I'm currently 18 and in college, mostly just to get a highschool diploma. Afterwards I want to move to Japan with the intent of living there long term. I mostly just want to share where I am at right now, as well as ask some questions.
Qualifications:
– High school graduation by the end of this semester (I wasn't able to graduate normally for various reasons but I can apply for a diploma using college credits)
– Around or above N1 level in Japanese (I can comprehend basically all native content short of 漢文, including novels etc. and hold conversations just as well as I can in English). Language should not be an issue.
– I did do an exchange year to Japan during highschool, so I am certain that I want to live there, and I have lots of connections around the Tokyo area if I need help with anything.
– Native English speaker
– I have around 15K CAD saved.
My current plan is to apply for a cost effective language school to get into the country (for this fall if possible), and then take entrance exams next spring, and then again the spring after if I fail to get in. I understand that graduating from College in Canada might be a safer option, but I would like to move to Japan as soon as I possibly can, even if it is more difficult.
Questions:
– Assuming I can find part time work, what kind of income can I reasonably expect to make? Are there any ways I can use English to my advantage to get a higher paying job?
– All of the websites I have looked at say I need some ambiguous amount of money to qualify for a student visa. Do I have enough money or do I need to start working more asap?
– How difficult are Japanese university entrance exams compared to things like the SAT etc. discounting the language barrier? Would it be enough to just memorize a 参考書 with Anki or something?
– What would be the most cost effective language school to apply to, preferably around Tokyo? Also, are there any options that include support for entrance exams, because I am more concerned about those than I am about learning Japanese.
– Not a question but I would very much welcome any financial advice.
by PutProfessional6429