Student Interview with Shui Tailong | ISI Japanese Language School

Shui Tailong

From China
JUQ, a college preparatory school within the ISI Group

Graduate School of Economics, Ritsumeikan University
Graduate School of Economics, Gakushuin University
Graduate School of Economics, Meiji University
Admitted

Mr. Shui, could you briefly introduce yourself to everyone?: Hello, everyone. I'm from Shiyan, Hubei Province. In my free time, I enjoy cycling and exploring different parts of Tokyo.

I came to Japan in April 2024 and began studying at a Japanese language school. Although I took a detour in my first year while preparing for graduate school, I adjusted my approach in my second year and was admitted to the Graduate Schools of Economics at three universities.
You mentioned that you "took a detour." Could you tell us more specifically what you meant by that?: Not long after arriving in Japan, I began studying at JUQ. I had majored in Digital Media at university, and since it also aligned with my personal interests, I initially planned to pursue graduate studies with the goal of becoming a game planner.

Later, I attended the Tokyo Game Show. Seeing the projects exhibited by Japanese students made me realize, for the first time, just how large the gap was between us. Their work far exceeded my expectations in terms of quality, technical skills, and overall project design. The experience came as a major shock and made me seriously reconsider whether this was truly the career path I wanted to pursue.

After careful consideration, I decided on New Year’s Day in 2025 to change my field of study and redefine my career path. My preparation for the entrance examinations lasted about a year, but this period was much more than simply studying for exams. It became a valuable opportunity to reassess my abilities and clarify my goals for the future.
What made you decide to switch to Economics?: I decided to major in Economics because I had already completed a minor in the subject during my undergraduate studies and had built a solid foundation. With that background, I felt that transitioning into the field and continuing my studies would not be overly difficult.
I see. Could you walk us through your one-year preparation timeline?: January–March: Due to family circumstances, I returned to my home country, which made it difficult to maintain a consistent study schedule. During this period, I focused on systematically reviewing microeconomics through one-on-one lessons at a preparatory school.

April–July: I began intensive preparation for the JLPT, studying five to six hours every day. I first reviewed vocabulary and grammar using the JLPT Study Guide (紅藍宝書), then completed one full set of past JLPT exam questions each day to strengthen my reading and listening comprehension. As a result, I passed the JLPT N1 in July, improving my score from 82 to 133.

July–September: I shifted my focus to TOEIC preparation while continuing to spend one to two hours a day studying my major subjects. My English study routine generally consisted of one hour of vocabulary, one hour of listening, and two hours of reading each day, with most of my practice done through abceed. Since I had received very little systematic English instruction during my four years at university, my foundation was relatively weak. As a result, I scored 645 on my first attempt in September, which was not the result I had hoped for. I then spent another month reviewing intensively and eventually raised my score to 705. Although it was not an exceptionally high score, time was becoming increasingly limited, so I decided to devote more attention to my major subjects and research proposal.

October–December: During this period, I focused almost entirely on preparing for my major subjects and even read textbooks related to my field during classes at language school. I first reviewed microeconomics using Super Past Exam Questions (スーパー過去問), then moved on to macroeconomics. After working through the full content of the textbooks, I began practicing with past ERE exam questions. A few days before submitting my application, I received an ERE Grade A score report with a score of 340.

I began writing my research proposal in November. With the help of an instructor at my preparatory school, I selected a research topic, reviewed relevant academic papers, and completed the first draft over the course of two weeks. After receiving feedback from the instructor, I found a professor’s contact information on the university’s official website and sent my proposal to a professor at Chuo University for advice. The professor also provided suggestions for revision, which I used to further refine the proposal and complete the final version. With that, I was able to finish my application preparations successfully.
What was your research proposal about?: The topic of my research proposal was "The Impact of AI on Women's Employment in Japan." I wanted to examine how the rapid advancement of AI technologies is affecting employment opportunities and labor outcomes for women in Japan.

The topic was suggested by an instructor at my preparatory school. At the time, I hadn't yet settled on a clear research direction, so the instructor recommended exploring the topic from the perspective of technological advancement and women's employment, drawing on their area of expertise. I found this to be both a practical and meaningful direction, so I decided to build my research proposal around it.

The instructor also provided invaluable guidance throughout the writing process. They not only helped me refine my research topic but also advised me on selecting appropriate research methods and data sources. With their feedback and support, I gradually developed the overall structure of the proposal and completed the final version.
Could you tell us about the entrance examinations at the universities you applied to?: I applied to a total of six universities: Kyushu University, Shiga University, Ritsumeikan University, Meiji Gakuin University, Gakushuin University, and Kwansei Gakuin University. However, after being accepted by Gakushuin University, I decided to withdraw my application to Kwansei Gakuin University.

