EURASIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH, cilt.7, sa.29, ss.171-188, 2007 (SSCI)
Problem Statement: Entry to Turkish higher education is highly competitive. High school graduates gain access to universities based upon their performance on the Student Selection Examination (SSE) which about two million students take each year. Only 10% of these students are placed in undergraduate degree programs (excluding distance education programs). Students commonly start preparing for the exam during their elementary school years. The preparation often includes attendance to private prepatory schools (dershaneler). Preparation becomes highly stressful particularly during high school years.