Academic Year 2023 Participant
My biggest piece of advice would be to prepare in advance. It sounds very tiring, but having all of your scholarships, applications, documents, health forms, etc. figured out at least 3 months before you leave allows you to enjoy your time at home, and to have a smooth transition once you arrive to your study abroad location. I also made sure to write down important emails or places to seek help once I arrived to my study abroad country, in case of emergencies or needing certain information. Knowing I had all of the information prepared relieved me of a lot as I went through the biggest transition of my life!
Academic Year 2024 Participant
My favorite part of the program was the daily immersion in Japanese language and culture, both inside and outside the classroom. Studying at Sophia University allowed me to experience Tokyo in a way that felt authentic and connected to the community around me. I loved being able to practice what I learned every day, whether I was ordering food, navigating the trains, or talking with classmates. Those small moments of real-world interaction became the most memorable and meaningful parts of my year abroad.
Academic Year 2023 Participant
The most rewarding to me would have to be the language improvement. Before going to Japan, I only knew about 400 words and 300 kanji and really couldn't speak it. However, now I can speak decently well for long periods, I text people in Japanese, I can read and listen well, and so forth. Overall my language improved 10 times within a year!