Reflections on "Three Routes for Studying Abroad in the United States"
"If I were to go to university in the United States, I would like to spend time in Philadelphia." Inspired by that comment, I wrote this blog post as I pleased.
I am not a university official, but as someone who has experienced American universities (undergraduate and graduate) and has lived in the Philadelphia metropolitan area for over 30 years, I hope this will be of some help based on my local experience.
My own study abroad experience
I graduated from a Japanese high school and received a standard English education. English was a relatively strong subject for me, and my TOEFL score was by no means bad.
However, the four years I spent at the American state university (University) I actually attended were extremely tough. In my major, there were over 200 freshmen, but only about 40 were able to graduate. The university clearly had a structure designed to "weed out" students, and the competition among students was fierce. Competition was prioritized over cooperation, and I do not recall the professors providing much guidance.
Even with a high TOEFL score, it was not easy to keep up with the pace of the classes and the depth of understanding required. My realization was that there are barriers that cannot be overcome by language skills alone.
[Option 1] Starting from Graduate School
Given this background, the opinion that "it is better to study abroad in the U.S. starting from graduate school" has a certain persuasiveness. In graduate school, the field of specialization is clear, there are many opportunities to interact with professors as a Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant, and guidance tends to be more thorough compared to undergraduate programs. Also, studying abroad in the U.S. starting from graduate school, after solidifying one's foundation at a Japanese university, can be said to be a rational choice.
[Option 2] Liberal Arts College
On the other hand, an often overlooked option is the "Liberal Arts College" (Liberal Arts College, hereafter referred to as College). This is a higher education institution that belongs to a different category than a comprehensive University, characterized by its small scale and specialization in undergraduate education.
Excellent Colleges are very difficult to get into, and in some cases, they are even more exclusive than well-known Universities. The distance between professors and students is small, and small-group education is thoroughly implemented. As a result, support for each individual student is substantial, and graduation rates tend to be relatively high.
Graduates of such Colleges often go on to Universities for graduate school to deepen their expertise. A clear example is Hillary Clinton, who earned her bachelor's degree at Wellesley College and then went on to Yale University Law School.
Considering these points, if you are aiming to study abroad in the U.S. from the undergraduate level, a liberal arts college can be said to be a strong option.
The reality of tuition
However, these liberal arts colleges are not inexpensive. If you can obtain a scholarship, it becomes a realistic option, but if that is difficult, it must be said that the financial burden is significant.
[Option 3] Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ)
Therefore, another realistic option I would like to introduce is the Japan campus of Temple University, which has its main campus in Philadelphia. Temple University, Japan Campus = hereafter abbreviated as TUJ.
The first feature of TUJ is that its degree is identical to that of the main campus. There is no distinction such as "Japan Campus" written on the diploma, and there is no difference from a degree obtained at the main campus in Philadelphia. Also, it has received the same accreditation as universities in the U.S. mainland, and while located in Japan, it is institutionally a complete "American University."
Despite this, tuition is kept at a level equivalent to that of private universities in Japan. Furthermore, if desired, it is possible to take the final year at Temple University's main campus in Philadelphia, and the TUJ tuition level is applied in that case as well. From the perspective of the balance between cost and the benefits obtained, I feel it is quite an interesting system.
Diverse students and future networks
In addition to students living in Japan, TUJ has many students from the U.S. mainland, as well as international students from various Asian countries. I have heard that for parents in Asian countries who think, "I want my child to earn a formal degree from an American university, but I am anxious about sending them to the U.S. mainland immediately after graduating from high school," the ability to complete an American-style bachelor's program in Japan and then proceed step-by-step to a graduate school in the U.S. mainland is a great source of peace of mind.
Many Asian students who grow up this way subsequently go on to graduate school in the U.S. and then remain there to build their careers. In some cases, it is not uncommon for them to acquire U.S. citizenship.
Students with U.S. citizenship, as well as those from other countries, spend four years in Japan, gain a deep understanding of Japanese society and culture, and then put down roots in the U.S. mainland, becoming "broad-minded Americans who know Japan well." I believe that meeting such people during one's student days and building long-term relationships of trust is a major appeal unique to TUJ.
Advantages for Graduate School Advancement
Although TUJ belongs to a U.S. state university system, it adopts a liberal arts-style education, characterized by classes centered on small-group discussions. Therefore, it differs from the one-way lecture format in large classrooms often seen at universities on the U.S. mainland.
For students who are not proficient in English, an Academic English Program is available, and there are reports and testimonials from students noting that "explanations of assignments are thorough" and "support is extensive." On the other hand, there is no doubt that the same amount of study as at a university on the U.S. mainland is required.
In any case, by engaging in English-language lectures and assignments on a daily basis while in Japan, you can become sufficiently accustomed to academic English and learning styles. If you advance to the mainland in that state, you will likely be able to adapt more smoothly.
Which Path to Choose
As we have seen, there is no single correct answer to studying in the U.S., and several realistic routes exist. The path of challenging a university on the mainland from the start, the path of receiving small-group education, or the path of receiving an American university education while in Japan and then advancing to a graduate school on the U.S. mainland. Each seems to have its own advantages and challenges.
What is important is not the perspective of "which path is superior," but rather "which path suits me."
The Choice of Philadelphia
Personally, I think of the Philadelphia metropolitan area as a hub that provides easy access to various options. It is one of the leading academic and artistic metropolitan areas in the United States, home to numerous universities and colleges and a student population of over 300,000.
Universities include the University of Pennsylvania, which is part of the Ivy League, as well as Temple University, Villanova University, Drexel University, Thomas Jefferson University, West Chester University, La Salle University, and Saint Joseph's University.
Colleges include not only historic and distinctive liberal arts colleges such as Bryn Mawr College, known as the place where Umeko Tsuda studied, Haverford College, and Swarthmore College, but these institutions are also known for boasting high evaluations and rankings nationwide, as well as for being extremely difficult to enter.
Philadelphia is a "World Heritage City," the first in the U.S. to have its entire city registered as a World Heritage site. It possesses "Shofuso," one of the three great Japanese gardens in North America, and is also widely known as a cultural city rich in art and literature, home to the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Barnes Foundation. Furthermore, this city, which has deep ties to Japan, particularly the Imperial Family, holds the potential to provide a unique study abroad experience that is hard to find elsewhere.
If you are considering studying in the U.S. in the future, envisioning Philadelphia as a base might be a meaningful option.
Links to reference articles：
・TUJ visit reports and testimonials：https://business.swu.ac.jp/blog/2023/02/12113.html
・Student population in Philadelphia：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Philadelphia
・World Heritage City：https://www.nyseikatsu.com/featured-article/07/2024/41377/
・Shofuso：https://www.nyseikatsu.com/featured-article/07/2024/41485/
・Art and Literature：https://www.nyseikatsu.com/featured-article/05/2024/41127/
・Philadelphia Orchestra + ties to Japan and the Imperial Family：https://youtu.be/cbJilgmS7JE
・Barnes Foundation：https://jt-art-office.com/write_02_tosei.html
・Philadelphia Museum of Art：https://chico-travel.com/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%A9%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%82%A2%E7%BE%8E%E8%A1%93%E9%A4%A8%E3%81%AE%E8%A6%8B%E3%81%A9%E3%81%93%E3%82%8D/
Author Introduction
Started a business in 2005 after working for companies in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. Manages a business that has built a track record of innovation through the co-creation of Art and Tech, fusing the strengths of Japan, the U.S., and Taiwan.
Main public positions：
・Commissioner, Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
・Official Goodwill Ambassador, The Philadelphia Orchestra
・Board Member, Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
・Vice President, Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia