Universitas Gadjah Mada held students admission through Written Test selection which was the last selection held by UGM to accept new students in 2017. The written tests were held in four cities which were Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Pekanbaru, and Balikpapan. Despite being held in different locations, the Written Tests were held simultaneously on Sunday (21/5).
This year, there was an increase of participants by up to 60% higher than the last year. The total participants of Written Tests 2017 were 47,306 and surpassed the number of the national admission tests (SBMPTN) participants in Yogyakarta which was only 40,894 people. The number of Written Test participants in Yogyakarta reached 39,917 people while in Jakarta 4,610 participants, 389 participants in Balikpapan, and 2,390 participants in Pekanbaru.
The Written Tests UGM Committee did not expect the soaring number of participants in 2017. Vice Rector of Academics and Student Affairs UGM, Prof. dr. Iwan Dwiprahasto, M.Med.Sc., Ph.D., who visited the test locations said that he had not expected it.
“The increasing number of the test participants, however, can increase the potential for obtaining excellent students from all over the country,” said Iwan.
Meanwhile, from 47,306 participants, there were 13 participants with special needs which consisted of 5 deaf, 5 physically disabled, and 3 blind participants. They received different treatment thus they could do the test well. Each blind and deaf participant was assisted by a special assistant in a special room. The assistants would read the questions for the blind participants, while for the deaf participants, their assistants would give special instructions for them regarding the start and end time of the test.
Iwan said all people have the same opportunity to be UGM student through the same selection, including students with special needs. “UGM provides the best possible service to make the participants with special needs can do the test comfortably,” said Iwan.
Overall, UGM Written Tests 2017 were really tight in which as many as 47,306 participants fight over 1,985 seats for undergraduate programme and 683 seats for diploma programme. “Basically, we look for the best students in Indonesia. Therefore, we hope the best participants can be accepted and continued their study at UGM through this tight selection,” he added. (Fiki)