Be careful with ‘dead preferences’ when making choices

While the YKS preference process continues, Emine Torgut, the Guidance Coordinator of Istanbul Aydın University, provided important information to university candidates. Torgut emphasized that students should not make ‘dead preferences’ and explained how they should prepare their preference lists according to their own success rankings.

As the 2024 YKS preferences, which started on July 25, approach their final days, the process continues until August 2 for those who have not made their preferences or wish to change their preference lists. Emine Torgut, the Guidance Coordinator of Istanbul Aydın University, shared information to assist students during this process.

“They should not write down departments they do not want just ‘for the sake of it'”

“Firstly, it is very important which department they will write down. After all, they all started this journey with the dream of a particular department. However, students are influenced by what they hear from people around them during the preference period; they hear different things from every expert. Changes can occur in their preference lists,” said Torgut, adding, “When they decide on a profession, their entire lives will be shaped in accordance with that profession. Therefore, it is very important which profession they write down and which department they place in their preference rankings. They should think about whether they will be happy with all 24 preferences. Some students say they write down some of their preferences ‘for the sake of it.’ They should not do this because rankings can change, and they might be placed in that department. Therefore, it is crucial to come up with the right preference lists. They should not include fields they say ‘I will never study’ in their lists.”

“They should maintain balance in their preference list”

“Students often ask whether they should pay attention to score ranking or success ranking. Success ranking definitely contributes. In fact, if possible, it is very important to create a general list by going back a few years,” Torgut explained how students should create their preference lists:

“For example; a student is ranked 50,000th. They write a preference for the 50,000th place. Below that, they write the department they really want at 70,000th. Below that, they write a place at 60,000th. The student asks, ‘Is the 70,000th place a dead preference?’ There won’t be a dead preference with such small gaps. If the student really wants that department, they can also write it in the first or second position. While creating a general list, if there is a department they really want among the first few preferences, they should write it down even if it is above their ranking. They should also have 8-10 departments that they can add in a balanced way within their own ranking. For their last few preferences, they should add places they say ‘I would be happy if I get in,’ which are below their own ranking.”

Emine Torgut reminded that a student who is placed in a department they do not want, even if they do not enroll in school, has their secondary education success score halved the following year, stating, “All the preferences they will write must be from departments they will definitely enjoy studying.”

Over 300 bilateral agreements with world universities

Stating that Istanbul Aydın University supports students with over 500 preference centers across Turkey, Torgut mentioned, “Istanbul Aydın University is one of the largest foundation universities in Turkey. It is one of the most preferred foundation universities in preference lists. Our facilities are quite extensive. Our students receive an international diploma supplement. They cannot find many places that provide this opportunity. We are a large campus university. All our departments are here. We conduct applied education. We want to ensure that whatever the area of application needed is definitely available at our university. We include mandatory application courses in our departments. Thus, our students are prepared for their professional lives both theoretically and practically. We have bilateral agreements with over 300 world universities. Our ERASMUS opportunities are very extensive,” she stated while also mentioning the opportunities offered to students.