Going to college in Tokyo.
 

I live in Japan already. In Aomori to be more precise, but i'm moving down to Tokyo next year to finish college. I've only visited a few times so i'm really excited about moving there. Not really used to the fast pace though. Any ideas on what i should look out for or tips to help get me through the transition. As excited as i am, the closer i get to the move the more scared i get.
I'm not going alone by the way. There's going to be at least 4 of us.

All I can say is that I know going to college in Japan is very demanding, but it'll be fun! Besides a college education in Japan is worth way more than an American one and you're not debating your grade with your teacher(s) everyday, you're actually learning. Just don't worry about it!! Try talking with students who already attend the college and find ways to relieve stress from school via ice cream, video games, music, the mall, etc.
Good luck with it all!! ^-^

How do you know this?

What is your basis for this statement?

What does this phrase mean?
You are making a lot of sweeping generalizations about the higher education systems in Japan and the US.

Is ice cream a regular stress reliever for Japanese college students? The Japanese college students I knew spent more time drinking beer than eating ice cream. American ones, too, for that matter.

The more friends you make, the better your comfortable in college.

Wish you luck. :)

First point is just not true. That may be the case within the country of Japan, but it certainly isn't within America. Also, I haven't debated a single grade with any of my profs and I've been 'actually learning'. I don't know a single person who has debated for anything more than a point or two on a test. On that point too, why is debating with a prof a bad thing? You should be able to advocate for yourself and look out for your own interests, especially as an adult and college is as good a place as any to develop that school.

To the op: My own experience with college has taught me that you should stay on top of your school work and not wait until the night before an assignment is due to finish it. I'd assume this is a pretty universal truth about college, but you should pay extra attention so you don't have to play catch up like I did the second half of my first semester.

I was only speaking in a females point of view for the ice cream thing. But girls and guys both eat ice cream. Its a nice cold refreshing treat thats all.
Everyone has a different experience when it comes to any form of school. I don't know how Shigeji's will play out so I only wished Shigeji luck on it all.
I was only trying to help. School can be stressful though.
Everywhere is different and teachers I've had are dirty like that. They toy with students grades and fail them as they please! Honest!

Sometimes people don't feel like drinking all the time and want something different for the moment!
How about people who don't drink or smoke what do you think they do??
I was only appling my opinion just as everyone else. I'm not telling anyone what to do. It's Shigeji's choice not mine! So just apply your opinion and move on already!

Interesting you choose the most innocuous question to answer.

Tell us how Japanese degrees are worth so much more than American degrees.

I thought that I answered all questions, comments, and concerns in both of those replys guess not!
How have I offended?
Tell me your main issue with me so I can better myself.
My original attention was never meant to offend anyone so I am sorry to all of those that it did. I've just started posting and I'm already messing up! Sorry Japan Forum!!

PM me it if you all must! Of all of your issues with me!

I prefer you respond publicly to the statements you make publicly.

If you cannot back them up, please retract them.

My responses were clear and direct. I expect yours can be the same.

I would certainly disagree with your statement that a Japanese university degree is better than an American one. From my understanding once you get into university in Japan its pretty easy, its the getting in which is hard.
With a degree from an American university I would argue you are much better placed to get whatever job as employers are much more familiar with it.

Everyone will have a different experince in school okay!!
Just let it go all ready and assist the person at hand here, Shigeji!
The only good I seem to have said was to try and meet students who already attend Shigeji's particular school, but anyway people, just let it go already omg!!!
It doesn't take all of this!!

Next time don't say things without being able to back them up.

What is your problem? You obviously have personal issues.
Depending on their major, if it was say graphic design or comic/illustration, it would be more beneficial to get a degree in Japan. Besides, whether the statement of it being worth more was an opinion, it doesn't matter cause this is a public forum open to everyone's thoughts, opinions, etc. and same goes for the ice cream thing. Just becuase your acquaintances were fond of alcoholic bevegaves doesn't mean you can attack newbies for liking ice cream. :rolleyes:

I think he was on the money. Her statements were bias against American schools.

It will be fun of course. Beneficial, yes, possibly depending on the degree, Disagree on the degree worth more unless they are going to a 東大 Tōdai like school. Very competitive.

Link: Global University Rankings

Many Japan universities socialize in the university. Malls and Ice cream sounds American. Everyone has their device though. I think MMM was just saying alcholic beverages was more the average for university students both in American and in Japan. More so for Japanese I believe as you literally have to be able to drink something to be socially accepted in Japanese circles - even if it is just nursing one beer during the whole event.

