Tips for Success in American Universities Masayasu AOTANI

Tips for Success in American Universities Masayasu AOTANI Associate Professor The International Center Kyoto University 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 1

Getting the most out of your stay in the United States -- do’s, don’ts, and much more -- 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 2

An Overview of This Presentation • Academics • • • US v. s. Japan - different people and systems About English Getting Help Financing Your Graduate Education Miscellaneous About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 3

Academics - 1 • Know before you enroll what is expected of you and what you can expect from the course and the instructor. • Read the course syllabus thoroughly. (prerequisite, grading policy, examinations and papers) • Take your classes very seriously, or you can flunk out before you know it. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 4

Academics - 2 • American universities are like Japanese high schools. • Attend the classes regularly. • Do the homework, and turn in your assignments in time. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 5

Academics - 3 • • Never fall behind. Watch your GPA. Go to professors’ office hours. Get to know the teaching assistants. • Study day and night. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 6

• Academics NEXT • US v. s. Japan different people and systems • • • About English Getting Help Financing Your Graduate Education Miscellaneous About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 7

An American Professor - a researcher and a teacher A professor’s informal attire or speech must not be taken to mean that he or she has a relaxed attitude toward assignments, class attendance, or the quality of students’ work. • students = customers or consumers • welcomes students’ participation and tries to encourage discussion • under tremendous pressure to generate results and get grants • graduate students = advisees and employees 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 8

Comparing Professors • • • USA Individuals 9 -month employment Tenure decision Regular employees Research and teaching Sabbatical year 2022/1/23 • • • Japan Pyramid 12 -month employment Lifetime employment Managers Nonacademic duties No sabbatical year Studying in the US 9

American Students • One cannot really generalize. • students = customers or consumers express dissatisfaction without hesitation • want practical courses with direct relevance to their daily life • think classes should be useful, interesting, and clear • Many try hard to maintain a high GPA. • graduate assistants = employees • Try to initiate/join a discussion in the class. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 10

Americans • • Individualism and Privacy Freedom and Independence Self-reliance Equality Informality Action and Achievement Materialism (but Religious as well) Direct, Assertive, Expressive, Pushy, and Aggressive 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 11

Teaching and Learning - one USA • • • Japan Interested professors Friendly professors Interesting lectures Regular office hours Complete syllabus 2022/1/23 • • • Indifferent professors Authoritative professors Uninteresting lectures No set office hours No syllabus Studying in the US 12

Teaching and Learning - two USA • • Japan Weekly homework Discussion sessions Hour-long lectures Extra resources • • No regular homework No discussion sessions 90 -minute lectures No such resources Students’ evaluations are taken very seriously by the professor. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 13

Extra Resources • Graders and teaching assistants help professors. • The United States has the best library in the world. They are often open 24 hours a day during the examination period. - Electronic Library • Numerous computer laboratories on campus stay open until late at night or even all night long. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 14

Teaching and Learning Summary Students expect more from the school and the professors. In return, the school and the professors expect more from students. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 15

Research • • • USA Individuals Get a grant or else Blind funding decision Salary from grants Research assistants Postdoctoral fellows 2022/1/23 • • • Japan Research groups Some automatic funding Name and connection Fixed salary Graduate students Free labor Studying in the US 16

Other Learning Opportunities • • Internships Work-study Your Japanese skill is marketable. Invited speech 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 17

NEXT • Academics • US v. s. Japan - different people and systems • About English • • Getting Help Financing Your Graduate Education Miscellaneous About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 18

About English - 1 • Most of you will always have a problem. • Just living in the US is never enough. • Try to improve your English 25 hours a day 367 days a year. • Admit your problem up front. • Know that Americans are quite used to poor English. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 19

About English - 2 • Some professors are very accommodating. • Ask a native speaker to proofread your papers. (Don’t if they require complete rewriting. You have to pay then. ) • Pick courses carefully at least in the beginning. (Mathematics courses are highly recommended. ) • Ignore those idiots who think poor English is a sign of low intelligence. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 20

