Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I feel proud to FINALLY be a part of this wonderful community! I've had this question bugging me for a long time, and I was wondering if you guys can help.

I'm going to start year 11 soon, just two years away from finishing high school, and I have been thinking a lot of my future. I decided I want to be an engineer, but in which field, I have no idea, but I think I narrowed it down to nuclear engineering or chemical engineering.

What I really need help in, is if I can get in 東京大学 , and if the university has those subjects, I tried googling but that didn't help much. Please help me. I would be thrilled if even there is a slight chance (about 5-10%) I can enroll in Tokyo university.

It's not a matter if I can go to college or not, it's the matter of enrolling in this particular university.


Regards
HatchiSama

How good is your Japanese?

I'd say around beginner, but I have two years of self study and AJATT ahead of me and my school offers free Japanese classes with native Japanese speakers. So I can say if I stay consistent it should be enough. I can safely estimate that much.

Two years of Japanese does not sound like enough to study electrical or chemical engineering at the best university in Japan. But I don't know that much about entering Japanese university as a foreigner, so I'll defer to someone else who might know more about the topic.

Do you have a specific reason for wanting to attend Todai?

I feel like you wouldn't be able to understand any of the classes.

You'll need at least the equivalent of JLPT 2 or higher.

i don't think nuclear engineering is a very good major to pursue in japan right now.




i looked on their english website and there's tons of information.
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index/departmen..._03_e.html

I am not sure if Todai has any kind of English programs, but the chances that you will pass the regular admission test with 2 years of Japanese study, even 2 years of extreme Japanese study, are not 5-10%, they are pretty much 0. Even if you can reach JLPT N1, taking university entrance exams is a whole different beast. It doesn't matter if you're able to understand the classes. Even if you you understand 99.9% in every class you most likely won't be able to pass the admission test in Japanese. Trust me on this one, forget about the regular program for Japanese people. It's not because I think you are not smart enough, but 2 years of study are simply not enough. The whole jp. education system is basically targeted to prepare for entrance exams. You can't do that in 2 years of time in addition to learning the language. The only thing you could do is look if the uni has some kind of special program for foreigners.

On top of that, what is your reason for wanting to join a Japanese university? I love Japan, but education, especially university education, is much better elsewhere.

You have probably 1 to 1.5 years before you need to apply? Find out. Your Japanese may have to be good enough to attend by the time you apply, not by the time you start.

As a back-up, look for schools in the US with strong Japanese exchange programs. This could get you an extra year of study time in Japanese, then exchange for 1-2 semesters.

If that US university has a good exchange program and you do well in the first semester abroad, perhaps there is opportunity to transfer. It's also that transferring may be easier than getting accepted in the first place.

This also gives you options and delays commitment to a single path.

Just some thoughts.

I agree with what jhenson said. Look for a school with the programs you want in America, and with a strong exchange program. Exchange programs with Japan are relatively common.

I'm not going to say you can't do it but it would be hard. You need to pass N2 or N1 before you apply. You may want to be open to other schools as well. I know there is an engineering college in Japan with a foreign student program but I forgot the name of it. Also idk why @kainzero would think nuclear engineering isn't a good idea to study in Japan right now. If anything right now they need more nuclear engineers. However, my father (Engineer/Executive Director) in Japan says that they prefer to hire engineers that have studied in the states. For this reason my friend Tomo came to the states to study engineering. Experience in the states (internships or work experience) is also much better than just education in the states.

I'll add one more thing -- as someone with a degree in Chemical Engineering -- being a serious student in that field doesn't leave a lot of time for other activities.

Quote:Even if you can reach JLPT N1, taking university entrance exams is a whole different beast.

Usually I'd cheer you and say "achieve the impossible". But not this time, I think you should be realistic, taking exam about scientific subjects is hard as hell. He should re-learn from 0 all the terminology and don't say me "One can put those word and learn 150 w/day". He's aiming not to understand what they ask, but he's aiming to pass a university exam (not an easy one).
Each subject has his own specific language and trying to master them would take time, especially if you try to study all the subjects at one time. I'm not saying it's impossible but it takes a lot of time. If you are already pouring your free time in the study of the Japanese language to reach N1 level, I don't think you have time "to waste" learning specific things as demonstration or stuff like that in Japanese.
I'd say also that I don't think N2 is enough if you're aiming for 東大.

