This is something I’ve been thinking about for months and put so many hours of research into, talking with college counselors, family, friends, etc. For background I’m the average “always liked Japan” person etc. I’m starting my senior year of high school and really want to go to TUJ but I’ve already read everything saying it’s awful. I wanted to make this post just so I could gather my thoughts and hear what others might have to say with my scenario.
For context on my experience with Japan, I have already been to Japan solo 2 times, each for a month and stayed with host families. Most recently when I went this year, I actually visited TUJ and got a tour. I have been studying Japanese religiously for almost 3 years and passed JLPT N1 in December 2024. Probably more than half of my friend circle are Japanese people and my gf is also Japanese (not a factor for this post – she doesn’t live in Tokyo nor will go to school there). Japan itself and just Japanese is very ingrained into my identity as a person: I only read novels in japanese for fun, my entire YouTube has been 100% Japanese content for like 2 years, etc. I was doing that just for studying and improving at the language for a while but it keeps me more engaged I find just because it’s Japanese that I still like watching it.
I was interested in computer science and political science and met with both of the professors when I toured TUJ. They were both fine talking to but I’ve since lost interest in a computer science career because I’m scared about future employability with AI, job market, etc (regardless of if I even go to TUJ). Right now I’m currently interested in international business and still political science. I’ve searched for a lot of stuff online about TUJ (most results are Reddit) and haven’t really seen anything positive so I’m not exactly expecting anyone to tell me it’s good, but here’s why I would even want to go there:
To start, I’m not interested in a typical American college experience, my brother has been in college for 2 years and hearing what he talks about with frat parties, etc just isn’t interesting to me. He doesn’t go to a party school (quite the opposite of a party school honestly) but I’m just not into partying and anything so I feel like a typical American college experience would be wasted on me. I feel like the whole time in America I’d just be wanting to be in Japan because of just seeing the language in everything I do daily. I know there is so much more to college in the USA than frats and drinking and football but genuinely none of it interests me (or so I think). I’m sure I would find a circle of people in the USA and have a fine time in college here but it’s not what I personally am leaning towards.
As for Japan stuff, I’ve already had experiences living Japanese daily life with a host family and it’d really wanna do it again. TUJ has an option where you live with a host family so I’m extremely interested in staying with a host family for more than a month this time. Some things I also like specifically in Japan that aren’t really in America as much are singing Japanese karaoke songs, Game Centers (inid specifically), going to speedcore concerts, Japanese car culture, onsen, etc.
Also for temple, couldn’t I try a year there and if it really does suck then come home to a local school?
As for going to an American school, I have looked at multiple programs where you do 2 years in Japan, study abroad at different schools, etc. a lot of these programs though lock you into a specific major (like the one at American university) or it’s just a regular 1 year study abroad. Also the cost is a huge factor, like all 4 years of temple is a little less than 1 year for an American school. I’m not completely opposed to doing some kind of 2 year study abroad but then again at that point if I just want to be in Japan so much then why not do all 4 years there? And like I said it’s just super expensive for anything in the USA now.
As a third option, I have looked at actual Japanese universities but it seems like it’s also not very good unless it’s Waseda, Tokyo, Jouchi, etc. I’ve looked at the mext program too which is nice but I’m also really worried about employability with a Japanese degree if I wanted to go back to America. Every adult I’ve talked to in Japan has mentioned that they think Japanese universities are too easy or a waste of time. At least with temple you technically get a degree from an American school. Also I’m not a fan that I would have to wait like 10 months out of high school before I enter Japanese school in April 2027 but I can probably work a job back home or stay with my friends in Japan for some of that time.
Where I’m mainly concerned is post graduation as I’ve read from everything about temple that they don’t really help you at all. It seems like there’s not much opportunity outside of temple but as someone who’s really young and doesn’t know anything about finding a job, it’s all really confusing and stressful to me.
If you read this far then I’m really grateful for that. If you have any knowledge about TUJ, your experience going to an American university, finding a job in either country, etc, literally any piece of info or insight would be insanely helpful to me.
by IllustriousEvent9409