I'll be taking EJU this June, and continue with the rest of the process afterwards. I'm taking one step at a time, so I'm mostly worried about EJU now. It's in just under 3 months, which is a long time if I use my time wisely.

I'll be taking the science version (理系） in Japanese. After looking at the test, I'm currently mostly worried about the science part, and not the Japanese test. I'm worried about the science problems being in Japanese, and also the problems are pretty funky. They're much closer to solving a puzzle without knowing any math/science than it is knowing anything, so I think I'll have to practice looking for patterns that magically dissolve while going for speed. I already know all the theory/reasons/etc of math well beyond what's covered (only up to single variable calculus), so I'm hoping that'll help.

Does anybody here have experience with EJU and/or going to be taking it? There's some university students in Japan here, right?

Any advice would be great, thanks!

I have no experience but you should probably just ask some of the teachers that teach there. 頑張ってください！

I will also be taking the EJU this summer. I am also worried about the non-Japanese parts of the test more than the Japanese part. I will be taking the Math course 1 and the 総合科目 both in Japanese.

There is a book series called チャレンジ, they make books for all of the different sections. They are nice because they give you all the words you need to be able to understand the problems. But as for solving the problems, やるしかねぇと思う。 I would defiantly recommend the series for the vocabulary they give, and they also include practice tests.

I know EXACTLY what you mean about the puzzle solving even though I am only doing Math Course 1. It doesn't help that I forgot some major principles, but even if I did the problems are still crazy. I had a math major tutor me for a bit and even he was stumped for a while on some of the problems.

While the Japanese section isn't exactly easy, it is at least manageable. I wish I took more math in High School . This stuff is nuts.

It's nice to see I'm not the only person taking it!

I actually find the Math Course 1 material much harder than the Course 2, and I studied mathematics as a major for a few years in the US. I can do all the problems on both courses, but the problem is time. It's really about having practised these silly problems that don't appear in the real world so you can do them really quickly on the exam. I guess that's what standardized tests usually are...

It's really silly that the Japanese seems easy for me, but the mathematics is "hard"... Being an American mathematics major. I probably won't start studying for it for another month or so, and just cram all the practice towards the date closer to the test. There's also another chance to take the test this winter, depending on your goal/deadlines (What are they? Westerners taking the Japanese-EJU seem very rare).

We are a rare breed indeed. My goal is to get into 京大. I know it sound crazy but if you aim for the top, you're bound to hit higher than if you were to aim in the middle.

My life story summed up is that I withdrew from going to college in the US (due many reasons) and went to a language school in Hokkaidou instead. I didn't start seriously studying Japanese until Aprilish last year. My Japanese has increased since then but my Math 能力 is still very lacking.

I'm happy to meet someone who agrees that the problems seem very ridiculous and unique to this test only. I should take my own advice of just doing it, but do you have any advice as for studying for the math? I only have limited high school training, up the the pre-calc level. The school I am going to know has a Math class that will be starting soon, but I don't think I'll be ready in time for June.

I may have to wait another year to tackle this beast...

Cheesemaster64 Wrote:We are a rare breed indeed. My goal is to get into 京大. I know it sound crazy but if you aim for the top, you're bound to hit higher than if you were to aim in the middle.

It really doesn't work like this at all. You take the EJU, which is kind of like an SAT in the US, and use that score for the original sorting of admissions. However the test/procedure after is different at each school, so it's not like studying for Tokyo University will overlap at other universities. The EJU is pretty much universal, but you have to study for individual exams for individual schools afterwards, so make sure to keep that in mind. The test content can vary *a lot*, so it's best to plan out your schools sooner than later (I need to follow my own advice too).

As for the mathematics, I'd recommend just doing tons of practice problems. You don't need to understand any of the mathematics to do well on the test, just do them quickly. So previous knowledge of mathematics really doesn't help that much, which is silly, but we have to play the game.

By the way, Tokyo University's test (at least for my major/field) is the same exact one as Japanese take. Our competition is people we likely cannot beat, so make sure to look at other schools (especially ones with tests for foreigners, aka private schools).

PS The above is for 大学 level, we have the advantage at 大学院 level, even at Tokyo University. I've visited most of the 国立大学 in the Tokyo area, and I don't think there's a single westerner at the undergraduate level. Meanwhile at private schools there's tons of people, because they have an entrance procedure for foreigners.

