The Parent’s Role in the YKS Preference Period
How should parents act during the YKS preference period? A guide to building the preference list, communication at home, common mistakes and the role of guidance support.
The YKS (Türkiye’s national university entrance exam) preference period is when a year of hard work turns into a decision made in a few days. For the student it is demanding; for parents it is a time when it is unclear where to stand. Stepping in too much and withdrawing completely can both harm the outcome. In this article we look at the useful role parents can play in this process.
The three tiers of a preference list
A sound preference list is built not around a single target but from three tiers:
| Tier | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ambitious choices | Programmes slightly above the student’s ranking; because rankings shift from year to year, they leave room for luck. |
| Realistic choices | Programmes closest to the student’s ranking; this is the centre of gravity of the list. |
| Safe choices | Programmes below the student’s ranking; they guarantee the student is not left without a place. |
All three tiers are essential. A list made only of ambitious choices risks leaving the student without a place; a list made only of safe choices leads the student to miss the programme they deserve.
Programme, university or city?
The order of priority among these three should be set by the student; the parent’s job is to help make that order clear. Questions worth asking:
- Are you genuinely curious about this programme, or is it on the list only because the ranking fits?
- Are you ready to move to another city — accommodation, transport, social circle?
- What do graduates of this programme do for a living, and have you spoken to a few of them?
In our article on career planning we discussed how choosing a career is a process that should start earlier; the preference period should be the result of that thinking, not its beginning.
Communication at home
During the preference period most conversations at home revolve around the ranking. This raises the student’s already high anxiety. A more useful approach is to shift the conversation from numbers to content: what the programme teaches, which courses it includes, where its graduates work.
Comments from relatives and acquaintances also intensify in this period. Filtering them is the parent’s job; passing every comment on to the student creates more pressure than benefit.
Make use of guidance support
The school guidance team knows the minimum scores and placement patterns of previous years. Reviewing the preference list together is the most practical way to see whether the balance between the tiers is right. Do not delay booking an appointment — the preference window is short.
In brief
- The list should have three tiers: ambitious, realistic, safe.
- The student should set the programme–university–city priority; the parent should help make it clear.
- Shifting the conversation from rankings to programme content lowers anxiety.
- Filtering comments from others is the parent’s job.
- Review the list together with the guidance team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many choices should the preference list include?
It is generally safer not to leave any of the slots you are entitled to unused. What matters is not the number but the distribution: ambitious, realistic and safe choices in balance. The centre of gravity should be the programmes closest to the student’s ranking.
My child is choosing a programme I don’t want for them. What should I do?
Instead of forbidding it, ask questions: do they know what the programme covers, have they spoken to its graduates, how do they picture themselves in five years? A conversation based on information is far more effective than imposing a decision. The final decision should be the student’s; the risk of burnout on an unwanted programme is high.
My ranking came out low. Should I still submit preferences?
Yes. Being placed always leaves options open: routes such as transferring, a double major and retaking the exam remain available. Filling the safe tier gives a more flexible position than submitting no preferences at all.
YKS preparation, the mock exam programme and university guidance at Gökkuşağı Schools are on our YKS preparation page. For the whole high school stage see our private high school page, and for the international diploma option, offered at our Bahçelievler and Ankara campuses, see our IB Diploma Programme page.
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