You can just ignore the post if you're not that far from N1 level, if you already have deep knowledge in those fields and a lot of free time in the next year.

P.S. I hate those "N1 level definition" and so on, it makes me think about dragonball and a language is something you can't definite with numerbs. However, we need to put labels on things and on people to live in this society so I think I need somehow to get used to it.

ThomasB Wrote:Even if you can reach JLPT N1, taking university entrance exams is a whole different beast.

There is a different test for international students.

"There are three types of enrollments: the general entrance examination (the same as that taken by Japanese students), a special screening for graduates from overseas schools, and a sepcial screening for the PEAK undergraduate programs. "

(PEAK = All English courses, but only two majors; International Studies and Environmental Studies.)

NoSleepTilFluent Wrote:Also idk why @kainzero would think nuclear engineering isn't a good idea to study in Japan right now. If anything right now they need more nuclear engineers.

The negative backlash after Fukushima will most likely lead to a reduction of nuclear power and hence less jobs in that field. OP would graduate in 6 years.

Fukushima was much worse than TMI, and after TMI no new nuclear plants were built in the US which limited the job market for Nuclear Engineers.



There's a lot of speculation in this thread about Toudai's admission practices... but you can find all your information on Toudai's website. In English, no less.

kainzero Wrote:Fukushima was much worse than TMI, and after TMI no new nuclear plants were built in the US which limited the job market for Nuclear Engineers.

Not only is there a good chance Japan won't be building any more reactors, there's a high likelihood they're going to get rid of their plants. Maybe that'll lead to a temporary rise in demand for nuclear engineers, but probably not anyone fresh out of school.
Of course, if Japan decides to do the sensible thing and replace its ancient nuclear plants with new safer ones, then being a nuclear engineer could work out great. But I don't see that happening.

@HatchiDono

What would you say would be your chances of getting accepted to Harvard? Divide that by about 10 and I think that's the likelihood of getting into Todai with 2 years of AJATT.

Come on everyone - give the guy/ girl a chance!

Remember what it was like to dream?!

HatchiSama, don't be discouraged. Follow your dream. If you have to work hard, then so be it. Honestly, it sounds like pie in the sky to me to get into Toudai, but don't let other people (including me) put you off. There are a lot of jealous people in the world who will discourage you just because they never had the balls to follow their own dreams.

Do your research, work hard, and aim high. You do need to be sure it's what you really want though, and an internet forum is not the best place to go seeking that advice. Go and see your schools career guidance service and go from there. Be practical about it, but don't ask the internet for advice on things like this because generally people on the internet think they know everything (including me - I do know everything *wink*), and only you can know your heart.

Jankensan, thanks for your encouragement, but I got to admit, everyone else has a point. But it's okay, Jhenson's and Zachandhobbe's ideas are not too far off from my dreams, and they're realistic. Thanks for your ideas! It puts a lot of weight from my shoulders knowing what you guys said.

I'm not sure if this is worth mentioning.... but what about the quality of education one would receive at 東大? To the best of my knowledge, the lure of the elite universities is the networking opportunities and the name brand more so than the actual quality of instruction. Four years of undergrad is seen as a time for kids to cut loose between the pressures of high school and the future pressures of entering the workforce. This may be different at 東大, but at 京大 it seemed that students were more interested in socializing and their バイト than hitting the books. I could be wrong, but a Japanese friend had wanted to go abroad for college, since college in Japan is "a joke," and he was upset that his parents hadn't let him.

I hope a Japanese degree would be accepted in the states. My father, who originally got his engineering degree from the national university of the South American country where he was born and worked as an engineer, had to start over when he immigrated. He had to redo all of his education (from his B.A. up), because his engineering degree was not recognized. The point I'm trying to make is that there is a risk in getting a degree in a country you may not be living in for the rest of your life. American degrees, however, do have a track record of being recognized the world over.