I was very unsure about how it works actually, thanks for clearing it up that I also need to well with on the University's exam too.

I'd hate to hijack your thread but for the last couple months I have just been focusing on making money and studying that I really haven't planned anything out. I just arrived in Kyoto last week, and I am currently living with my girlfriend. She just started work and has a 3 year minimum contract, so the "plan" was that I go to college here in Kyoto. I am a bit weary about 専門　schools just because almost every Japanese person I have met speaks so lowly about them.

I know I want to study in the social/welfare departments, but finding a suitable school is quite a chore.

I am just worried about getting a 4 year degree that doesn't mean anything.

Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

専門 schools are for 専門 jobs. You don't go to plumbing school to be a Wall-street banker and you don't goto Harvard to fix toilets.

If you want to do a hands-on technical job then there is nothing wrong with 専門学校. If you want to be a salary-man then you should goto a normal 4yr uni.

People look down on 専門学校 because they look down on blue-collar workers (and home-makers).

A word of caution though, a degree in Japan will be worth a lot less than a degree in America. That goes for job hunting in Japan (as a foreigner, unless you get into TokyoU/Keio/Waseda) and especially America (if you ever decide to go back).

Jarvik7 Wrote:A word of caution though, a degree in Japan will be worth a lot less than a degree in America. That goes for job hunting in Japan (as a foreigner, unless you get into TokyoU/Keio/Waseda) and especially America (if you ever decide to go back).

I was originally ignoring this, because I really wanted to live in Japan and go to a University here. I'm leaning towards finishing my degree online, from Japan, because I have 3 years worth of credits I can use (mostly in math, physics, and chemistry). I haven't taken any foreign language, but I'm pretty confident I'll pass the JLPT1 this year, so I'm hoping that'll count for something?

Does anybody know anything about online universities (I don't mind travelling for finals), and are they "worth less"? I figure I can get something like programming, math, or some mix pretty easily. Credits, time, "worth", and difficulty all seem to be pointing to just finish my degree ASAP, then join 大学院 in Japan.

I'll be getting a Japanese-descendant visa soon, which is a "do whatever you want" visa. I think I can do everything but vote. So depending on how you're in the country, Cheesemaster64, the long distance degree might not be an option if you're intent on staying in Japan.

Grinkers,

Basically it sounds like you were in the same boat that I am in now...at least in some way. What I should be deciphering from this is that going to undergrad (4 year) in Japan is only good if you can get into the top schools. I really don't have the confidence to do so. My Japanese is nothing great or nothing too bad, but my other areas of "knowledge" (aka World History and other crap you'll never use twice) is lacking.

Jarvik,

I didn't know that a degree in Japan was so worthless in America. I know that I will eventually want to go back to America, but I was planning to get some kind of work experience before doing so. Do Japanese degree also carry no merit when applying to grad school in the US?

I'm madly in love, and basically the only way for us not to part is for me to go to a school for at least 2 years (my language school visa expires in 15 months so no more language schools). Perhaps I should look into the different specialty schools. Hell I'm a Vermonter, we 'all know wut' blue collar work is *hick*.

But seriously, what is an undereducated nihonapiliac supposed to do.

Any advice will be deeply appreciated.

P.S. With this I'd consider your thread hijacked...I'll make a new thread when I get back.

I think for us Americans, it's not as bad graduating from Japan. However for Japanese, graduating from America is tons better. Also I think it heavily is decided on your major too. Japanese science majors are considered much better than the Japanese "art" majors (everything not technical). How true is this? I have no idea, but that's what everybody is "saying/thinking".

I'd be interested in seeing what kind of long distance programs people are in here though. I know almost nothing about them, and it might be the way to go for us. Finish up our degrees while studying/living in Japan, and then go to a masters program in Japan!

Depending on how many units you have in the US, it could potentially be very fast to graduate. There's very few schools in Japan that will let you transfer in as a 3rd year, without taking the test that's even harder than the typical entrance exams. That exam is mostly designed for Japanese returning to Japan and/or from 2 year technical schools.

I don't think anybody else is as "stupid" as us to take the EJU/Entrance exams, so this tread was kind of doomed already.

Grinkers, I don't know anything about distance degrees, but I'd be careful about where your degree will be from. It might be worth it in the long run to return and complete your final year at your previous school if it has a better reputation than the distance degree one.

