One of the most common yet underestimated mistakes when studying in Japan is choosing a school based on short-term convenience rather than long-term goals. The case of Ms Ta Thi Ut illustrates this clearly—and offers a valuable lesson for many international students.
After completing her Japanese language course, Ut faced an important decision: whether to progress to university or enrol in a vocational school. Initially, she aimed for a better learning environment aligned with her career goals. However, due to the tuition fee reduction offered by a partner school, she decided to enrol in a vocational college affiliated with her language school, known as International Contribution College.
What seemed like a financially reasonable decision quickly turned into a major setback in her academic journey.
Upon enrolment, Ut chose to study Information Technology (IT), a field that requires structured training and qualified instructors. In reality, the situation was far from what she had expected. The school was newly established and lacked adequate preparation, particularly in terms of qualified IT lecturers.
As a result, most of the specialised IT classes were cancelled. Instead of studying her chosen field, Ut was required to attend substitute Japanese language classes. More concerning was that these classes were only at N3–N4 level, while she had already achieved N3 and was aiming for higher levels such as N2 and N1.
In other words, instead of progressing, her learning was effectively pushed backwards.
Ut raised her concerns multiple times with the school, expressing her desire to study the registered major. However, these efforts did not lead to any meaningful change. The institution neither improved its programme nor provided suitable alternatives.
This situation reflects a broader reality:
not all schools in Japan guarantee the quality of education students expect, especially newly established or smaller institutions.
Choosing the wrong school led to several consequences.
Firstly, a loss of academic direction. Ut came to Japan to study IT, yet she was unable to access proper specialised training.
Secondly, a waste of time and financial resources. Tuition fees remained the same, but the educational value did not match the investment.
Thirdly, psychological impact. Realising that she had made the wrong choice—without an immediate way to correct it—resulted in frustration and a loss of motivation.
Ut herself later admitted that this decision was one of her biggest regrets during her time in Japan.
However, what makes this case meaningful is not the mistake itself, but how she responded to it. Recognising that the school could not meet her needs, Ut shifted her focus to self-study and real-world practice outside the classroom. This decision allowed her to compensate for the lack of formal training and eventually achieve N1 within just three years.
This case highlights a clear principle:
Choosing a school should not be based solely on cost or convenience, but on actual training quality and long-term career alignment.
Many students still prioritise:
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Easy admission
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Lower tuition fees
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Existing school partnerships
while overlooking more critical factors such as:
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Teaching quality
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Faculty expertise
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Graduate employment outcomes
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Alignment with career goals
At Sông Đà Tohoku, we consistently advise students that studying in Japan is not simply about “getting there”, but about starting in the right direction from the beginning. A wrong decision at the school selection stage can cost one to two years—or even require starting over entirely.
For more details of our study abroad and working overseas programme, please contact:
TOHOKU SONG DA JOINT STOCK COMPANY
Address: No. 4, Alley 180 Thai Thinh, Dong Da Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hotline: 0989044852
Email: tohokusongda2014@gmail.com