<p>Something unpleasant to consider- attitudes of Japanese towards Koreans, aka racism. You are an American by culture and may not be aware of prejudices various Asians have towards one another- a minor point perhaps, especially in a college setting, but it could be a shock if you never thought of it. Many in mainstream America may lump all Asians together, or all Hispanics, but like the English and the Irish various groups have predjudices against others we don’t always understand.</p>
<p>Experiencing more Asian culture in a different part of the US sounds like a good start in your Japanese journey.</p>
<p>rayna, Are you aware of the prejudice in Japan towards Koreans? You are an American, of course, but you need to be prepared. If my daughter were Korean by birth, I would not want her to go to Japan. Just as I would not want my son who is gay to go to a country with laws discriminate against homosexuals.</p>
<p>Rayna, are you thinking of International Christian University by any chance? AFAIK, they are probably more welcoming to non-Japanese speakers and gaikokujin (foreigners) in general than most Japanese universities would be. I know they tried to recruit from my U.S. HS some years back. From my HS classmates who have studied Japanese in college (Watashi ha koukou de nihongo wo benkyoushi.ta. nihongo ga dai suki da kedo, amari daikgaku de benkyou dekinakatta. totemo zannen da ne!*), UWashington and Georgetown are the only two U.S. schools whose Japanese programs I’ve heard remotely positive things about. </p>
<p>(I studied Japanese in high school. I really like the language but wasn’t able to continue studying it in college. It’s quite disappointing)</p>
<p>Thanks for the concern, everyone. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>The Japanese government started a program called the Global 30 where 13 Japanese universities are selected to offer various degrees in English. But yes, ICU is also on my list of potential colleges in Japan. Waseda University is my dream school though.</p>
<p>Yes, I am aware of racism in Asia.
I think the younger generation is much more open than older generations (just my opinion). Many Korean idols are extremely popular in Japan, and there are many multi-cultural/foreign celebrities, so I think that the separation is dissolving. Of course, I wont know until I go to Japan to experience it myself, but that is my view as an outsider.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that UCLA, UC-Berkeley, Stanford, and Columbia have good Japanese programs. If I am to stay within the US, I would want to go to college in New England or the west coast. There are lots of Asians in those areas compared to Texas! haha :)</p>
<p>So this question could be asked to my parents but they are very uninformed on jobs after college (I’m first generation). My parents want my to have a concrete job that makes a nice amount of money (example doctor, lawyer) I was really into medicine and was pretty sure I wanted to be a doctor but recently my wish of being pre-med undergraduate has almost disappeared. I fear that I wont be able to handle the stress and all the years of learning under pressure. Lately, I have taken large interest on non-profit jobs, specifically in the environmental field.</p>
<p>Are there any non-profit jobs that have a fair salary? How can I go about pursuing this?</p>
<p>I know I still have many years to decide what I wish to do, but I have the responsibility to obtain a good stable job to help my parents. I can not just go around after college seeking any job avaible like I hear many undergraduates do.</p>
<p>Hello, and welcome! Unfortunately , non - profits don’t pay well.The job market is pretty bad these days for new graduates in many fields .Engineering is a good field these days.My son #3 had 7 offers to do a paying internship ,with a job upon graduation.Son #2 is working as an accountant (he is 23 ) and the money is decent,but he is not happy with this type of work .I am sure many people will have ideas for you.Good luck!</p>
<p>MushaboomBlue - It’s nice you realize that your Dad’s issue with you studying abroad is him not letting go. Since he did not grow up here, it’s easy to understand his apprehension. I’d talk to him rationally, do not be emotional, spell it out why you want to go and what can be accomplished. Give him resources to read and tell him you are willing to discuss it in detail. I’d also ask him what worries him the most. Sometimes verbalizing the fears we as parents have can make them seem not so big. I’d also enlist the help of your mother - stay calm. No ranting, the more mature you handle this, the fewer arguments they may have. I hope you get to go! Great opportunity :)</p>
<p>@fauxmaven - thank you for your honest insight, guess I’ll stick to medicine to stay on the safe side (not that I dont like the job, I just didnt want to deal w/ all the pressure)</p>
<p>rayna3, From what I’ve heard, the racism towards Koreans is not so bad among the younger japanese, especially in the cities. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, but be aware so you are not blindsided. </p>
<p>Earlham College has a very good Japanese program and students have the opportunity to study a year in Japan, I believe. This kind of program might be easier for your parents to swallow. It’s worth checking out anyway as a Plan B.</p>
<p>And you’d better start studying Japanese now! There are a few good online sources for Japanese language podcast lessons that also have forums for users. I believe you can even find video-pals from Japan to do a language exchange with, but you need some rudimentary grasp of Japanese first. Good luck!</p>
