I apologize for the lengthy post, but I want to lay everything out and get some candid feedback because I feel like I’m having a mid-life crisis in my early 20’s. TLDR is that I’ve heavily been considering the JET program for various reasons, but can’t decide on which path forward to take with my life. After hearing me out, I would greatly appreciate your earnest input. There’s a lot of points I need to cover, but it will hopefully all make sense by the end.
First, some context: I’m 23 and just graduated undergrad last year with my BA in Biology and a minor in Spanish. I’m currently in that weird limbo phase in between college and the rest of my life while I try deciding on what to do. My plan was to continue on to either nurse anesthetist school or physician assistant school as I shadowed in the hospital OR for my school internship and both parents are in the healthcare field. Seems like a good gig, however, I also have a strong desire to travel and experience more of the world rather than staying in the same country for most of my life. And by this I mean I would like to experience living in a foreign country for a time. Enter the JET program and Japan. My interest in this stems from several places:
1) During my 4 years as an undergrad, I was presented with the opportunity to study semesters abroad (mostly to Spanish-speaking countries) but I was unable to do so as I was a student-athlete at the time. The prospect of living in a foreign country really intrigued me, but I wasn’t able to scratch that itch.
2) Summer 2021 (July-August) I was able to spend a month in Spain while on trial with a football team. I already possessed a fairly competent conversational speaking ability in Spanish for a non-native speaker, and I became friends with another player from Mexico who couldn’t speak English. We still keep in touch semi-regularly. I was also able to talk with some locals. Something about bridging that gap between languages/cultures resonated with me and I’m somewhat left wanting more because it’s such a cool experience.
3) Near the end of my senior year, my best friend who grew up playing soccer with me (and my college roommate) was killed in a car accident. He was a larger-than-life type personality who never knew a stranger. He genuinely enjoyed making connections and people gravitated towards him. We dove deep into the Spanish soccer community around Richmond, VA and even got heavily involved with a Guatemalan team operation in the area. His passing was really tough, and since then I decided to incorporate more of his energy into the way I live my life and start making more unique memories and live to experience more of what life has to offer. This was the biggest push for me deciding to pursue that opportunity in Spain, which started to “broaden my horizons” and got me interested in more.
4) I’ve seen many people I know, either from college or old childhood friendships, traveling to various countries and experiencing all that goes along with that. I look at that from a perspective not so much of jealousy, but rather from one of inspiration. I just couldn’t figure out how they’ve managed to be able to do so.
I feel frozen in indecision between committing to the graduate programs/healthcare path right now and the traveling and experiencing other places while I’m still relatively young. My indecision comes from the feeling that if I choose to travel/live in another country (even for only 2-3 years) I won’t be able to pursue a career in medicine afterwards (small tangent here – as I mentioned I’m 23, and one of the PA programs I’m looking at has an average applicant age of 27.5). Or alternatively, if I go for the medical career now, then I may not be able to ever experience living in another country until I retire.
I’ve heard a lot about the JET program from various sources such as Reddit, YouTube, and other online forums, the good and bad alike. I’ve always had at least somewhat of an interest in Japanese culture/language which has grown more recently. I also had a friend in college that studied abroad in Japan right before Covid hit and had to leave. I’m not naïve enough to think that living in Japan, or any other foreign country, is all sunshine and rainbows or that its always exactly how it’s advertised. I’m well aware of culture shock, but I feel like it could be such an interesting challenge that would really make me, or anyone really grow as a person and develop more personal agency, and maybe just give me a better perspective on I want in life.
I really don’t know if I would even want to stay in Japan or find another job other than JET, because I do have a genuine interest in science and medicine, but is it really too unrealistic to think that I could do both? I’ve heard of people changing their career much later in life than where I’m at. I just know that I don’t overly care about the money (obviously it’s a bit important), but I want to do things that let me feel fulfilled and have good memories/ stories to share one day.
I know that my family wouldn’t jump for joy at the suggestion of going to teach English in Japan as opposed to a medical career. I have floated the idea to my parents several months ago and they said that if that’s what I really want to do that they’re supportive, but it’s still hard to do a complete 180 and go from talking about grad programs to moving to Japan when they see it more as a weird anime country (well, excluding my German dad because he grew up moving all over the world due to my grandad’s profession).