Jarvik7 Wrote:People look down on 専門学校 because they look down on blue-collar workers (and home-makers).

home-makers?

Quote:A word of caution though, a degree in Japan will be worth a lot less than a degree in America. That goes for job hunting in Japan (as a foreigner, unless you get into TokyoU/Keio/Waseda) and especially America (if you ever decide to go back).

hmm, not necessarily. What makes you say that?

Foreigner employees in Japan often aren't judged by the same criteria or treated the same as Japanese. That can works for or against us. There are several reasons Japanese and foreign employers would be interested in a foreign graduate of a Japanese university.

The value of doing a degree or research at a Japanese university when applying for programs or jobs in America depends on several factors and can often be a plus. The competition will all have good credentials - it can help to distinguish yourself. There are also some practical benefits beyond the course content.

Depending on the job, though, I think it's often better to get some work experience in your home country before working in Japan. Better to arrive with some skills to offer and have some control than endure training in Japan. :-)

Getting a degree in another language shows a whole lot of determination and will probably EASILY trump the reputation of a university for most jobs. The only thing I would be afraid of is that I would be considered overqualified, that they would think I would not stay long at a job which isn't specialized in Japan etc.

Thora Wrote:

Jarvik7 Wrote:People look down on 専門学校 because they look down on blue-collar workers (and home-makers).

home-makers?

I would say house-wives, but the number of house-husbands and men who work from home/freelance are on the rise.

Quote:

Quote:A word of caution though, a degree in Japan will be worth a lot less than a degree in America. That goes for job hunting in Japan (as a foreigner, unless you get into TokyoU/Keio/Waseda) and especially America (if you ever decide to go back).

hmm, not necessarily. What makes you say that?

Mostly because Japanese universities are a joke and everyone in Japan knows it (four year vacation) That is why students can skip and nomikai through the first two years and then spend most of the last two years doing job hunting. The hard part is getting into them, but foreigners aren't presented with the same challenging entry procedures as natives. It's a quality of education issue, not a reputation issue. Foreigners are also usually hired because of their foreign experience. If your entire post-highschool life is in Japan then you don't have that to offer. It DOES demonstrate good Japanese knowledge and you can use the recruiting system to find a job, so it's not all bad.

Basically Japanese degrees aren't good if you plan on doing 転職 or returning to your home country. If you do direct employment (就活 in your third year) from a good JP university with a marketable degree then you should be ok as long as you stay in-country.

In any case, the image that getting a foreign degree gives off is that you "couldn't cut it" in your home country. A run of the mill state university degree will be much better than even a TokyoU degree if you plan on working in the US in a job that isn't primarily language related (translation). No one who isn't well versed in Japanese culture will know the difference between TokyoU and a third rate Japanese university.

Thora Wrote:Grinkers, I don't know anything about distance degrees, but I'd be careful about where your degree will be from. It might be worth it in the long run to return and complete your final year at your previous school if it has a better reputation than the distance degree one.

Unfortunately I hated my old school and quit. I basically decided to test the waters in Japan before transferring to a new school/major, and ended up liking Japan a lot. I'm actually kind of stuck here in a way, because I don't have any place to stay in the US (and haven't applied to any schools yet). I actually want to stay in Japan anyway, so it's not a bad thing at all for me!

Does anybody else know anything about distance degrees? Are there any decent schools, and how are they viewed? I figure I might as well look into it while I continue the process to enter a Japanese university. I plan on going to graduate school in Japan no matter what I do, so it doesn't really matter if my undergraduate doesn't have the best reputation, but I don't want to enter some scam-like distance degree.

PS I'm in the science side. Mathematics and programming being my main two interests.

Well shucks,

I'm going to see what my teachers at my language school have to say. They would know best about which schools someone like me would be able to get into.

Thanks for all the help guys, and good luck to us both!

Cheesemaster64 Wrote:Well shucks,

I'm going to see what my teachers at my language school have to say. They would know best about which schools someone like me would be able to get into.

Thanks for all the help guys, and good luck to us both!

The teachers at my language school know just about nothing for us Americans, just a little warning. They've given me a lot of wrong information, simply because they're so used to dealing with people from other eastern countries, and the entrance procedures can be slightly different. Not to mention we have an obvious advantage with English.

