I can study Biology either at Troy University in Troy Alabama US or Nagoya University in Nagoya, Japan.
Both offer me full-tuition scholarships.
Troy is a large comprehensive public school. Nothing special, yet nothing bad. Your typical mainstream US college.
Nagoya on the other hand, almost always ranks in top 5 out of Japan’s roughly 800 unis.
My question is, which would give me better chances in life? I rather study in US but since Nagoya is so much more respected, I’m at a loss. Please give me your opinions, what would YOU do?
Would instruction at Nagoya be in English or Japanese? Even if it’s in English, though, the instructors may still be incomprehensible.
The seriousness of the student body at Troy may be lacking.
Yes, Nagoya has special STEM programs for foreigners that’s 100% English with lots of American profs.
Nagoya is the most serious option I’ve got. I also applied to these LACs:
knox
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
DePauw
colgate
denison
union
grinnell
skidmore
franklin & marshall
I am reliant on full-tuiton scholarships so I doubt I’ll hear anything good Troy gave me a merit one for my SATs. Nagoya is giving me need-based one. I’ve also got another option in Japan though I guess it’s inferior to Nagoya.
I didn’t apply to large unis since a good GPA and Essays is pretty much all I’ve got going for me, and that’s kinda pathetic
dudefromeurope (I’m assuming you’re from Europe) - do you have any experience being in Japan - like visiting Japanese relatives (if you have any) or anything like that? Do you have any knowledge of the language? Even if your program is taught in English, doesn’t mean that you can easily live in Japan for four years with no knowledge of Japanese.
I have minimal Japanese proficiency and I’d expand my knowledge during summer if I chose to study there. Of course, first year would be hard but school offers free Japanese lessons which is cool. I know a lot about their history and culture, contemporary as well as traditional. I know a few people who visit Nagoya for work almost every 2 month.
Also, in 7th grade I stayed for 2 weeks with a Turkish family in Istanbul who had 0 English proficiency and my Turkish skills were A2 at best. I’ve been doing this sorta stuff almost every summer since so I can be comfortable at foreign environments without problems.
I’m just worried about future Grad school / Job opportunities.
Yeah I know but since I’m demanding 100% tuition need-based aid, and since my standardized test scores and ECs aren’t that good, I doubt they’ll except me.
Nope but neither does Troy. I calculated the costs of living and travel and I shouldn’t have problem paying them. They’re even cheaper than majority of US unis.
Hmm I believe some of the ones I applied to had test-optional admissions as well. Though I still sent my lousy 1780. I think one them even had something like “I let the college decide whether to use my scores or not during admission”. I don’t remember which one but that would help IMO.
Also, I COULD find some test-optionals with rolling admissions… Though that’s a real rare find.
@dudefromeurope That’s good! I was just asking b/c there are some international students who have a lot of trouble getting around Japan… b/c they have no willingness to learn Japanese. I can’t believe how many Americans I met who got their degrees at Japanese universities, but said stuff like, “Oh no, I don’t know Japanese! It’s too hard, I don’t wanna bother with it.” I was concerned about “culture shock” but I think you’re in a pretty good position.
Hey, actually what are you planning on doing after you get your degree? Would you stay in Japan (or the US, if you pick Troy) - or would you return to your country? If you choose Japan, your English speaking abilities (along with any other languages you may speak) would be a plus, and also going to Nagoya would be a plus.
Yeah I’d like to stay wherever I finish my uni. Basically, if I get a degree in US I doubt I’ll go to Japan, but if I get my degree from Nagoya I’ll probly stay there and go to a Japanese grad school too (though American ones will also be an option). I’m fluent at 4 languages including my country’s and know a bit of German and very little Japanese. Basically, unless I have to, I doubt I’ll return since research funds in my country are some of the lowest in Europe. It’s not that good of a place for a young scientist.
Personally, I’d go with Nagoya. Considering that you have a willingness to learn the language, have experience with living in other countries, know a lot about Japanese history/culture - from a cultural standpoint, you seem good. You’ll have English classes with American professors, so the language barrier won’t be an issue (for your classes, at least). You’d definitely be at a huge advantage knowing 4 foreign languages fluently, knowing English is always a plus in Japan when searching for a job
Admittedly, I don’t know almost anything about Troy - so you’ll have to check that out more and see which is better for you. Good luck!
If you get into one of the LACs with a full tuition scholarship (not impossible since you got one from Nagoya), go wit it, otherwise, Nagoya> Troy, especially since you’d speak both English and Japanese fluently & professionally (C1) by the end of your time there, which is very rare for Japanese. The transition to LACs would likely be easier.
Note that “little” proficiency is different from A2 - for Americans, A2= good SAT Subject score in a language. It’d be like going to Turkey with just one month of the A1 coursework… check where the Nagoya students who study in English come from, if they’re not Japanese students who want to study in English, because they’d chatter in Japanese outide of class and you’d feel very alienated quickly.
Troy gave me a merit one for my SATs. Nagoya is giving me need-based one. I’ve also got another option in Japan though I guess it’s inferior to Nagoya.
I was concerned about “culture shock” but I think you’re in a pretty good position.