I’ve spitballed some of my thoughts on this and tried to clearly explain my situation and express my genuine feelings about it all. I’m hoping that someone can offer me some useful advice to help me work through this. I’m completely open to any good arguments either for or against either side, I just feel that an outside perspective could really help me out here. For example, would it be better to go the medical route and then visit Japan on vacation one day, having a secure career but never truly experiencing life in a foreign country? Or would it be better to go for it and try to experience new things in life, or try make both work while I’m young and have options?
I’m new to using Reddit, so I’m not sure what the best way is to get people to see this. Nevertheless, if anyone actually reads all of this and cares to share any insights they feel are valuable I would truly, greatly appreciate it.
Edit: Another reason that JET interests me is that they help the ALT’s immensely in the moving process such as housing, airfare, and especially handling the working visa.
16 comments
Being American means there is more than one way to get to Japan for a few years: go to grad school, get your license, and get a job with DHA/VA.
Now you have a chance to work in Japan while getting paid an American salary.
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Can you defer your grad school admission & do JET as a gap year?
I worked a job for 4 years before I went on JET and might one day go back to that field. My parents are also of the mind that “you can just go on vacation and visit other countries,” but I still vehemently disagree with that mindset. I’ve traveled to almost 20 different countries, but vacation is usually around 2 weeks. You are exposed to a whole different set of experiences when living in a country vs visiting, and I personally find the former to be much more enriching.
That being said, if you have the time/energy, I would apply to both programs simultaneously. There is no decision to make unless you get in. I try to never close any doors by myself when it comes to my career.
Give yourself the broadest amount of options so you get more information (i.e. you won’t know where in Japan you’ll be placed until late in the application process and that could change how you feel later down the line)
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One word of warning if you do graduate school online while doing JET: If it’s a school outside of Japan and you’re paying as you go, keep an eye on the exchange rate between the yen and your home currency. It could turn out to be much more expensive than you originally thought.
As someone who went to graduate school directly after college, my perspecive remains: Graduate school will always be there to take your time and money. Give yourself time to try new things you don’t have to pay for first. Worst case you go on JET, realize you do really want to go be a nurse anesthetist, have a good year, come back, and go to grad school.
Worst worst case you apply to both and only get into one and have a decision made for you.
You don’t lose much, if anything.
PS you can always change your career later on. JET is my 30-year-old career change. (Career pause???) (WHO KNOWS) (-runs off singing into the sea-)
My advice would be to do both, but to watch for any pre-req expiration dates for pre-req classes you’ve already done at programs you want to apply for if you end up in Japan for longer than anticipated (in some cases it could be better to knock out pre-reqs post-Japan). I’ve been on JET for a while, am in my late 20’s and going into medicine after JET. Life isn’t a race, and it’s possible to pursue multiple careers and multiple interests. Physician assistant in particular is often a second career for people as it is, so you won’t at all be alone. In my opinion, if you want to do something like teach abroad, it’s probably better to do it now before getting a job you’re not willing to give up, own property, getting tied down with family, etc., which is why I think doing JET first is often the better choice, because it might not happen later due to the above reasons or will be more of a sacrifice/burden to do it. The pressure to have life sorted is strong, and I felt it too at your age, but JET really isn’t a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. Even if you really enjoyed it and ended up doing 4 or 5 years, the difference between a 50 and 54/55 year old professional isn’t that great, but one of those would have some wild stories to tell. Cut that down even less if you stay for a shorter period like most people do. Plus, even if it’s not super significant or relevant, it can also be an interesting wildcard talking point on applications, as long as you have your other ducks in a row on top of it. Another thought that is pro JET before healthcare: A lot of healthcare grad programs come with heavy student loans unless you’re already independently wealthy or have parents bankrolling things, and those might not be serviceable on the JET salary and would probably end up sitting in income-based repayment and accumulating interest if you decided to pursue JET post-grad degree. Having a significant gap in using your clinical skills post-grad degree might also be harmful, but that obviously depends on what exactly you decide to do. Overall, I’m so far glad I did both things and in the order I have.
