Official university preference procedures began today. Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş emphasized that university candidates should primarily create their preference list according to their success ranking, but stressed that this ranking is actually a list of desires. Tözeniş stated that this year's exam was easier compared to previous years, and while candidates' net scores increased, their overall scores and success rankings decreased. She added, “It is important for candidates to answer questions like 'Do I really want all the departments here? Are these the fields I want to study? Will I be happy when I enroll here? Do these fields meet my career dreams?'”
Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş, Manager of Üsküdar University Educational Institutions and Guidance Services, offered important advice to candidates during this critical process.
A Sensitive, Yet Crucial Process…
Noting that university candidates are in an important decision-making process, Ece Tözeniş said, “Candidates have completed their studies. Exam results have been announced. They can now see their scores and success rankings. In fact, now is the time to reap the rewards of their efforts. This period is both sensitive and important. Official preferences begin on July 27 and will continue until August 5.”
Net Scores Increased, Overall Scores and Success Rankings Declined…
Reminding that the threshold scores in the exam system were lifted this year, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “When compared to previous years, there are some differences in the scores and success rankings candidates received. My most important warning to candidates is to be careful due to these differences, because the success and dynamics of students taking the exam differ every year. This year, the exam was easier compared to previous years. In the TYT exam, Turkish was particularly selective. Candidates' net scores increased, but their overall scores and success rankings decreased compared to previous years. The reason for this is the higher number of candidate students taking the exam this year. That is, when we look at TYT, we see that 2.9 million students' scores were calculated. In AYT, almost 1.5 million candidates are currently making preferences in the system. The important thing is for candidates to make choices based on their success ranking, not their score. In other words, they need to compare their success rankings with those of departments established last year and determine a preference range.”
They should make upper-level preferences up to half of their success ranking
Noting that the quantitative field is more comfortable this year, Tözeniş said, “There isn't much congestion in the quantitative field. Foreign languages are similar. Since the number of candidates taking the exam is small, there isn't much congestion in language fields either. However, students need to be a little more careful with equally weighted and verbal preferences. Technically, they can do this: Candidates have 24 preference rights. My suggestion to them is to make upper-level preferences up to half of their success ranking. For example, if a candidate is ranked 70,000, there is no problem in making 4-5 preferences from the 35,000s or 40,000s. If they concentrate a bit more around 70,000 and can go down to lower preferences by half of their success ranking, meaning to 100,000s or 110,000s, they will have created a comfortable list. We will set aside the scores. We need to create a preference list based on our success ranking without comparing scores, and make a comparison with last year's scores in that way.”
This should be a list of desires!
Emphasizing that preferences must be made according to the candidate's wishes, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “This is a ranking exam. Candidates will, of course, consider their success rankings, but they shouldn't get too fixated on them. Because last year's success rankings were formed by the preference tendencies of last year's students. But this year's scores will be shaped by the preference tendencies of this year's students. Some professional fields can become very prominent, while others may fall back a bit. The essential thing here is to truly create that list based on desire. For example, there is no harm in listing a success ranking that is a few thousand higher or a bit lower. This is actually a list of desires. After creating their preference lists, before sending them to OSYM, they should evaluate whether 'Do I really want all the departments here? Are these the fields I want to study? Will I be happy when I enroll here? Do these fields meet my career dreams?' and then send them. As a suggestion, they should not include any department or program in their lists that they do not want, just because their scores match.”
Undecided candidates can take the Career Test
Underlining that candidates should thoroughly research and evaluate the department and university they will choose, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “They can go to universities in person and get information about the departments. Likewise, they can consult with preference counselors. We have a two-week time frame for this process. They must have done their research before this. If they are still confused about what they want to be or which department they want to choose, they can take a career test. The career test includes sub-personality traits and corresponding occupational groups. These tests can help them relax a little more and at least see a general framework.”
Reminding that career choice is very important, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “A large part of your life is spent working. Sometimes we also choose our partners in the field we work in. We also create our social environment accordingly. We draw the framework of our lives in line with our work and work environment. It is an unavoidable situation for all of us. Therefore, it is very important for a person to have a profession that makes them happy and feel good while doing it. A person should go to their job as if they are fulfilling a hobby.”
They should dream about their future professions
Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş advised young people to dream while thinking about their future professions and said the following:
“When we are unhappy in our job, we are also unhappy in our private and social lives. Our interests can change over time. There can be variety and changes in our interests according to our age groups. A profession should not be viewed as just one thing, like 'What will I do when I graduate? Where will I work?' but rather imagined. Young people should particularly set aside time for this period. They should dream. Where do they want to be in 5-10 years? What kind of workplace are they working in? What kind of family have they established? What is their social life like, and are they truly enjoying it? They should evaluate all of these. They should think about their interests very comprehensively. Because career choice is like that. It encompasses interest, talent, and professional values. A student might be squeamish about blood but wants to work in a health-related field. This is not suitable for their own characteristics. In that case, different alternatives need to be evaluated.”
It is important for the candidate to know themselves well
Noting that candidates should know themselves well and conduct extensive research regarding career choices, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “There are many professions and departments. It is necessary to research, evaluate, gather information, and then assimilate it. Knowing ourselves is very important. It's a difficult process, but ultimately, we are the ones who know ourselves best. Perhaps during this process, they can discuss their interests and talents with close friends. What qualities do their close friends and family see in them? Also, perhaps during the school period, they are in one-on-one communication with guidance counselors. They can get support from them. They can compare these qualities with the qualities required by professions.”
The decision-making stage should be left entirely to the young person
Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş, drawing attention to what families should do during this process, said, “During this period, parents are more excited than the candidates. Of course, they are absolutely right. We all want to see our children in the best places. Here, parents need to stand by their children more. The decision-making stage should be left entirely to the young person. We sometimes see that parents are so dominant that, in the end, their wishes prevail. This time, the candidate student becomes unhappy. They choose a field that will make them unhappy because their parents wanted it. Parents can evaluate together with their children during this period. They can carry out all processes together. They can research together, but they must leave the final decision to their children. After all, where do we succeed? We are happy in fields where we are genuinely happy, enjoy doing, and do with great enthusiasm. We achieve success along with happiness. The final decision should belong to the young people.”
What are the professions of the future?
Stating that fields such as education and health, considered professions of the future, will continue to meet people's needs in the future, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “Currently, there are fields where preference tendencies are very high. Education, health – these are all fields that will continue to be needed in the future.”
A diploma alone is not enough
Noting that young people should continue to develop themselves for their growth after entering university, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş said, “It is important for them to continue developing themselves and increasing their skills during their university years. These years should be utilized very well, and they should strive to develop their talents and skills in line with their interests, not just settling for a diploma. This way, when the student graduates, they will enter business life as a skilled and sought-after individual.”
They should definitely visit universities
Noting that candidates should participate in university promotion days during this process to learn about both the department they want to choose and the university's facilities, Expert Psychologist Counselor Ece Tözeniş concluded her words as follows:
“Preference days continue for all universities. Universities are organizing preference and promotion days on their campuses. Please, according to their means, they should definitely visit these places, meet with professors, and talk to students studying in the departments. They should see the classrooms, laboratories, and social facilities of the university they will attend. If they don't have such an opportunity, their websites are up-to-date, and there are many units they can access online. I strongly recommend them to conduct this research during this period.”