Dear Editor,
Unlike many other universities in Turkey, Bilkent holds final exams immediately after the end of classes. As in previous years, including last semester, finals often follow the end of classes when we also have to deal with the last stages of our term projects. This creates a real conflict between the completion of projects and homework assignments, along with the difficulty of trying to decide which final exam to study for first. This is clearly seen in the decrease of our final grades compared with the trend of our midterm grades.
As at many other universities, Bilkent should schedule final exam dates at least a week after the end of classes. That way, we would be able to reduce our stress levels and do as well in our finals as on our midterms. I know many friends think the same way, and the university administration should also think along the same lines and change this semester's academic calendar while they still have time.
Yours Sincerely

Süleyman Demirel (IE/III)

Response to the Letter:
Dear Mr. Demirel,
A careful examination of the Academic Calendar for the whole year, comprising the Fall, Spring and Summer, shows that it is squeezed tightly from the beginning of September to the end of July (See http://www.bilkent.edu.tr
/bilkent/academic/calendar/ for the 2003-2004 Calendar).
Although one sympathizes greatly with your suggestion, the length of the semesters and the need for an inter-semester break and one month of summer vacation does not really allow enough time to do so. Furthermore, national and international norms do not permit the shortening of the instructional period.
Our educational system facilitates the continued preparedness of students throughout the semester; preparing for finals is ideally a process of reviewing previously studied material. Furthermore, a period of 10 to 12 days is allocated to finals, which should allow enough review time for each examination.

Prof. Erol Arkun,
Vice Rector for Student Affairs