This may be a more costly suggestion, but I say apply to both this cycle. Let fate decide for you; and if you get into both programs, great!! Then you have options. I will say that with PA or anesthesiology, they’ll always be waiting for you. The medical field is incredibly draining, and many of my good friends who got or are finishing their MD/DDS degrees (in our mid 20s) all wish they had the opportunity to do something like JET before they dedicated their lives to getting through their programs.
If you get into JET but not your grad program, then you can spend your downtime in Japan taking skill-building pre-professional courses at your own pace. If you get into a grad program and not JET, then the choice is easy.
I’m planning to attend grad school after my JET adventure. As I get ready to leave for Japan in a few weeks, I still feel anxious about doing grad school “late.” But ultimately I know that doing JET is a lifelong desire and incredible opportunity that came at just the right time for me.
Neither JET or grad school are going anywhere, but I would imagine JET is probably easier with the benefits of youth. I’m off to do JET at 32 with stiff joints and a chronic illness, if I’d had the opportunity at 23 it would probably be a far easier experience. Go JET then grad, dedicate yourself fully to each in their turn to get the most out of them. Whole ass one thing, as it were.
Hmm, I think it really depends on what your ground rules and plans are. For example, I was in a similar situation, although I am a few years older than you, and I had to ground myself before even dreaming about trying the JET program (I am a 2022 incoming JET). I dreamed to go to Japan since high school, and things just never panned out. I tried going as a Summer exchange student twice and it just didn’t seem like it was meant to be. After I graduated college in 2018, I moved out of my parents house for the first time and got my first full time job. While my parents moved to a new state, I decided to stay behind and invest on my career. I majored in Psychology and wanted to pursue any form of mental health/hear care field I could with just a BA degree. I was lucky enough to land a job that gave me an 1-on-1 experience with patients (although not mental health related) and that opened my horizon a lot more. What happen is that I was so in love with my BA degree and everything that I learned, that I genuinely thought that it was all I could do and that I needed to get my Master’s degree and build a network asap to actually succeed in life. However, after working in health care for 3 years (the pandemic definitely didn’t help with this), I realized that I am not as sure about my passion for public health as much as I thought I was back in college.
I know I rambled a bit, but my point is, you are still young and there is plenty of time for you to explore your passions and decide what is worth your while. Although I tried to apply to the JET program right after college, I then realized that I didn’t have a realistic financial and emotional maturity to carry on that plan. I needed to grow as a person at home first. Build a good system for myself, understand my personal needs and how I handle financial responsibilities and hardships outside of my parents house first. Once I became more at peace with myself and felt that I was “adulting” efficiently, that is when I decided it was time to move to the next step. Once I fell out of love with my unrealistic understanding of my career goals, and became more forgiving and flexible with myself, that is when I was ready to take on new challenges.
I know a lot of people want a break and explore something new and excited after college (those 4 years feel like 40 sometimes), you gotta take into consideration how much experience and preparedness you are allowing yourself to have exactly where you are. I did a lot of research before applying to JET and one thing I’ve noticed is that most people (not all) who did not like their experience in Japan or JET, went to the program right off college without much “armory” to shield or defend themselves. It isn’t just cultural shock. You gotta consider loneliness, homesickness, financial independence, language barrier, emotional and mental health before, during and after the move. There are a lot of layers within yourself that you need to be aware of to be able to make the most out of the good and the bad experiences you will have moving forward.
Apply to both, when you get accepted to both then you really have an issue.
Right now it’s chickens before eggs.
No one can make this choice for you, but I will say I have had loved ones pass away as early as 27 from freak accidents so tomorrow isn’t always a promise. 頑張ってください🫠
JET first then grad school. That’s what a large portion of the JET community does.
If you really want to go abroad and experience life. Do that for a year, and you will find your answer there. You will only know from doing it. I do not think it will hold you back on your medical path at all.
All I know is, live without regrets. 🙂
I had to take a year off between undergrad and law school (ended up being two, but whatever).
Part of me always had regret for not doing a grad degree before law school during that gap, but JET was also probably the single most formative experience of my adult life.
Anecdotally: ~90% of my law school cohort either did grad school or JET/JET analogues in Korea/Taiwan/etc… A few people regretted doing grad degrees, but I never heard anyone say “man, I wish I didn’t go overseas to teach”
I know someone who did a masters while teaching on JET. Probably not possible until 3rd year and wouldn’t work in my placement but some hardcore people literally do both at the same time.