Talking about the beauty of the future, January 2022 is the opening of hope for students who are in the final grade of SMA / SMK / equivalent, who have the desire to continue their education at public universities (PTN). Becoming a student at a leading state university is the dream of these students as a golden bridge to a brighter future. Their parents also expect the same thing in terms of lower tuition fees and easy access to adequate learning support facilities.

The Universitas Sumatera Utara, which will be 70 years old this year, facilitates this desire by opening the gates to 3 new student admission pathways, namely SNMPTN, SBMPTN, and SMM. The launching of USU's New Student Admission (PMB) was carried out on January 4, 2022. The activity begins with opening the National Selection for State Universities (SNMPTN) pathway, whose registration takes place from January 14 to February 28, 2022.

To attract excellent and potential new student candidates from various regions in North Sumatra Province in particular, and other regions throughout Indonesia in general, the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has conducted a Socialization of New Student Admissions to State Universities, which began from 26 to 28 January 2022. The socialization took place in 19 cities/districts, preceded by the socialization for Medan City located at the USU Auditorium on January 26, 2022.

The Socialization of the Implementation of the National Selection for State Universities (SNMPTN) and 2022 Computer-Based Written Test (UTBK) was opened by Vice Rector I Dr. Edy Ikhsan, S.H., M.A., with resource persons Rector Expert Staff Coordinator Ikhsan Siregar ST., M.Eng, Rector Expert Staff for Academic Affairs Reni Asmara Ariga S.Kp., MARS and Head of USU Information Systems Center Muhammad Anggia Muchtar ST., MMIT. The activity was attended by the Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Education Office, Prof. Drs. Wan Syaifuddin, MA, Ph.D and the Heads of the Education Office Branches in Medan City as well as the School Student Database (PDSS) operators.

Other socialization was conducted in Central Tapanuli, Sibolga, South Tapanuli, Padang Sidempuan, Mandailing Natal, Binjai, Langkat, Serdang Bedagai, Tebing Tinggi, Deli Serdang, Karo, Dairi, West Pakpak, Labuhan Batu, Asahan, Tanjung Balai, Pematang Siantar, and Simalungun. The series of socialization activities was a success and was attended by students, school principals, and local Kacabdis. The atmosphere was lively with the enthusiasm of the participants in listening, asking and answering various questions given by USU resource persons. Moreover, participants who asked and answered well were given appreciation in the form of souvenirs from USU, which added to the enthusiasm and excitement of the socialization atmosphere.

USU Vice Rector I Dr. Edy Ikhsan emphasized that the socialization of SNMPTN-UTBK 2022 is important to avoid misinformation and not in accordance with the provisions set by the Higher Education Entrance Test Institute (LTMPT). Because delays in entering student data and errors in filling out the available selection registration format can result in early failure of SNMPTN participants to enter their desired universities.

By setting a minimum quota of 20 percent for new student admissions from the SNMPTN route, 40 percent from the SBMPTN and 30 percent from the SMM route, the Universitas Sumatera Utara hopes that all of Indonesia's best sons and daughters will be able to be netted as new USU students for the 2022/2023 academic year. Including those from underdeveloped, frontier and outermost (3T) areas.

The Higher Education Entrance Test Institute (LTMPT) has issued guidelines related to the implementation of new student admissions for public universities in 2022. In the guidelines, LTMPT has established a test and selection model for new student candidates that refers to the principles of fairness, transparency, flexibility, efficiency, and accountability. The development of this selection process model is certainly adapted to the development of information technology and the era of digitalization through the Computer-Based Written Test (UTBK), as well as to improve the quality of the selection process for new student admissions in Higher Education (HEI).

USU currently has 15 faculties, 1 graduate school and 163 study programs that have accreditation status consisting of; 11 study programs categorized as superior accreditation, 59 study programs accredited A, 6 study programs accredited excellent, 75 study programs accredited B, 5 study programs accredited good, 1 study program accredited C, and 6 study programs are in the process of re-accreditation.

In 2022, the Universitas Sumatera Utara has provided 7,150 seats that will be contested by new students in 3 admission channels. As one of the PTN-BH that holds A accreditation, of course, the competition to get a seat at USU will be very tight. It takes careful preparation, both scientifically as well as physically and mentally, from prospective new USU students to successfully seize these opportunities. Of course, the blessing and pleasure of Allah SWT, God Almighty, is also the final determinant of everything. He is the most prepared and blessed, of course, and he successfully qualifies as a new student at the Universitas Sumatera Utara 2022/2023. (RJ)