Waseda University
 

So, how hard is it to get into Waseda? I hear it's prestigious. But how prestigious? Is it anything like Stanford where an average of A wouldn't be enough to get admitted?

Google is your best friend. Admission info:

WASEDA UNIVERSITY Center for International Education :::Admissions:::

Get into? Do you mean for an exchange, or going there full time?

Anyways, I'm gonna study at Waseda for a year, starting september. It's an exchange with my home univ. so the difficulty of getting into Waseda was based on how many applicants there were and how many spots our school got there this year.

Studying fullt time.

Yup. That's about how difficulty it is, and more, if you're talking about FULL TIME.

Firstly, you have to be proficient in Japanese. Then you need to sit for the university entrance examination in Japanese.. After that, if selected, you would have to go for an entrance interview in oral Japanese. Once you are through all these stages, then you will be one of the thousands of people vying for the limited spot in the university.

Waseda is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan.

But I have to say, it not as prestigious as Stanford.

Image wise, Keio is more comparable to Stanford than Waseda.

Anyways, the main problem is the language proficiency and not so much about your GPA.

I believe even exchange programs to Japan require you to have first two years of college level Japanese classes completed so your main concern is to work on your Japanese.

I think it might be more easier to be accepted by ICU and Sofia than Waseda.

You don't need that. I have _zero_ college level japanese classes in my baggage and I'm going to waseda for exchange in September. Waseda, as well as Sophia and Keio all give courses in english that you can take. These courses would not be enough to build an entire education from, but for an exchange it's fine. There are also intensive one-year language programs you can do on your exchange, where you do need to have some college-level studies in japanese done. Here, it's around a year you need.

Well, I think it depends on where you are.

I believe the qualifications were less strict for you because not too many people come to study in Japan from Sweden compare to number of students from the United States.

I used to work for the exchange program office in my Uni and for American students, qualifications are much more competitive because so many people want to go and study in Japan.

So as far as I know, this is how it is for Americans in California. I'm sure things are different if you live in Wyoming or Nebraska.

Yeah, that may be so. I can't really speak for much 'cept how it is here. Although I think it's kinda weird that you have to study japanese for two years at univ, to then go to japan and take courses in english :ywave:

On a side note, I read that swedish exchange students in Japan are increasing in number every year. Apparently people want to study there now .) I was lucky to manage to take the TOEFL at the last minute, so I was eligible to search exchange at Waseda U. (yeah, that's right, they demand a certain score in the TOEFL when you're not a native speaker)

I have thought about doing a full academic year at Waseda through a study abroad program. But, for now I am trying for the 3 week study abroad program at Ryukoku in Kyoto. Its a Learn Japanese in Japan program offered thru a local community college. But once I get into a 4 year university I am go to try for the academic year at Waseda ( if I can afford it) its expensive.