Asian Pacific University (APU) Ritsumeikan Daigaku

[Molokidan]

I applied to APU (http://www.apu.ac.jp/home/index.php?sel_lang=english), and finally got my letter of admission today.

I got a small scholarship, that chops off 30% of the entire tuition fee. This is a 4-year college in Japan, specializing (I guess) in asian-pacific studies. (Whatever that means.)

I'm trying to decide whether to go (the tuition will be $8000 a year, with $2000 for room in the "APU HOUSE") or stay here and go to a university in the US. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons...

I was a foreign exchange student in 2004 to Japan, and fell in love with the country, and I've always wanted to go back. I don't know if I should do this, or go through school in America and get onto JET. Any opinions?

[Big Booger]

I applied to APU (http://www.apu.ac.jp/home/index.php?sel_lang=english), and finally got my letter of admission today.

I got a small scholarship, that chops off 30% of the entire tuition fee. This is a 4-year college in Japan, specializing (I guess) in asian-pacific studies. (Whatever that means.)

I'm trying to decide whether to go (the tuition will be $8000 a year, with $2000 for room in the "APU HOUSE") or stay here and go to a university in the US. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons...

I was a foreign exchange student in 2004 to Japan, and fell in love with the country, and I've always wanted to go back. I don't know if I should do this, or go through school in America and get onto JET. Any opinions?

You have to ask yourself what will that degree be worth wherever you live? Will it sustain you in finding a future job?

Will a Japanese degree be valid in the US? Is it accredited? Is it what you are interested in studying? If not, don't waste your time. Don't just go to college for a degree.. find something you are interested in and pursue it. If you don't you'll regret it in the end.

[gkanai]

I was a foreign exchange student in 2004 to Japan, and fell in love with the country, and I've always wanted to go back. I don't know if I should do this, or go through school in America and get onto JET. Any opinions?

Do yourself a favor and get a degree in your home nation. It will be worth a lot more than anything you could get in Japan.

You should not consider an undergraduate degree in Japan unless you are Japanese. It would be worthless outside of Japan.

Get a solid degree in the US and then come over as a JET. There's no question that route gives you more options for your future.

[Molokidan]

Okay....thanks, both of you have made very informative comments so far.

And yeah, that was one of my biggest questions, was if it would really be worth having a Japanese degree if I was going to come back to the states. Your comments mean a lot to me, if japanese degrees are really that worthless, then I'll simply stay here and enter a University of California school and minor in Japanese or something.

There's no doubt that it would be a neat experience, but like you said, JET would offer that and much, much more. Alright, then...I'm starting to sway towards staying home. Thanks a lot, and keep 'em coming, please.

[Big Booger]

Okay....thanks, both of you have made very informative comments so far.

And yeah, that was one of my biggest questions, was if it would really be worth having a Japanese degree if I was going to come back to the states. Your comments mean a lot to me, if japanese degrees are really that worthless, then I'll simply stay here and enter a University of California school and minor in Japanese or something.

There's no doubt that it would be a neat experience, but like you said, JET would offer that and much, much more. Alright, then...I'm starting to sway towards staying home. Thanks a lot, and keep 'em coming, please.

And if you really are keen on visiting Japan earlier than the JET deal, then why not come over through an exchange program between your uni and a Japanese uni for a semester or two.. you can get full scholarships, and get to enjoy Japanese life at the same time, while not jeopardizing your future career. You'll even retain and be able to transfer all credits received during your visit to Japan through the exchange program.

Examples:

http://www.evergreen.edu/studyabroad/exchange.htm

http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/scholarships_ssepp_e.html

http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/exchange_student/program_01.html

It all depends on if your selected school offers such a program. Check with the language department once you get in for more information.

[Samurai_Jerk]

These guys are so right. Going to a school in the US with a good Japanese program (which shouldn't be a problem in CA) and spending an academic year in Japan as an exchange student will do much more for you in the long run. BTW, I'd recommend doing an exchange towards the end of your college career. If you spend a few years studying Japanese hard you might be able to take some regular classes and not just Japanese languages classes or classes in English for exachange students.

[Maths Dude]

Japanese University degrees make good toilet paper. I know a few Japanese people who came to study in Oz because of the low quality education over there. Having said that, the quality in all countries is going down hill. How many times have I heard the lecturers bitching about the 'system'. University is a business - the more bums-on-seats the better. Therefore they have lowered entrance scores (except for the top notch universities) and you can get a pass with minimal effort. This in turn has made most degrees pretty worthless if you ask me. Just a few years ago you could get a lecturing job with just an Honors, now you need a Phd to get into it. Get a real skill, don't do those 'fluff' bullshit degrees. In Oz we have a HUGE lack of engineering talent. Why? 1. Becasue of the lack of investment in the 90's and 2. Noone wants to study engineering any more - there is more money if you have a business degree.

[FG Lurker]

Didn't notice this topic until now... Just to chime in with another (long term Japan resident) voice: Don't waste 4 years of your life in a Japanese university!

The exchange student & Japanese study ideas above are good. I too would suggest coming later in your degree, after you have a couple more years of language study under your belt. You'll enjoy your time here a lot more and you will learn a lot more Japanese if you have the basics (+) down before you arrive.

[Sushi Man]

Yeah,

Hey. I've been reading others have posted (a little negative) here and thought I may as well chime in. By the way, I'm an American and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) is where I'm actually going in September. I originally applied to Sophia University's FCC and was rejected but was accepted to APU.

APU is a fairly new university and a degree from their may very well be worthless but I don't think that is necessarily the point. Without a doubt it will be easier than most American Universities but it should also be, if anything, an amazing experience. I didn't choose to go here based on what the value of the degree will be. I chose to here because it offeres what I want to study and it sounds fun. I think you really need to ask yourself that. Japanese and Asian Universities aren't on the same level as American and European Universities but that really isn't the point and there is still money to be made in Tokyo and other Asian markets.

Really, what is the worst that can happen? I am planning to see how this school is and if it isn't what I expected I'll probably try to transfer to a place in Tokyo like Sophia or ICU (International Christian University.) Sophia, by the way, is a Jesuit school and they are generally highly regarded around the world.

So think about it,
peace.

[FG Lurker]

Really, what is the worst that can happen?

You mean besides wasting 4 years of your life and a considerable sum of money?

[jim katta]

You have to ask yourself what will that degree be worth wherever you live? Will it sustain you in finding a future job?

Will a Japanese degree be valid in the US? Is it accredited? Is it what you are interested in studying? If not, don't waste your time. Don't just go to college for a degree.. find something you are interested in and pursue it. If you don't you'll regret it in the end.

BEST ADVICE EVER.


Also, to put another alternative thought in your head... You 'can' go to Temple University in Japan. Temple is respected in the U.S., but you can attend in Japan if you want. Kind of the best of both worlds, degree from a U.S. school (at least in name), plus you get to hang in Japan the whole time. Google it, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[Molokidan]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who commented on this topic and lent me their advice.

In the end, I decided to stay home and go to community college for a year while I get a job and save up some money. I'm hoping to get into a University of California school before my 2 years at community college run out, preferrably one that will offer a 1-year study abroad program. Finally, after I inevitably graduate, I'm going to try to get on the JET program and make my way back to Japan.

Thanks again, guys!

[Sushi Man]

...Ha ha ha,

See you in Japan then, eventually! I may be a fool for actually going to APU but I'm planning on making the most of my time in Japan! Despite all of Japan's problems , mind-numbing annoyingness, and xenophobia, I still love this damn country.

Seriously, though, good luck!