Your problems in a American university sounds like a personal problem with that university and / or instructor OR it is simply a low ranking university.

News flash: The same is true in Japanese universities.

Too often I hear students complain how universities aren't doing it right and they are not learning anything. Some people just aren't cut out for a 4 year degree or for the degree they are seeking. Or they simply don't know how to learn or study.

Know that almost all instructors at high ranking Japanese Universities studied at American or other high ranking Universities.

Keep in mind less than 50% of Japanese go to university. Not all Japanese go to high school. High school in Japan is like more like Pre-major university in America. After graduating a prestigious high school with high marks, could you ever think of going to a high ranking Japanese University. In general, university at the an average Japanese university is more for Japanese to find themselves and/or to study abroad. The average ranking Japanese university, on average, aren't very serious internally.

In the end though, the student is really what they make of their studies.

In reality, in the U.S., degrees in the average public and private industry hold less and less weight. Which is a huge problem.

Thank you, Clint, you took the words out of my mouth.

We are all entitled to our own opinions, but we are not entitled to our own facts.

When people say things as fact without backing them up, I ask for sources. If they won't cite their sources, I'll tell them not to say it.

University in Japan is a joke. Japan's best universities are not the equivalent of a mediocre university in America or the UK. The entrance exams are difficult, but once you are in, the hard work ends. Most Japanese university students spend their college years traveling and having fun, studying seems to be something of an afterthought.

Going to a good Japanese university will only look good on a Japanese resume. It will do you no good in Europe or America where university graduates are required to actually have some knowledge.

I know there are difficult courses of study but what Sangetsu says falls in line with what I observed. The difficult thing is getting in. The celebration happens at acceptance to a university, and not so much at graduation.

Is this true even of Toudai? If so, I'm a bit concerned. I'm working on my bachelor's here in the U.S., with the intent to get my master's in Tokyo. I'm still planning on moving back to the U.S. after that though (my wife only promised 2 years in Japan) but will a master's degree in Electrical Engineering count for squat here if I get it in Japan?

No, it is not as true of Tokyo University as it is at other schools. Tokyo U. is the most prestigious university in the country. When you say "masters in Tokyo" do you mean Tokyo University?

A master's degree from Tokyo U. is a red carpet in Japan, but it isn't the same as getting it at MIT in the US, I would think, just because not as many people have the name recognition. Why not get your master's in the US if that is where you will be living?

Yes, I meant a master's degree from Tokyo University. MIT probably would be slightly better as it is one (of two) of the universities ranked higher in the world than Tokyo University (Source: globaluniversitiesranking.org). I plan on getting my doctorate eventually here in the U.S., so the name recognition isn't as huge of an issue. The reason I think I would still like to get one in Japan is I plan on continuing to use my (presumably by then) developed skills in Japanese language, culture and business in my career by either A. Working for an American company with ties to Japan or B. Working for a Japanese company with offices in the U.S. Believe me, I'd love to stay over in Japan for longer, I'm just betting my wife isn't going to completely fall in love with it to the extent that she would want to stay there indefinitely.

As I have said on many previous threads, I have been a student of Japanese for 20 years, have lived in Japan, taught Japanese, translated thousands of pages of material from novels to technical manuals into English from Japanese, and I doubt I could sit in a room for 6 hours and pass a Japanese associate's degree college entrance exam, much less the exam for Tokyo University.

Unless you are applying through another university as an exchange program (assuming they have that) I think applying directly to Tokyo U. and passing the entrance exam is going to be a very very difficult challenge. Less than 10% of the students are foreigners....

Hey
 

I hope it works out for you... But actually I found that when i Studied abroad in Japan school was MUCCCHHH easier than in the US or China (where I usually study) and that courses were quite easy. No one disrespected the teacher but no teacher was held to a strict standard of actually teaching the students more knowledge than was contained in the book. Also i never heard of anyone failing .... dun wanna lose face i guess?

I've spent some time looking into the numbers and the requirements, so I'm somewhat aware that it is indeed difficult. I plan to start taking copies of previous entrance exams (available to buy online) to make sure that I can get in in three years. The one thing I'm not particularly sure on is if there are any differences in the requirements to get in as a graduate student vs. an undergraduate student?