidates' career choices and preferences. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that career choice is one of the most important factors influencing and determining one's lifestyle, saying, “There are two important decisions in human life. The first is career choice, and the second is marriage. These two decisions require detailed thought and correct choices.”
Candidates must have a priority pyramid
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that preferences should be made according to success order, saying, “Candidates need to know their success rankings well. They also need to determine the profession they want to choose. Here, they should put what they love most at the top. They should definitely create a priority pyramid. Let all of them have pyramids. What they want most should be at the top. They can place what they want less below. Candidates should not write down professions they do not like, are not interested in, and absolutely think they cannot do. Afterwards, candidates think they have wasted time for nothing. They should grade their preferences. Because a perfect, 100 percent preference may not be possible. They should make secondary A, B, C plans. After making this ranking, they should pay attention to the meaning attributed to the profession.”
Profession is like clothing, not skin
“A profession is not like skin; it is like clothing,” said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, adding, “We cannot change our skin. But our clothes can change. When they attach too much meaning to a profession, they perceive the world through it. Their anxieties increase greatly. There is no need for so much anxiety. Working in a profession one loves is the most important reason for gratitude in one’s life. In such situations, my candidate friends should definitely have B and C plans. A colleague of mine entered medicine at his family's request. In medicine, he chose a field that combines physics and medicine. He has achieved many international successes in this regard. In such situations, a person sometimes needs to reinterpret their desires. For this reason, our biggest advice to young people in career choice is not to perceive their profession as indispensable for life and as a lifestyle.”
Profession and lifestyle should not be confused
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that one of the biggest mistakes sometimes made in career choice is confusing profession with lifestyle, saying, “At the military academy, military service was taught as a lifestyle. A commander in the army would also be a commander at home. Commanders' wives became commanders, commanders' children became commanders. There is no commandership at home. At home, you are a father. It causes people to confuse their work and professional roles. Individuals should not confuse their professional roles with their roles at home. A person should do their job in the best possible way but also not neglect their roles at home. They should also be a good mother and father,” he advised.
Men, especially, perceive career choice as a lifestyle…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that especially among men, career choice is perceived as a lifestyle, and marriage and children are neglected, saying, “We see many examples in daily life. Confucius was asked why he worked so hard. He replied, ‘I am not working hard; I am doing what I love.’ When a person does what they love, they don't get tired. So, it is very important for our young friends here to choose a job they love. They should not choose a department or field they do not like.”
Definitely get information from preference counselors
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan advised university candidates to definitely visit universities before making career choices and preferences, saying, “If they have the opportunity, they should visit universities and see the faculty. They should see the infrastructure of the university. They should look at the vision of these universities. Is this university operating like a high school, or does it aim to create professional competence? The first duty of a university is to provide a profession. The second is to conduct research and development (R&D). The third is the duty of informing society. The fourth is whether it has the support to turn knowledge into products. For example, does it have a Technology Transfer Office? These must be looked at. A university that has these means it is a university with a magnificent vision. Therefore, when choosing a university, attention should be paid to ensure it is a university with a vision.”
We give our students a project culture course
Tarhan noted that as Üsküdar Üniversitesi, they give their students a project culture course in their second year, saying, “In the third year, we definitely make one of the elective courses a project course. We make them do a graduation project in the third year because we want them to learn a project and then graduate.”
Experts can be consulted for conscious preference
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that success ranking should be taken into account when making university preferences, stating that university preference counselors should definitely be consulted, saying, “Those who have not yet decided on a career choice can benefit from YKS robots. They can consult preference experts on career choices. Candidates who are left without a place due to incorrect ranking can be encountered.
These experts guide candidates on making conscious preferences. Students can make their own preferences, but they should definitely get the opinion of a preference counselor,” he advised.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that when choosing a university, in addition to the academic staff, technological infrastructure must also be considered, saying, “Can one proudly say 'I graduated from here' when graduating from the university? Being able to say this is important. When making such a choice, it must definitely be taken into consideration that it is a qualified university, with qualified instructors, infrastructure, and a vision.”
