Are there any privileges for college enrollment, and If so to whom do they apply?
None that stem from an applicant's national origin or material position. All applicants have to take the entrance examinations. And those who fail the exams are not admitted to a college or university. But if more have passed the exams than there are places, preference-all other things being equal-is given to those who have already held a job in a field close to that in which the college specializes, and to young people who have just completed army service. The reason is that such people have usually made a more considered choice of profession than a school leaver, and they take their studies more seriously. But such people need help, because some of the things learned at secondary school tend to be forgotten during the time spent on a job or in the army. Most Soviet colleges therefore have special preparatory departments for such youngsters, to help them refresh their school knowledge and to even out their chances of enrollment.