Seeking MA/AM in Japanese, Good graduate schools??

Graduate School
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<p>Hi, to start off, I'll apologize for any English grammar/spelling mistakes...my English has taken a step south due to focusing on Japanese too much. hahaha!! Lame excuse, but... anyways.... </p>

<p>I'm graduating in May 2010 and am looking for a good graduate school that has MA/AM in Japanese language/culture. Eventually, I want to become a translator/interpreter for either the government or a major company. I'm currently going to a state school in California with a GPA of 3.9 and am planning on taking my GRE at the end of next month. I just want to brush up on what might be on the tests. I just returned from a year abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo and am a bit stressed about getting into a really good graduate school.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of applying at Harvard Graduate School or the Monterey Institute of International Studies, but I'm unsure of what my potential for getting into either of the schools is. I would really love to get into Harvard Graduate School and I will be applying there regardless. Does anyone have any suggestions of really good schools that have a focus within the Japanese language/culture? I have to start applying soon.</p>

<p>Any helpful comments would truly be appreciated.</p>

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<p>Hey, don’t take my spot! :)</p>

<p>Top schools for Japanese Studies are Berkeley, Stanford, U. Washington, U. Hawaii, and U. Michigan. However, since I’m going in to eventually be a Japanese history professor, you might need to dig in for more detail and see if these programs fit your purview.</p>

<p>You’ve taken the JLPT, right? Companies look more for that regarding translation ability then whether you have an MA in Japanese language. IMHO, the Japanese language graduate degrees are geared more towards those studying the linguistics of the language or looking to learn classical Japanese to translate ancient texts (such as myself), rather than those looking to be fluent. JLPT 2-kyuu and above is the norm for government/corporate translation. Look into taking the kanji kentai as well. Know your keigo as well.</p>

<p>Feel free to shoot me a PM if you need/want more advice. Gambatte ne!</p>