University of Hawaii - worth considering?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Future Bachelor of Japanese and Master in ESL hopeful here.</p>

<p>Hello there everyone. I have been looking into school to go to; ones that have a Bachelor in Japanese and a Master in ESL. I've found quite a few, though due to my low GPA at community college (around a 3.0 when including stuff that might transfer), I can only see myself transferring to University of Houston at the moment (although I do have one or two more semester left to go to help my chance of getting in). My plan is, depending on what college I go to, is to get a Bachelor in English (and a minor in Asian American Studies where I can study Japanese) at wherever I go to, get my GPA up as high as possible and then depending on my GPA and GRE as well as IF I can afford it, transfer to one of these colleges:
- Texas A&M (just a minor in Japanese, but they do have a Master in ESL)
- University of Texas at Austin (A major in Japanese through Asian Studies is available, though no ESL program, so I would have to take something like Linguistic)
- University of Washington (has both a Master in ESL as a good Japanese program)
- University of Minnesota (ditto)
- University of Pittsburg (ditto, except with having a very good Master in ESL program)
- Maybe a college in Japan (heard those were cheaper than OOS college, although I can't confirm that)</p>

<p>One college I have been considering, however, is the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Initially, I hadn't even considered it since the acceptance rate was so high (although the high school GPA is above my college GPA at 3.4) and heard that program-wise, it was lacking in many areas. However, what brought my attention to it was that it has one of the very best Japanese and ESL program around and as someone who intends on major in both, this is a big deal to me. I'm also interested in transferring to there since like every other state, it put me outside of my bubble in Texas and forces me to live on my own (I currently live with my grandparents and before anyone ask, no I'm not going there because of the beaches although I certainly don't mind a change of scenery). However, I've also heard mixed reports about dorm rooms (I've been reading complaints about it on College Confidential, although I did heard it got a renovation) and that going to college there (or any OOS for that matter) is very expensive (more than 25K a years plus living in Hawaii is very expensive), especially since I have to pay for college on my own.</p>

<p>Still, the great Japanese and ESL program University of Hawaii at Manoa offers is a big deal to me, especially for someone intending to major in both areas. Plus the transfer requirement is at 2.5 GPA for out-of-state students and if my GPA is around 3.0 GPA, I do think that I would have a shot of transferring over there now (if I did, I would have a double major in Second Studies (essentially ESL) and Japanese and would stay there to get a Master in both) and even if I don't, I could always transfer there in a Master in Second Studies for graduate school and a Bachelor in Japanese. Would it be worth doing so (although to be fair, it would probably be harder to get into UH Manoa's Japanese and ESL programs)?</p>

2

<p>It IS true that their Japanese and ESL programs are one of the best in the nation. Living cost is expensive, like groceries and gas, but other things are not. For example, you don’t need much clothing. Students wear t-shirts, shorts and flipflops. Most of those t-shirts have holes in them. Hanging out is just go to the beach. </p>

<p>I don’t know what kind of things you heard about their dorm rooms. They are OK. They are livable. If you are expecting fancy mordern dorm you will be dissapointed, but you don’t go to school for the dorm. </p>

<p>If OOS is too expensive for undergrad, it is a good idea to go there for the masters. If you want to study Japanese and ESL, UH-Manoa is it!!! (Of course that’s the only place I know!) </p>

3

<p>What is your budget? Paying OOS tuition and living expenses would be VERY expensive. </p>

<p>If your family will pay, then super. If not, then run the NPC on the school’s website. It does not give much/any aid to OOS students, particularly transfers. </p>

4

<p>@HiToWaMom - By complaints, I mean that there were complaints about dorm rooms having roaches coming out from the walls and it being run down. I don’t expect a fancy dorm room, just something I can live under.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids - Unfortunately, it probably won’t be enough for me to transfer to their undergraduate program, so I’m most likely going to attend University of Houston/Texas Tech when I first transfer. I have seen some scholarships they have offered at the graduate level, though, so I still want to consider it after I graduate with an Bachelor in English.</p>

5

<p>You don’t need to do your BA and your masters at the same place. Just focus on the first at present.</p>