The Center for Admissions and Affairs with Applicants at YSU is the 'gateway' to the university – Ani Avetisyan

YSU Center for Admissions and Affairs with Applicants is primarily aimed at not only providing prospective students with essential information but also assisting them in their career orientation starting from school age. To achieve these goals, the center operates two main departments: the Department of Applicant Affairs and the Preparatory Courses Department. 

We spoke with Ani Avetisyan, Head of the Center for Admissions and Affairs with Applicants, about the center’s activities, its core objectives, and future plans.

Strengthening University-School Connection

Ani Avetisyan highlighted the importance of reciprocal visits between university representatives and school students. According to her, reciprocal visits between YSU and schools will soon recommence with fresh impetus.

"When university representatives visit schools, they inform future applicants about the academic programs offered at YSU and the educational and scientific opportunities available. This helps students in making informed decisions about their choice of university. During the upcoming academic year, we plan to visit schools in Yerevan first, followed by those in the provinces of Armenia. Likewise, when school students visit YSU, they get acquainted with various faculties, their features, and the opportunities they offer, which helps them in choosing a career path," she explained.

Ani Avetisyan added that students who want to visit any faculty or laboratory at YSU must complete an online application, providing their personal details and filling out the relevant fields. Upon receiving the application, staff from the center coordinate and organize the visits.

Additionally, the center is actively developing a comprehensive database. This includes a list of participating schools, data on visiting students, and the corresponding educational program. The collected data allows the center to analyze the effectiveness of its initiatives and to identify and shape target groups accordingly.

Incentivizing Path to YSU

Speaking about student competitions organized by the center, Ani Avetisyan highlighted the now traditional YSU Student Olympiad, held annually in general and supplementary education subjects. The competition not only aims to stimulate students’ academic interests and identify top performers, but also encourages them to pursue their higher education at YSU. She emphasized that participants who receive a first-degree diploma as a result of the competition are granted a 50% tuition fee discount during their first year of study if admitted to a tuition-based program at YSU. Those awarded a second-degree diploma receive a 40% discount, while recipients of a third-degree diploma are eligible for a 30% discount.

Career Guidance Based on Individual Traits

According to Ani Avetisyan, one of the center’s recent initiatives is a career orientation assessment program being developed jointly with YSU Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology. The program is designed to help school students evaluate whether their chosen profession aligns with their abilities and aptitudes.

Open University for Everyone

The center also organizes open days, visits to laboratories (e.g., the Institute of Physics, the Faculties of Biology and Chemistry), as well as thematic workshops in fields such as economics and law. By visiting the university and experiencing its academic environment firsthand, students who are still uncertain about their future career path are often able to make a final, informed decision regarding their field of study.

Future Plans

Regarding the center’s involvement in the annual "Learn & Work: YSU EXPO", Ani Avetisyan noted: "During the 'Learn & Work: YSU EXPO,' the center provides visitors with informational brochures that serve as a guide for applicants. These brochures include detailed descriptions of the university’s operations and the career prospects associated with various academic programs." 

She further noted that one of the main goals for the next academic year is to include success stories of YSU graduates in these brochures, along with information on partnership programs and admission statistics, to ensure the delivered information serves its purpose more effectively. 

Ani Avetisyan emphasized that through these programs, the center strives to ensure that applicants make well-informed and autonomous decisions when choosing a profession — not based on trends or popularity, but grounded in their abilities and a comprehensive understanding of their chosen field. It is equally important, she noted, that applicants have a clear understanding of the university they are entering and the knowledge they will gain. 

Speaking about the center’s mission, she concluded: "The center is the 'gateway' to the university."