NEXT • Course Work • US v. s. Japan - different people and systems • About English • Getting Help • Financing Your Graduate Education • Miscellaneous • About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 21

Getting Help - 0 First and foremost, you have to take the initiative, speak up, and let people know you need help. American universities have much more resources to help students than their Japanese counterparts. It is up to you to take advantage of them. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 22

Getting Help - 1 • Meet your academic and other advisors on arrival. • Go to office hours, but be prepared. • Tap into the knowledge base of the foreign student adviser. • The International Student Office is like heaven. • Ask your friends, but be selective in following their advice. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 23

Getting Help - 2 Academic advisor • • general academic problems curriculum requirements problem with professors trouble with your English The professor teaching the course • details about the course • deadline extensions • can not follow a lecture 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 24

Getting Help - 3 International student advisor • community activities • employment and other visa related issues Housing office Student health service Campus newspaper College catalog Financial aid office 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 25

• • NEXT Academics US v. s. Japan - different people and systems About English Getting Help • Financing Your Graduate Education • Miscellaneous • About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 26

Financing your graduate education • Teaching assistantship: a great experience and often required • Research assistantship: widely available in experimental and/or applied sciences • Your tuition is often waived if you have an assistantship. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 27

• • • NEXT Academics US v. s. Japan - different people and systems About English Getting Help Financing Your Graduate Education • Miscellaneous • About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 28

Housing and Food • • Residence halls are not necessarily cheap. International houses are good places to start. Private apartments are better for privacy. Consider signing up for a student meal plan if you do not wish to cook yourself. (All you can eat!) • Choose your roommate(s) and housemate(s) very carefully. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 29

Using Computers • Get a student account on arrival. • Learn to use the computing facilities on campus. • A laptop or a notebook is not a luxury any more. • It will definitely help you in your job hunt. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 30

Tailoring a degree to your needs • There are so many possible majors for you. • You can even create your own. • Interdisciplinary majors are all over the place, reflecting their diversity as a nation. (MSG, MAM, MPPPM, MSCDIS, MSESM) 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 31

Youth is power! • Academic difficulties are nothing in comparison to many other problems in life. • Culture shock is a misnomer. The correct term is “cultural adaptation process”. • Eat well, stay healthy, and be ambitious. Youth is power! • If nothing else works, try skateboarding! 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 32

Top ten reasons for studying in the US - one 10. Multidimensional approach will always help you. 9. The confidence you gain by holding your own in a different country is priceless. 8. You will be a great asset to Japan and to the world in the coming century. 7. Your contribution of enhancing cultural awareness among Americans is very valuable. 6. You can meet people from all over the world and learn to appreciate different cultures. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 33

Top ten reasons for studying in the US - two 5. Best scholars in the world! 4. Best junk food in the world! 3. Japan may disappear into the ocean any day. 2. Great slopes for skateboarding! 1. No one wants you in Japan. Get out of here! 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 34

NEXT • • • Academics US v. s. Japan - different people and systems About English Getting Help Financing Your Education Miscellaneous • About Myself 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 35

About Myself: for your fan mail Masayasu AOTANI Send your contributions（札束） to: Ryugakusei Center Kyoto University Kyoto, 606 -8501 Japan aotani@cfse. ryugaku. kyoto-u. ac. jp http: //cfse. ryugaku. kyoto-u. ac. jp/aotani. html TEL 075 -753 -2568 FAX 075 -753 -2562 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 36

Your Contribution from Across the Pacific • Subscribe to “America”. • Subscribe to “Friends”. 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 37

Gifts! • A man with plenty of heart will spare some for you. • Naked women, noodles, and much more. • Aotani the lucky charm - 幸運の青い谷 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 38

Summary - seven commandments • • • Take the classes very seriously. Know bad English would not kill anyone. Take full advantage of campus resources. No sweat! Enjoy the culture shock. Become a master juggler. Try many things. Be confident. Good fortune is coming your way. – Didn’t you see me on skateboard? • Eat well. Welcome to the junk food capital of the world! 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 39

Thank you for listening! Applause! 2022/1/23 Studying in the US 40