3 viewpoints
Preparing (early) for University
In Elementary school students, especially those in 7th grade, often get asked about the high school they want to attend. Some of them make their choice earlier, others make up their minds later, but all of them eventually go to a school suited to their capabilities.
When applying to high school, most students won’t have found their field yet. Once in high school we are expected to acquire the knowledge required for the national exams, and then to apply to university.
Time flies and in 10th grade, the sweet middle of your high school years, you need to know what you desire, so you can start your preparations. It’s a tough decision – there are so many choices! Most 10th graders have already decided which subject they want to focus on.
In order to find success in preparing for university, it’s a wise idea to get in touch with a teacher or even a professional in your chosen field. If you want to become an IT specialist, you can contact Bojidar Bojkov for advice; he can help you improve your coding skills. If becoming a doctor is what you’re aiming for, then talk to your personal doctor. They have the experience and can make you aware of the path that awaits you. All it takes is to show a little bit of interest and curiosity.
There are a lot of extracurricular activities you can sign up for. For example, my goal is to become a journalist, so I decided to join the Newspaper club last year, and my writing skills have improved significantly since then. If art is your passion, but you are not sure where to start, give the Art club a try. There are a lot of clubs and other activities that are definitely worth the effort. It’s a free experience for just a few extra hours in your week. By getting involved in after-school activities you also make new friends with similar interests, and later in life you are going to have a greater chance of getting hired, because employers are more likely to hire creative young people with experience.
The best way to get ready for university is to attend extracurricular activities, talk to professionals in the field you are interested in, and of course, prioritize the subject you are good at. It takes a lot of courage to do so but the results are worth it. So, fellow 10th graders, overcome the laziness and shyness and don’t be afraid to follow your dreams!
What to do after graduation? Persevere!
By Julia Ivanova (12th)
If you are reading this, you are probably about to graduate very soon, so congratulations!! (I think). From now on you are an adult and you will have to make big decisions for yourself, which can and probably will be important for your future. The biggest life choice you have to make is also the first one – what you should do when you graduate.
The way I see it, there are three options: The first one is to study in your hometown or somewhere near it; the second one is to study abroad; and the third one is to basically do nothing.
I’m not saying that if you don’t go to college or university, you won’t have a good life but let’s face it – if you don’t have friends and connections, you have a very low chance of becoming successful or rich. That is because our society doesn’t give a chance to young, smart people who are on their own. So, if you decide not to study after you graduate, you will probably — hopefully — get a decent job but you won’t have a chance of being wealthy.
In Bulgaria, if you don’t continue to study, you become “a lost cause,” or people say that you have wasted your potential — basically, they get in your business. Nowadays, it’s fashionable to go study and/or live abroad, because people say life in Bulgaria lacks opportunities. In my opinion, this is kind of true – the education here is on a higher level but it’s not accredited in the same way as in every other country.
There aren’t many jobs in Bulgaria and not many opportunities to realize yourself compared to the U.S. or Germany, for instance. The only good thing about our country is all the nature and the low prices, but when you think about it, the salaries are so low you can’t afford to take care of yourself or buy a home or even go on a short trip.
Now if you decide to study in your hometown or near it, you will have help from your family in most cases, since you will either be able to live with them or, at least, you will be able to visit them often and be with them. It’s also a better option since it is easier to get into a university if you’re a local student; and if you’re from a small or not very popular city, there won’t be much competition.
Your last option is to go abroad. That’s probably the most popular one because it gives the greatest chance for you to become successful and get yourself a nice job or maybe travel the world. I know I would have chosen this one. Well, actually I did, but as it turns out, the UK has decided to stop/cancel student loans for European students and now I can’t pay for my tuition. I was very sad about that, but I have not given up my hopes!
I made a plan for myself: Step 1 – try paying for my tuition here in Bulgaria; step 2 – study my Bachelors here, then make enough money and go to London!! I’m still on step 1 though and we will see how this goes.
To conclude, you can choose what to do after you graduate and whatever you choose it is 100% likely to be wrong. Don’t listen to other people’s opinions and just do what you wish because there is no right or wrong choice.
You will end up where you are supposed to be sooner or later, just don’t give up!
Universities in Turkey
By Berrin Yesil (12th)
Probably, you never expected to read such detailed information about university education in Turkey.
Let me start with the explanation that Turkey is a big country and a really helpful and warmhearted nation! So, for foreign students it is easy to adapt quickly to its interesting lifestyle with a different culture and traditions. According to the consulting firm, ATA Kurumsal, , this is one the of the reasons Turkey is one of the countries most often chosen by foreign students! Moreover, Turkish people are so kind and hospitable that even students from Indonesia and Malaysia come to study there! Also, because Turkey and South Korea have “favored nation” status, Asian people from Korea, China and Japan have advantages in obtaining an education there.
Other reasons foreign students choose Turkey are that the history of the Ottoman empire is well known, and the government pays really serious attention to education, which reaches a world-class level; for example, its medical education is highly regarded.
According to ATA Kurumsal, foreign students can apply to universities for a bachelors degree by providing a secondary education diploma and a transcript showing the high school grades. Next, the required score must be obtained from internationally recognized exams such as the GCE, ACT, SAT, or the Foreign Student Exam (YÖS). Another fact about Turkey is that students learn American English there, which is why it is often required to apply with the SAT.
What is the Foreign Student Exam (YÖS)? This is a special examination for foreign students that measures distinct qualities. It consists of two stages: Students have to first pass a test called “Basic Learning Skills Test, which measures the abstract thinking levels of the candidates; there are explanations in English as well as Turkish questions in order to avoid the language barrier. In the other stage, there is a “Turkish Test” based on the power of understanding, comprehending and interpreting expressions written in Turkish. Both tests are used for university entrance, but some universities may rely on the basic learning skills test, while others may rely on the score of the Turkish test.
According to TopTalent.co the most prestigious of the world-class universities in Ankara are ÖTDÜ, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi, Ankara Müzik ve Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi ( Music and Arts University), and Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi. The best universities in Istanbul are Galatasaray Üniversitesi, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Marmara Üniversitesi, and Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi.
Finally, for these who want to live and work in Turkey there are many jobs for foreign students including in the Technology Sector and Information Systems, Natural Resources and Energy, the Automotive industry, Textile sector, Defense Technologies, Logistics Sector and Medicine. Foreign students have multiple opportunities for success in both education and careers in Turkey.