I've had to go to each school's website and/or call/visit the school and ask them about the details because I'm American. The language school teachers can probably help you with the big things like vocational school vs 4 year university kind of thing, but you're best off doing everything else yourself.

For example they told me I MUST take the EJU in Japanese, but then I later found out most schools don't care if I take it in English...

Just a little warning, they're clueless.

Haha, don't you ever have any good news? :p

It really angers me when the schools brag about how good they are and how other kids went here and such, but then it comes down to it they couldn't give a lesser sh*t about. That's how my old language school was, but I have really good feelings about this new because it's part of a college 京都造形芸術大学. The school I went to before was seriously some random building that they slapped a language school sticker on. Although if it was my choice I would want a visa like what your going to get but that's just not in my cards.

I really think the procedure is different for westerns like you said. I met a guy who went to a private university in Sapporo, and when I asked him about how hey got in he had NO CLUE what the EJU even was, even though that school clearly said that the EJU is needed.

I think the best way is what you said, contact the school directly and see what their policy is.

I know the answer is probably NO, but are any credits from America schools transferable and visa-versa? (Could I go 2 or 3 years in JP and then transfer home with no/minimal credit loss?)

BTW, I'm sure you've already seen this but in the case you haven't, here ya go.

List of schools using EJU and their requirements for the testing language, etc.
http://www.jasso.go.jp/eju/use_e.html

Cheesemaster64 Wrote:I know the answer is probably NO, but are any credits from America schools transferable and visa-versa? (Could I go 2 or 3 years in JP and then transfer home with no/minimal credit loss?)

It depends on the school. Generally speaking they'll treat them as foreign language and/or elective units. If you have an AS (2 year degree), they're much more likely to accept it as a whole (not per unit).

The US is much more accepting than Japan about accepting units from other schools/countries, which makes sense seeing as how often they have to deal with transfer/foreign students.

If you have any questions about specifics, feel free to email me. I mostly know about Tokyo's schools, specifically the public and/or prestigious.

I've looked at the exams and stuff, and it's not any harder than the material that might show up on JLPT1. However you actually need to be able to use that Japanese (test essays, interviews, papers, etc), so I don't really think comparing it to JLPT1 is that great. However if you cannot pass JLPT1, the chances of you being able to use Japanese at the required level is basically 0.

Also each school/major is very different from everything from entrance procedures to education quality. I mean for a lot of graduate schools you don't even need any Japanese at all (if you're an English speaker in a science major).

I apologize for going off-topic but how is a 3 year bachelor's degree looked upon by graduate schools in Japan ? Can a foreign student with a 3 year bachelor's degree get admission to do a masters degree in a graduate school in Japan ?

Usually an undergraduate degree is 4 years long but in my country there are colleges which award undergraduate degrees for courses lasting only 3 years.

atreya Wrote:I apologize for going off-topic but how is a 3 year bachelor's degree looked upon by graduate schools in Japan ? Can a foreign student with a 3 year bachelor's degree get admission to do a masters degree in a graduate school in Japan ?

Usually an undergraduate degree is 4 years long but in my country there are colleges which award undergraduate degrees for courses lasting only 3 years.

All of the schools I've looked at for graduate schools (not many) have a listed requirement of the equivalent of 16 years of education (12 for grade school, and 4 for undergraduate).

I'm sure there's different schools with different requirements, and different definitions for "equivalent", but that's what's written on the paperwork I have on my desk.

Grinkers Wrote:All of the schools I've looked at for graduate schools (not many) have a listed requirement of the equivalent of 16 years of education (12 for grade school, and 4 for undergraduate).

I'm sure there's different schools with different requirements, and different definitions for "equivalent", but that's what's written on the paperwork I have on my desk.

Yea, I was looking into various colleges and everyone is asking for 16 years of education... So its pretty much impossible to even think of doing a masters degree in Japan I suppose. Does that mean, a 4 years bachelors degree is required to be done all over again ? >_<

Are you in a 3 year undergraduate program now? I really don't know anything about them (I actually haven't even heard of a 3 year undergraduate program before), so somebody else will have to chime in.

Based on the papers on my desk from universities here, it's not possible, but who knows? Maybe if you double majored (similar major so most of the core classes are the same), that'd work?

I'm answering questions with questions!