I applied to the Department of Economic Engineering at Kyushu University. The admissions process consisted of a written examination only, with no interview. Compared with other national universities, the exam was not considered particularly difficult, and I had originally viewed Kyushu University as one of my safer choices. However, my academic foundation was not strong enough at the time, and I was ultimately was not admitted.

The written examination at Shiga University covered mostly fundamental concepts, and anyone who had thoroughly reviewed the required textbooks would have found it relatively easy to achieve a high score. The interview, however, was much more challenging. It lasted about 20 minutes and was conducted by a panel of four professors. The professor I had applied to study under asked most of the questions, while the other faculty members followed up with additional questions. The discussion focused entirely on my research proposal, covering everything from my data sources and research methods to the finer details of my research design. As it was my first graduate school interview and I was not feeling well that day, I was unable to perform to the best of my ability and was ultimately not admitted.

Since I had submitted my ERE score, Ritsumeikan University waived the written examination. The interview did not begin with questions about my research proposal. Instead, I was asked about my undergraduate studies, why I decided to come to Japan, how I had studied Japanese, my thoughts on living in Japan, my impressions of the Biwako-Kusatsu Campus, and whether I could adapt to a campus located in a more suburban area. I had not specifically prepared for these questions, so I simply answered them naturally. The interview felt more like a conversation than a formal examination and lasted about 10 minutes. Toward the end, one professor briefly asked about the data sources for my research proposal, while another asked a question about the underlying research mechanism. I was admitted and was also awarded a third-tier scholarship.

Meiji Gakuin University also accepts ERE scores in place of a written examination. Although it does not receive a particularly large number of applicants, the number of applicants still exceeds the available places by a considerable margin each year. During the interview, most of the questions were asked by the professor I hoped to study under. Particular emphasis was placed on my reasons for applying, and I was asked several follow-up questions, so it is best to answer as specifically and thoroughly as possible. The rest of the interview focused mainly on my research proposal, especially the issue of endogeneity in my research design. Overall, the interview went relatively smoothly.

Gakushuin University also accepts ERE scores in place of a written examination. The interview had a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and the professors mainly asked straightforward questions. For example, they asked how I had studied Japanese, what I had majored in as an undergraduate, why I had chosen the university, and whether I had any experience writing academic papers. The questions were mainly intended to assess my academic background and basic abilities. Overall, the interview flowed naturally, and there were no particularly difficult questions.
What challenges did you face during the application process?: I think the biggest challenge I faced during the application process was making efficient use of my study time. On the surface, I was able to devote around six hours a day to studying, but in reality, the amount of time I spent studying truly efficiently was much less than that. It often took me nearly an hour to fully concentrate, and as I became tired, I would sometimes lose focus. During the final hour of studying, my efficiency would noticeably decline, and there were times when I became frustrated or even found it difficult to bring myself to keep studying.

When I stayed at home or remained in the same environment for long periods, I found it almost impossible to concentrate on studying, and my efficiency would drop significantly. To overcome this, I made a point of studying in a different place every day. I visited many of Tokyo's public libraries and also studied at family restaurants and cafes. By changing my study location almost every day, I was able to maintain a sense of freshness and stay focused.

For me, the act of moving from one place to another also served as a way to refresh my mind. Although it may seem like an inefficient approach at first glance, it actually helped improve my study efficiency and enabled me to maintain a relatively stable rhythm throughout the long period of exam preparation.
How was your learning experience at the school?: Overall, I had a very positive learning experiencel. My one-on-one instructor is currently pursuing a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Economics at the Institute of Science Tokyo while also teaching at a university, so he has a very high level of expertise. His explanations were always clear and logical, and he directly showed me which areas were most important for the examinations and how I should understand and master them. This significantly improved my learning efficiency and was a tremendous help to me.

Because his lessons were conducted very efficiently, we often had a little time left before the end of each session. During that time, we discussed various topics related to the application process, such as the characteristics of each university’s entrance examination, professors’ teaching styles, and how to choose the right university. Drawing on his own experience, he also advised me on how to plan my career if I hoped to work in Japan in the future.

For me, these conversations were just as valuable as the lessons themselves. They gave me a much clearer understanding of pursuing higher education and planning my future in Japan, and my instructor was an invaluable source of guidance and support throughout the process.
Do you have any advice for younger students who have already come to Japan and are preparing for their entrance examinations?: The most important advice I would give to students who are already in Japan preparing for entrance examinations is to secure the necessary language scores as early as possible. I recommend passing JLPT N1 if possible and achieving a TOEIC score of at least 750. Preparing these scores in advance allows you to focus your time on specialized subjects, your research proposal, and interview preparation, without having to rush immediately before the application deadline.

In particular, if you are aiming for one of Japan’s national universities or another highly regarded university, these language scores are generally important basic requirements. By meeting the language requirements early, the overall pace of your exam preparation becomes much more manageable, giving you enough time to refine your research proposal and prepare thoroughly for interviews.

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