Admissions to university underway

The universities in Moldova Thursday opened their doors to the young persons who came to the State University of Moldova (USM) together with their parents to choose a specialty. Yet, their number is lower compared with the previous years and there are no faculties in very great demand. Ludmila Garabagiu is the mother of a young man from Chisinau. She came to the USM at 7.00 to queue up. She was the 170th on a list drawn up at the suggestion of the parents. “We want that our son studies economics. But, as we were told that they (the state – e.n.) do not need economists or prosecutors, only tractor drivers and cowherds, we will see yet. If our son does not enter this faculty, we will apply to another faculty or specialty,” she has told Info-Prim Neo. She said they are ready to pay tuition fees no matter how high they are. “Everything is done for payment nowadays,” the woman explained. “I’m glad that the young persons want to study, but it is a pity that it is disorder,” she added, saying she came on the very first day so as to stay calm later. The mother of a young woman from Ungheni, who wants to specialize in international relations, said she is ready to come with her daughter during several days to submit the documents. Svetlana Solomon said she hopes that the list written by the parents will be observed. Otherwise, she is not sure that they will manage to file the documents. She said she was surprised when she found out that fewer places are available at the university this year, but stressed that they will try anyway as the young people need a profession. Asked by Info-Prim Neo, the secretary of the admission commission of USM Vladimir Gutu said that the number of applicants on the first admission day this year is lower than the previous years, but is still high. “It is a psychological rather than rational matter,” he said, explaining why the young persons queue up to file the documents on the first admission day even if they have two weeks at the disposal. “I think that the documents should be lodged on the third or fourth day or even on the last one hundred meters, after analyzing the number of vacant places and the number of applications filed,” he stated, saying that it is hard to explain this to the people. Gutu also said that the idea of making a list is good and is respected, but when fewer young persons come to file the documents in the evening they will not need to do the same if there will be no queues. The commission’s secretary considers that the fuss will disappear in several days. He could not say what faculties are in demand as this will become clearer only towards the end of the day, but stressed that the preferences have changed during the last few years. “The faculties of law and economics are not in great demand anymore as in the last ten years. But they continue to top the list of preferences. The young persons apply to such faculties as psychology, education sciences and social assistance, which were less attractive earlier,“ he said The admission to master’s degree studies, the second round of higher education, started also today. The documents can be filed to any faculty, regardless of the diploma. The applicants will take several tests. The deadline for applications to university and master’s degree studies is July 31. The applicants will be admitted on the basis of their marks in the Baccalaureate exams or secondary school graduation exams, according to the descending order of the average contest mark, within the limits of the places available at every faculty. Under the admission plan for 2009, 19,425 persons will be admitted to universities - 7,270 places will be budget-funded, while 12,155 on a contract basis. 2,470 persons will be accepted for master’s degree studies.