i havent graduated college, do i have a chance?

[x3Jer]

i read over the qualification page, and i see they want you to have graduated college. i have not, i am currently in college. is it over, or should i keep going? im president of my college's International Club, and have been tutoring ESL for two years. i have a basic understanding of japanese, while i am not a perfecent speaker, i hear that JET doesnt want those with a high level of japanese, because they will focus on learning japanese, more than teaching english. i love japan, and have stayed there for a month in the past (dont know if that helps), i think i have some good things going for me, i love kids, and get along great with my peers, but is my lack of a college degree game over? thanks =/

[Gekishinken]

First off you must have a college degree to work in Japan for JET (typically you need a degree anyway). Many people, including myself, are applying during their SENIOR year of college to go AFTER graduation. For example, I am graduating in May. If I get accepted into JET I will leave for Japan at the end of July. So yes, you can apply without having graduated, but it can ONLY be during your senior year, not during Junior or earlier. You can also apply after graduation if you wish, but the degree is a MUST by the time you go to Japan. JET is a full-time job, it is not like study abroad.

[x3Jer]

thats disappointing to hear, but its better i hear it now rather than later.. do you or anyone else happen to know a way a non college grad can get a visa to stay in japan longer than 90 days, doing something?
its not JET im in love with, its japan, and want to find a way to be able to get there, and find some way to make money (so that means studying abroad wont be an option for me)
edit: i am 21, Male, and located in Ohio, USA

[Gekishinken]

Unless you come from a country that has a working holiday visa relationship with Japan (the USA DOES NOT have this) then the answer is unfortunately no. The only realistic way I could see you being able to get a work visa without a degree would be to marry a Japanese person. If you are currently in college why not just wait till your senior year and apply to a bunch of places? I'm a senior and I have job offers from Interac (rejected already), AEON (possibly going to accept their 2nd offer) and potentially JET too. It really isn't that hard to get a job in Japan after graduation.

[Teishou]

Why not just finish your degree? Barely that much time left so finish it and roll on over to Japan.

[merkypie]

I do not understand one's need to get to Japan so quickly and sacrifice their own career and educational advancement. Japan is not going anywhere for at least another few million years. That being said, everyone has answered your question. A degree is a visa requirement.

[HiroshimaPAGuillaume]

Japan is not going anywhere for at least another few million years.

Actually, following the March 11th earthquake the northern part of Honshu has moved about 4 meters to the west!

[merkypie]

Japan is not going anywhere for at least another few million years.

Actually, following the March 11th earthquake the northern part of Honshu has moved about 4 meters to the west!

Okay, we'll reduce that by a couple million years

[AVN]

Japan is not going anywhere for at least another few million years.

Actually, following the March 11th earthquake the northern part of Honshu has moved about 4 meters to the west!

Okay, we'll reduce that by a couple million years

Ahem love this exchange.
That is all.

[wabalabe]

thats disappointing to hear, but its better i hear it now rather than later.. do you or anyone else happen to know a way a non college grad can get a visa to stay in japan longer than 90 days, doing something?
its not JET im in love with, its japan, and want to find a way to be able to get there, and find some way to make money (so that means studying abroad wont be an option for me)
edit: i am 21, Male, and located in Ohio, USA

There is a visa for designated activities which has one specifically for "University Internship" which allows for up to 1 year of working in Japan. This is what I used to work in Japan for 1 year without being a graduate. As long as you can find a good company that will support you, it is definitely possible. It must, however, be a university program. So if you are thinking about finding a job on your own as an individual, then no, you must have a degree.

[KoeiS]

You also have to realize that Japan is a very DEVELOPED country with a strong education system and very good universities. There is no reason to fly someone over and pay him more than what they would to their own graduate (with proficient English levels) if the the guy doesn't even have his Bachelors. It's just the very basic pre-requisite for a lot of jobs nowadays.

If you want a comparatively high paying job and low living expenses with only the skills of a high school graduate, you're gonna have to look at developing countries but I'm sure a lot college grads can easily take them off your hands as there are so many of them who are unemployed right now. If it's Japan you want, you're not a very competitive applicant. For JET specifically, there's an old thread somewhere (not sure if it's here or ITIL) where people who got interviews and is a JET posted some information about themselves to compare the qualities of people accepted. Volunteerism and travel experience is very prominent so as great as all your experiences are, many of us on here have the same or even more or better level of experiences. I don't doubt that you'll make a great candidate after graduation but your experiences are not "so great that it will allow you to bypass the bachelors requirement."

Seriously, finishing your degree first would be the best for your future...you don't want to be that guy who's turning 30 and is just starting his first year of college because he doesn't want to work at McD's anymore, do you?


EDIT: Apparently they will just throw out all applications where you don't have all the necessary parts, which includes your degree or a proof of graduation.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Patience dude, stick out the college degree and you can get here easily, without having to go back to finish it later.
It's not Game Over, it's just...

[Siyris]

Unfortunately, as far as teaching in Japan goes, you will not find a job that will hire your without a bachelors at the minimum. There is a law (rather similar to the laws in the States when it comes down to it) that anyone who works in a teaching role with minors (defined as anyone below the age of 20) must hold a Bachelors degree or higher. Even eikaiwas must follow that law, as many of them (even the ones that cater to adults) have a high number of high school and college aged students, as well as at least a few classes of kids.

As to what KoeiS said.... don't take it too much to heart. You've already traveled and you have some Japanese language skills... that is already more 'experience' related to the job than half the ALTs that I've met since working here. There is not set mix that JET is looking for.

Don't worry about Japanese language being something that the program does not look for -- when I applied I had a proficient level language... all that being able to speak Japanese will mean, is that it's more likely you will be placed in an elementary or middle school, rather than a high school, because those placements often times have a higher need for Japanese language ability.

Best bet right now: finish off your college degree. Do a semester abroad if you'd like (no you can't make money at it, but what's the rush? College is one of the most important stages of growing and learning to be an adult in a modern American youth's life, wait to make the money until you are required to by bills and rent and such. Or you can try to investigate that University Internship that one of the other posters mentioned.

You could try to work through a private contracting company or try to get hired directly by a Japanese company, but for that you would most likely need $10,000 or more on hand for travel and set up fees, and a good enough grasp on the language to handle interviews in Japanese.

[Spencer]

Yea, You Cant go without having your degree, but why would you want to really?


I mean seriously, get it done, then do JET. It is also probably your best option.... Jet is an Amazing program. All of us are JET hopefuls. we are all in the waiting process.

But whateves. What I do recommend though, Is try Korea. With a student Visa, you are also allowed to work for 20 hours a week. Japan may also be like this. So study abroad programs do allow you the chance to work. I only know about Korea because I contemplated it, before I realized I have more of a passion for Japan....

[Siyris]

But whateves. What I do recommend though, Is try Korea. With a student Visa, you are also allowed to work for 20 hours a week. Japan may also be like this. So study abroad programs do allow you the chance to work. I only know about Korea because I contemplated it, before I realized I have more of a passion for Japan....

A student visa in Japan does not permit you to work... if you are caught working while on a student visa your visa WILL be revoked and you WILL be deported... and you don't want that to happen.... once Deported from Japan, they do not issue you another visa... ever. It's a big deal here and they are very strict about it.

That said, I do know people who were tutoring and getting paid under the table while I was on my semester abroad.... I would NOT recommend doing that though.