As the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) approaches, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (İZU) brought together prospective university students with Gökhan Müftüoğlu (Gri Koç), a well-known figure in the field of educational guidance, and İZU students who achieved outstanding rankings in the YKS.
Organized by the Directorate of Corporate Communications and Promotion, the program titled “One Day Before the Exam: Tips and Tricks for the YKS” was held in the university’s front courtyard. At the beginning of the event, which was attended by İZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük and Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Erhan İçener and Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş, second-year students from the Department of Music Education, Nazlı Hilal Ürküt, Ege Ok, Ozan Cem Siluşu, and Belinay Kuruçay, performed a musical recital.
KÜÇÜK: “SET GOALS THAT ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE OUTCOME”
Addressing prospective university students, İZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük emphasized the importance of establishing a clear direction before beginning university education. Prof. Küçük stated, “Set a concrete goal for yourself that you wish to achieve. Rather than focusing on scores, strive to establish goals that are independent of the outcome.” Sharing in the excitement of the candidates, Rector Küçük wished all students success and ease both in the upcoming YKS and during the university preference process.
GRI KOÇ: “THE FEELING OF INADEQUACY IS A TEMPORARY ILLUSION”
Gökhan Müftüoğlu (Gri Koç), who provides professional coaching to young people preparing for university, outlined a roadmap for students based on his experiences and real-life examples. Answering the questions most frequently asked by candidates, Müftüoğlu stated that the first and most important strategy is to solve all previously administered exam questions in order to understand the logic behind the questions. Emphasizing that the increased feelings of anxiety and inadequacy experienced in the final days before the exam are temporary illusions and that feeling stressed is natural, Müftüoğlu advised candidates to stay away from friends and social media that negatively affect motivation, maintain a regular sleep schedule, and continue taking practice tests until the very last day. He also added that solving a few questions before leaving home on the morning of the exam can significantly reduce exam anxiety.
EXAM TIPS FROM İZU’S YKS TOP ACHIEVERS
In the final part of the program, attended by YKS candidates from across Istanbul, İZU students who achieved outstanding rankings in last year’s YKS and subsequently enrolled at the University shared their exam preparation experiences in a panel discussion moderated by Ömer Çakkal, Director of Corporate Communications and Promotion.