I tried searching this all over the internet on this topic and I still can’t really understand it very well. And since I am going to Keio this would be somewhat helpful to know.
To add some more context, I am aiming to study economics and potentially work in Japan for sometime before going US for a MBA
Is the difference between the unis like comparing Harvard to UCLA for example? Or is Uni Tokyo worth doing something like a gap year to aim for.
I guess I am just nervous for my future since universities are quite a big decision to make, and I might just be worried about nothing honestly.
2 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**How much prestige does University of Tokyo have over Universities like Keio really**
I tried searching this all over the internet on this topic and I still can’t really understand it very well. And since I am going to Keio this would be somewhat helpful to know.
To add some more context, I am aiming to study economics and potentially work in Japan for sometime before going US for a MBA
Is the difference between the unis like comparing Harvard to UCLA for example? Or is Uni Tokyo worth doing something like a gap year to aim for.
I guess I am just nervous for my future since universities are quite a big decision to make, and I might just be worried about nothing honestly.
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Naturally, there are different stereotypes for Keio grads than Todai grads – but that’s not going to harm your career prospects. Prestige-wise you have nothing to worry about. I’d say it is absolutely not worth going *ronin* for a year to get into Todai.
Todai and Kyodai have a very high reputation in Japan. They’re state universities, which means the competition to get in is very high, but there’s relatively little expenditure on things like making the campus look nice. When I was at Todai I met some very smart people, but also a significant number of people who had a narrow skillset or were socially awkward. A lot of Japanese people seem to view Todai people with awe, which is actually really annoying, and can manifest as a form of otherisation.
Keio (and the other top private universities) have a different culture. They’re more globally-oriented than Todai/Kyodai, though still very Japanese. The students are generally more affluent and well-connected, which also correlates with having a more well-rounded education in many cases. Since they derive less funding from the state, they can afford to spend on aesthetic campus improvements and so on.
Hope your Japanese university adventure goes well.