College Post, まだ　大学　の　話

Higo · (#1 (**permalink**))

Here's my short intro and question:
I've been self studying japanese for about 6 or so years,, etc. etc.
I just got back from Japan about four months ago, I was there for half a year as an exchange student, and while i was there I took the JLPT Exam level 3 and passed, so as far as fluency im still lacking. I've always planned on majoring in japanese in college and then going on to grad school.
Ideally, i'd like to Major in Japanese and minor in international communications. I'm planning on getting some kind of career working in the America-japan field, one that's preferabley time consuming - something I can work hard at since i've always loved studying japanese and have a nack for it.
I plan on attending a community college this year since I just graduated high school (though my grades are fine about a 3.0 GPA), so next year I plan on attending one of the UC's perhaps. I've heard they have great japanese programs, but can anyone else recommend a school with great japanese programs?
I've been looking into them and they mostly include Hilo University hawaii, the UC's and ohio state, as well as yale and Harvard (errr, impossible to get into). As far as graduate school I plan on attending Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (アメリカ・カナダ大学連合日本研究センタ), but are there any other renowned grad schools? Or even Colleges? I know well of temple University Japan, but it only offers minor certificates in Japanese.
Basically, if anyone has info on some schools, please share it with me.
I'd also appreciate some input on careers so that I can start steering myself in that direction.

Thanks for your times guys

nijiro · (#2 (**permalink**))

I'm in a very similar situation as you. Luckily for me a nearby community college (Montgomery CC) has Japanese as a foreign language. Being close to Philadelphia I considered Temple briefly but as you said they only have Japanese as a minor (the next closest major is Asian Studies).
My plan after community college is to go to Florida State, which has a good Japanese program. While they don't have a flashy Tokyo campus like Temple, and aren't as close as Hawaii, they have great professors and a lot of opportunities for studying abroad. My sister went there (she took some Japanese courses but majored in Interior Design) and also briefly worked in their Distance Learning department so that is how I know. It isn't "renowned" as far as I know but renown doesn't always equal proficiency.
Also Tallahassee (the city it's located in) is a great place to live. I lived there for two years. :3
My recommendation is to go to collegeboard.com and use their college search function. You can look for schools with the major you want, and any other qualities you like in a university.
Or you can go to FSU with me!
Good luck and let me know how it turns out!

kaelazors · (#3 (**permalink**))

i go to a uc right now and honestly the japanese program is great. so is the study aboard program from what i hear. i plan on studying abroad in japan through it

nijiro · (#4 (**permalink**))

Sorry if it's a dumb question, but could you explain what a "UC" is? Just wondering.

kaelazors · (#5 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by nijiro

Sorry if it's a dumb question, but could you explain what a "UC" is? Just wondering.

university of california

nijiro · (#6 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelazors

university of california

Aha, duh to me.

kaelazors · (#7 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by nijiro

Aha, duh to me.

lol it's all good. sorry for the cali acronym confusion XD

nijiro · (#8 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelazors

lol it's all good. sorry for the cali acronym confusion XD

No problem!

MMM · (#9 (**permalink**))

University of Oregon has a very good Japanese program and exchange program with Waseda.

kenmei · (#10 (**permalink**))

UC's are great, all should have japanese programs...with both majors and minors. Most CSU's should also have them. I remember when I was applying to CSU's I wanted to go SDSU because they had a very cool major which I was interested in called "International Business with Emphasis on Japan". Basically it was an International Business Major with a Japanese minor, which cold be very helpful when finding jobs.

Another option to look into is international schools. I know there's a bunch that offer 6month/1year "japanese programs" that you could do, also exchange programs with whatever school you choose to go to is a good idea.

I was looking into going to this school also: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University - Your Future in Mind

it's an international school which you can get a 4 year degree at.

ganbatte