It's your life. Your decision. Make it an informed one.

I've been studying Japanese hardcore for 3 years and like you in 2 years time I would like to go to 東大. Why? Sheer hell of it I guess. In terms of quality of education, it ranks as one of the top universities in the world so I'm sure there'll be no qualms with a degree from 東大. If you plan to live and work in Japan, it's useful for a number of reasons. 1, work would be easier to understand if you studied those concepts in Japanese. 2, 東大 = platinum ticket.

When I was in Japan I bought the 赤本 for the 入試. Guess what? 2 years ain't going to get you there. Unless and I say this in all honesty... you studied Japanese through physics/chemistry/maths text books using some sort of bilingual method where you first go through it in English and then go over the same concept in Japanese adding all the words you don't know to anki or what not. Even then... ur chance is about 1%. Still... if you seriously did use such a method I'd say it's plausible.

Even for me who has studied 3 years and can actually understand physics/chemistry/math text books in Japanese (after a considerable amount of effort)... I'd say it will be an extremely tough challenge. If I had every single day free from now until then I could do it. No problems. However, I don't and that doesn't help.

I wonder if someone has done this? I guess so. A Japanese friend said there was a guy at his uni who sat the entrance exam and passed along with everyone else and got in. Wasn't 東大 tho. However, I wanna see someone do it and would myself love to have a crack at it. Just for fun. I mean why not? I guess the main reason is... when someone says... WOAH YOU CAN USE CHOPSTICKS!?... you can be all like...それどころか東大合格したぜ！ I mean... LOL.

I'm interested in what you said tokyostyle, but the scholarship part I can nail it down. It doesn't have to be from the Monbukagakusho scholarship, and my country's government is pretty generous with the scholarship, so it won't be a big deal. I've found this site, and they explain a lot! http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj_stope.html Thanks everyone for everything!

Quote:In terms of quality of education, it ranks as one of the top universities in the world so I'm sure there'll be no qualms with a degree from 東大.

Are you sure about that? As far as I know 東大 is the 'elite' in Japan but is not that famous/prestigious outside Japan.

From my experience, anything related to maintenance of electrical (electrician) for industrial,residential,commercial,construction,maintenance are usual always in demand. Plus it's on of those careers that isn't effect by the economy since they need for almost anything electrical. Not sure it applies in Japan but I know in Canada they need them badly but no one goes into them(if there is a demand but few workers, the wages for the workers goes up and in this case that's fact)

I heard from a friend that they were " killing" and torturing their students in toudai

It's good to have dreams and aims in life but if you know what you want to study you should choose a university based on its programme not its reputation.

Shakunatz Wrote:

Quote:In terms of quality of education, it ranks as one of the top universities in the world so I'm sure there'll be no qualms with a degree from 東大.

Are you sure about that? As far as I know 東大 is the 'elite' in Japan but is not that famous/prestigious outside Japan.

That's because no one outside of Japan speaks Japanese (only the Japanese brain can handle it) therefore no one knows what 東大 is. Though, it does rank as around about number 24th / 25th? I'm pretty sure no one is going to mind. Besides, if I were an employer I would be impressed as all shit at a potential applicant who completed an entire technical degree in Japanese. One would think such a person certainly had a decent head on their shoulders. Besides, in terms of prestige only the the Ivy League schools have it... Not many people go to an Ivy League school... If it was a pick between any old school in Japan and any old school in the states, you'd go with the US. If it was a pick between 東大 and any old run of the mill university in the US you'd go with 東大. If it was between 東大 and an Ivy League school... you'd go with the Ivys.

Aside from that... if I saw an applicant who obviously isn't even of asian descent graduated from an asian university I would be curious enough to investigate further. Upon which I'd be like snap...

I don't see why everyone rags on university in Japan so bad. I know it's got a rep for being a playground but seriously... Japan is a top economic power with an impressive track record of producing most of the worlds tv's, cars, video game consoles... I'm guessing most of that was done by Japanese people who went to university in Japan. One would think it can't be all bad.