The dilemma in university preferences: Private or Public?

Foundation, or private, universities are a great opportunity. Despite their problems, they provide a great service.

At the very least, they are shouldering a significant burden that would otherwise fall on the public sector.

Because private universities are preferred by wealthy families who receive a larger share of the gross domestic product, public university quotas have  been relieved.

In state universities, the path has been opened somewhat for the children of intelligent but low-income families to study. 

With private universities, it is very comfortable to study by commuting from home to campus without leaving the city.

More importantly, they provide the opportunity to study in more popular departments with lower entrance scores.

In this case, choosing a private university is justifiable.

With the addition of private university quotas, a student ranked in the top 200,000 can get into a program that would otherwise require a top 100,000 ranking.

Therefore, being able to study in one's own city without incurring the costs of living away from home—such as travel, rent, and food—is a great advantage.

Many have achieved serious laboratory infrastructure, and the Higher Education Council's (YÖK) insistence on this issue shines like the sword of Damocles.

The progress made in administrative staff, international relations, Erasmus units, student clubs, and sectoral collaborations is far ahead of many public universities.

The student indifference encountered in many public universities is the exact opposite in private universities.

It is easier for students to reach their professors when they are struggling.  

In private universities, there are many highly experienced professors who have retired from established public universities.

Since there is no concern for academic advancement, receiving an education from these professors, who focus more clearly on the student's education, is an important factor in choosing a private university.

However, let me tell a story to fathers about situations that, while not forbidden, might be considered discouraged.

All the characters in this story are real.

Three years ago, my eldest son took the university entrance exam.

Since it was his second time taking it, he was more conscious and achieved a good ranking.

He is studying Economics at Marmara University.

Despite achieving a very good ranking, he insisted on a private university instead of a state one.

Nothing I said made a difference.

He didn't even listen to his math teacher, who was a close friend and the reason he got a good score.

During the selection period, he set his sights on a specific university he visited.

The current students serving as guides at the front desk must have confused his mind and provided good guidance, I suppose.

Instead of Marmara University,  studying at a private university, even if it were free, might not be a smart choice, but the boy's resistance was worth seeing.

Let's call it the importance of front-desk guidance.

Even though I am the one dealing with the financial side, I wasn't sure if I would choose to study at a private university when I could get into a place like Marmara, even if it were a full scholarship and they paid me on top of it.

Mind you, my niece, who got into Pharmacy at Marmara, chose a private university with a fifty percent scholarship.

Clearly, there is such a thing as a generational gap.My son was also confused during the selection period.

I had a hard time explaining things to him.

He insisted on a private university. He loved its facilities and environment.

He was intimidated by the gloomy atmosphere at the state university.

There was no choice left but to give in.

But I had to be prepared to part with millions.

But I had to be prepared to part with millions.

I went and withdrew all my money from the bank. Of course, it wasn't nearly enough.

On top of that, I took out a consumer loan.

I placed all the cash on the dining table at home.

Take this money, go and invest it in a proper university, I said.

I added that I had already written off this money anyway.

Whether you spend it or someone else does, it makes no difference to me.

It makes no difference to me.

However, I told them not to ask me for a single penny for trips abroad or after graduation, because this is all the money I have.

I also added, so it wouldn't be said later that I didn't warn you, I said.

I concluded by shouting, don't you dare grind your teeth or bite your lips while listening to advice on 'how to invest and get rich' after you graduate.

By morning, the preference list had changed, and Marmara had been placed in the first spot.

Cash talks.