<p>mdh625 - Depending on your original interest in medicine, and your personal strengths, you may want to check into pharmacy. Students have posted here that they fell into it almost by accident and it’s been a great choice for them. The educational path is not as long as an md.</p>
<p>mdh, I don’t exactly qualify as a grownup (I’m a college senior…), but I’m pre-med and should be at med school next year as long as the stars all line up. Pre-med coursework and all things that go with it are, in a word, brutal. It’s a huge challenge and really isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re not almost beyond dead set on medicine (obviously there are exceptions of people who figure it out later on) at this point, I’d definitely look into other options like pharmacy and PA, as suggested above–to keep your options open, if nothing else.</p>
<p>Lots of time, lots of work, lots of risks. I’m confident that they will pay off in the end, but I have many friends who have been much less fortunate than I have been during this entire application process. If you want to get a better feel for what it’s like to apply to med school (not to scare you off, just to see) hop on over to the Pre-Med Topics board and read through the thread “2010-2011 Applicants and Parents” </p>
<p>Follow the paths of me, lollybo, and MyOpinion–we’re the kiddos applying, and learning lots of great stuff from other members of the CC community :)</p>
<p>A Japanese university I am interested in will open up a International High School during fall 2011. Of course, I am very interested and wouldn’t hesitate to go. Language and finances won’t be a problem. Despite my enthusiasm to go, I’m pretty sure my parents would say “no” very quickly.</p>
<p>My current high school is just okay. It’s not easy, but not very challenging either. I find that I am bored most of the time. My friends are either Junior or Seniors (I am a Sophomore), meaning that once they leave I won’t have any friends.</p>
<p>As I said before, my dream job is a screenwriter/director in Japan. Even if I can not become a screenwriter or director, I would still want to live in Japan. I believe whole-heartedly that Japan is a constant in my future.</p>
<p>I am eager to go as soon as possible, but I also realize that the sooner I leave (whether next year or college), the sooner I will not call my current home “home”. If I leave next year, then I’ll only see my parents and family a few times a year for the rest of my life. I think I am okay with that, but I doubt my parents are.</p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>I would love to go, but how could I convince my parents?</p>
<p>Hmm, I would not start with this: “I am eager to go as soon as possible, but I also realize that the sooner I leave (whether next year or college), the sooner I will not call my current home “home”. If I leave next year, then I’ll only see my parents and family a few times a year for the rest of my life. I think I am okay with that, but I doubt my parents are.”</p>
<p>You’re going to have to break your parents in very slowly, one step at a time. Don’t talk about it as if you are moving there permanently, but as a study abroad type of thing. Let them get adjusted to your growing up first, before you move to the other side of the world!</p>
<p>I’d say ‘no’ very quickly as well and you wouldn’t be able to convince me otherwise to let my 15 y/o D to basically leave home permanently to some other country. I’d be open at the college level but not at the HS level. Maybe you’re trying to accelerate this too much. I’d also be concerned that you might be setting yourself up for disappointment if you’re building the Japan experience up too much in your mind.</p>
<p>If you’re bored in HS (and apparently at home as well) then kick it up some - take more AP classes to challenge yourself more, join some sports, get involved in drama, get involved in other school activities. You have plenty of time to enjoy your Japanese adventures if you wait a few years.</p>
<p>JelloBiafra, it depends why the student received that grade, and is this hs or college? Was the course too difficult? Or was it a lack of effort on the part of the student? Was there illness or other extenuating circumstance?</p>
<p>mousegray - that’s what I was thinking. I think I’d rather go for 4 years in college than 2 years in high school then tell them I want to stay.</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad - thanks! I know Japan isn’t perfect (of course). however I find their history, language, culture, everything as fascinating. Kyoto (where the school is located) was the capital for 1,000 years! :o There are so many shrines, so much ancient history, stories, temples, and I find it all so fascinating.</p>
<p>
I’m already taking the hardest course-load I’m a member of tennis team (singles 1 varsity since freshman year), I’m active in drama, and I participate in music-related activities (piano)… So it’s not like I’m not doing anything, I certainly (try) to keep busy. In my free time, I write short stories/poems/working on my novel/screenwriting, I am teaching myself Japanese, I bought several books on their history, culture, etc.</p>
<p>I really, really want to go. Even if I told my parents it was a “study abroad” experience, not for life, I’d know within my heart it’d be for life. Maybe I am rushing this too much- although this would be a fantastic experience, I’ll just place my bets that my parents will let me go for college.</p>
I’m a member of tennis team (singles 1 varsity since freshman year), I’m active in drama, and I participate in music-related activities (piano)… So it’s not like I’m not doing anything, I certainly (try) to keep busy. In my free time, I write short stories/poems/working on my novel/screenwriting, I am teaching myself Japanese, I bought several books on their history, culture, etc.</p>