We are a university that follows digitalization
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that as Üsküdar Üniversitesi, they have over 5,100 quotas this year, saying, “There is great interest in the fields of health, engineering, and especially international students. As a concept, we created a special concept by combining health, engineering, and social sciences. We have an infrastructure very much in parallel with digitalization in the world. Candidates should also look at how much the university follows digitalization. As Üsküdar Üniversitesi, we have many agreements related to Erasmus. We are currently the university with the most Erasmus agreements in Turkey, especially for the Psychology department. There are Erasmus agreements with around 400 universities in Europe. Erasmus is important. There is also a 2-month internship opportunity in the summer. Students can go for a 2-month internship in the summer and do an internship in a European country. As a university, we are included in the Erasmus Plus Internship Consortium (Companies Association).”
Our university successfully represents our country
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that another important issue is the university's position in international accreditations, stating, “Üsküdar Üniversitesi successfully represents our country on a global scale by ranking in the evaluations of worldwide organizations such as Times Higher Education (THE) and Scimago Rankings for different areas such as research, innovation, social impact, education quality, and healthy living-well-being. Üsküdar Üniversitesi's success in research and education activities was also registered by the international ranking organization Times Higher Education (THE). While the work carried out under the label '4-Quality Education' was appreciated by THE, its success in R&D studies, especially in the field of health sciences, was also reinforced with the label '3-Good Health & Well Being'. On the other hand, in the 'Research Index' ranking carried out by Scimago Rankings via the Scopus database, Üsküdar Üniversitesi ranked 4th among foundation universities in Turkey.”
We received 12 patents
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that a piece of news announced by the Ministry of Industry this week was also a pleasant surprise for them, saying, “The success of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, which values R&D efforts, was also registered with the sharing of Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank. Looking at TÜRKPATENT's statistics for the first 6 months of 2022, 14 universities were among the top 50 institutions that applied for patents. While 333 patent and utility model applications were made by universities, Üsküdar Üniversitesi was among the universities that made the most patent applications with 12 applications each.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that they have international students especially in the fields of computer, software, bioengineering, industrial engineering, chemical engineering, and electrical engineering, saying, “We have a preparatory class that has received Pearson Accreditation in accordance with quality standards. Our students undergo an intensive 9-month education.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that Üsküdar Üniversitesi has been carrying out important collaborations for many years with the Society For Brain Mapping And Therapeutics (SBMT) - Brain Mapping and Therapy Association, which conducts studies for the treatment of brain diseases, saying, “As Üsküdar Üniversitesi, we represented Turkey in the Brain Initiative project, launched by US President Barack Obama in 2013, to research the secrets of the brain and develop treatments for important diseases such as autism, schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and MS. Üsküdar Üniversitesi became the first and only university to represent Turkey at the N20 summit, one of the important satellite seminars of the G20 summit.”
Tarhan noted that the G20 - Neuroscience20 (Brain-Spine-Mental-Health) organized by the 'Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics - SBMT', founded in 2013 and featuring distinguished researchers in neuroscience, especially from the USA, has been held in many parts of the world such as Italy, Japan, and Argentina, saying, “Üsküdar Üniversitesi, with the experts from its application partner NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital, made important contributions by participating in these summits. Üsküdar Üniversitesi hosted the summit held in Antalya in 2015. Most recently, we held the Balkans and Middle East Brain Initiative Summit on July 1-2-3.”
We provide digital skills in the Faculty of Communication
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication provides significant practical opportunities to its students with its strong infrastructure, saying, “We established a new Animation Laboratory within the Faculty of Communication. New media studies are being carried out with the highest and fastest computers. Training is particularly provided in digital game writing and visual preparation. The Animation Laboratory offers practical opportunities to students receiving education in this field. Students gained a new laboratory with advanced technological infrastructure. The laboratory will be able to compete with Turkey's best animation companies and produce world-standard animation productions. An educational environment has been created for department students where they can compete with the world in animation production. Young friends who want to choose the Faculty of Communication should definitely see our Radio TV studios, news agency, and practical workshops on site. Currently, media is entirely focused on digital platforms. As the Faculty of Communication, we teach our incoming students digital specialization, digital literacy, and provide them with digital skills in many different areas, from visual communication to journalism, new media to public relations. A communicator who does not acquire digital skills will be incomplete. We have a Faculty of Communication that provides digital skills.”