Hi all,
I’m coming up on a pivotal time in my life and I really need some advice about what kinds of choices I have. Basically, I (23F) am preparing to graduate this fall with two degrees (botany and ecology) and am having a bit of a crisis about what I’m going to do once I finish. I’ve been doing research at my school as prep for going into a graduate program, and subsequently looking at a lot of MS programs in the states where I already reside. The problem is, I have always wanted to move to Japan for at least a couple years, and want to find something relevant to my career there. I’ve taken four semesters of Japanese while in college, so I’m probably around N5 or N4 level in terms of ability, and was supposed to study abroad right when COVID hit. I feel like I’ve been robbed of the experience, and it’s still bothering me to this day. I wanted to attend language school to really bolster my Japanese to at least the N2 ability, but am unsure how I would attend language school and find work. Ideally, I’d like to go to grad school and attend language school, or find work that can get me by until I can speak well enough to get by in my profession. I’ve looked at doing a masters in Japan for something ecology or environmental related but am struggling to find anything that would work.
I have no idea how to go about making any of this a reality, but I’m afraid if I stay in the states to do a masters and put off moving that it’ll just make it more difficult for me to assimilate. I have also read on here that Japanese companies prefer individuals with more work experience as opposed to just a degree? I have never travelled to Japan due to COVID, but have been invested in the culture and language for five years now, and am lucky to have a few Japanese friends who have been able to answer a lot of questions I have about what it’s like to live there. Unfortunately, when it comes to finding work in Japan that would let me use my undergraduate degrees or go to graduate school there, they haven’t been able to offer a lot of advice. Is it even possible to find a grad program in a relevant field and go to language school?
The reason I feel this decision is so important is because if I hypothetically leave after graduating to go to Japan for any extended period of time, I’ll basically be forfeiting any chance of making it into a graduate program in the states because it is so competitive, and I don’t think any program would want to accept someone who took a year off school just to go to language school overseas, which is irrelevant to STEM work.
I’ve been pretty unhappy not being able to go and the idea of waiting another 3 years to get another degree sounds a bit miserable to me, though I’m under the impression it would be necessary if I hope to make any money in the future. Could I hope to be just as successful career-wise in Japan as a foreign woman?
I apologize for the length, I just have nowhere else to turn, so if anyone has any advice I would appreciate it!
TLDR: Should I do a masters in the states and then go to Japan for work/language school, or go to Japan as soon as I graduate with a B.S. and try to start fresh?
5 comments
I think it really matters what your end goal is:
Plan to stay in japan at a job you get early: yes, try to find a job in your field after college. You might even have to take a teaching job for a year to get into japan and have it be easier to find a job in your major
Plan to go back to America: Get your masters. BAs and Masters have started to become a huge difference in pay in America and it will be needed in the long run. At that point maybe look to save money and spend a month vacation in Japan
Plan to move up in Japan: work on your masters online in Japan. There are many people that do this so they can move up to a higher role. It will be very time consuming between learning the language and masters degree while working, but it is doable and would (potentially) get you a permanent career in Japan.
Overall, it really matters what you’re looking for. If this is a temporary study abroad-esque idea then go for the masters. If you see Japan as a permanent residence you don’t want to wait because you never know when the next “Covid” will be.
Why the hurry? You have at least 60 years left in your life, if not more. Japan will not run away from you. OTOH, Japan also doesn’t wait for you, so it’d be better you came as prepared as you can, if you want to have a successful career here.
So, if I were you, I’d make my masters and keep learning the language. And if you can, please come on a holiday whenever you can as long as you can and with as little rose-tinted glasses as possible.
Japan will still be here, when you’re ready for it. Don’t rob yourself of your dream and your career by being impatient. “Asian patience”, I had to learn it too, though 🙂
I’m leaving this post up in case anyone has advice for the botany/ecology field in particular. But OP, *please* use some paragraphs. You can edit your post to add them.
Perhaps an alternative you haven’t considered. Enter government service in the United States and work towards a foreign post in Japan. Lots of federal positions located in Japan. Namely Department of Defense, but there are agencies outside of that department.
This would take you a few years to pull-off after getting your foot in the door, but totally doable if your ambitious and hardworking. Best of luck.
I decided to go join an english master’s program in Japan after 23 years in the United States 👍 I also felt your sentiment of wanting to try living in Japan, and I made the decision after considerable thinking. I believe if you are able to, getting a degree in Japan would be a great experience for future jobs! Taking a gap year is fine too, especially if you have a good reason for it. Getting into grad school is no rush, it is your life journey after all!
For me, it was a good way to study and live abroad, and perhaps give myself a better chance to live in Japan in the future.