An Appealing Environment
Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
General Selection
Male
High school | Hiratsuka Gakuen High School |
|---|---|
Year | Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, 4th year |
Primary research group affiliation | Shinpo Lab (since fall of 3rd year) |
Major of affiliated research group | Information Law |
My research theme | Legal regulations on generative AI |
What I focus on in my student life | Interning at a consulting firm, working as a staff member at a science museum, and managing the open campus. |
High school club activities | None |
Favorite subject | English |
What I focused on in high school | Studying for entrance exams. |
What I'm proud of about my high school | It's close to the sea. You can get there in a 5-minute walk. |
When did you first learn about SFC? | In the spring of my third year of junior high school |
Did you participate in an SFC open campus (including online)? | No, I did not. |
Did you use a Juku or prep school? | Yes (from the summer of my second year of high school) |
Did you take a gap year to study for exams? | No |
When did you decide to apply to SFC? | In the summer of my second year of high school |
Which entrance examination did you pass to get into SFC? | General Selection |
What subjects did you take for the exam? | English, short essay |
Did you take any other entrance exams besides the one you passed? | No |
What was your preference ranking for SFC? | First choice |
What other faculties did you apply to concurrently? | Faculty of Policy Management |
What other universities did you apply to concurrently? | Meiji University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Chuo University, Hosei University |
Why I Chose SFC and My Journey to University Admission
I failed my high school entrance exams and spent my days idly even after starting high school, but in the summer of my second year, I decided to make a comeback.
From the beginning, SFC was my first choice—it was the closest to my home, yet academically distant. As I studied, I learned about its unique entrance examination system, which included multiple-choice English and a short essay unlike those at other universities, as well as its distinctive interdisciplinary approach to learning. This made me even more determined to get in.
Since I didn't have a specific academic field I wanted to study, I kept SFC in mind and planned to study whatever I was accepted for at other universities, whether it was the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Letters, or Faculty of Business and Commerce.
What Study Methods Do You Recommend?
I hadn't studied at all until around the summer of my second year, and my deviation scores were in the 30s for all subjects, so I needed to study efficiently to be ready for the entrance exams. First, since I didn't know how to study, I had my parents send me to a Juku, where I aimed to master its curriculum. When I got a problem wrong, I would mark it with a tally and solve the textbook repeatedly. This allowed me to triage my weak areas, prioritize them, and overcome them.
From around the summer of my third year, I stopped just passively following the curriculum and started consciously using my time to think about what university entrance exams demand. This is just my personal opinion, but between someone who has memorized a lot of English words and someone who can infer meaning and comprehend texts even without knowing the words, I think universities would prefer to admit the latter. Rote memorization is something that can be left to machines.
I believe it's important not to stop thinking and to constantly search for better ways to study.
The Connection Between Your High School Studies and Your Current Learning at SFC
There is almost no connection. Until high school, the key was to solve problems with fixed answers without making mistakes. However, in university, it becomes important to identify the underlying problems that need to be solved, even when there are no clear answers or methods. I think students who enter through the General Selection, in particular, will struggle with this change, although the degree varies from person to person.
To overcome this barrier, you need to update your mindset by exposing yourself to values and ways of thinking you haven't encountered before. Fortunately, SFC is composed of people from truly diverse backgrounds, so by interacting with as many people as possible, I believe you can significantly broaden your perspective.
A Message for Prospective Students
I think SFC is an appealing environment where everyone pushes forward toward their dreams and goals, mutually inspiring one another. However, for those who haven't found what they want to do or are unable to take action, it might become a difficult environment where you compare yourself to others. At times like that, focus on what you can do now and on expanding those abilities. Keep moving forward while repeatedly testing your hypotheses! (A reminder to myself as well.) I sincerely hope you have a great life at SFC!