Comments by graduates and advisors

Insights from successful applicants

2015 AO Exams (Fall) 2015

“I became curious about the school in the third year of junior high school, partly because of my grandfather’s recommendation. When I heard that participatory lessons are very common at Keio N.Y., my interest grew further, since I am naturally curious about a wide variety of topics. My big worry, however, was how to pass the English essay and other – in my view – peculiar aspects of the entrance exams.

However, I learned that there is an advisor in Nagoya specializing in guidance for applicants to Keio N.Y., and decided to consult her. Since I was in my tenth year of compulsory education in Japan I was studying for entrance exams here too, so the workload was heavy, but the advisor put together a schedule that worked great, and I was able to study efficiently for the Keio N.Y. exams as well. The English essay was my biggest headache, but my teacher put emphasis on that part in the schedule, and taught me many expressions useful for essay writing, so I was able to write quite a decent text in the exam. I also received useful advice on several occasions about how to present my reasons for applying to Keio N.Y., and could present them in a relaxed way both in the Japanese and the English entrance exam interviews.

When I got notice that I had been admitted I was overwhelmed with joy. My family had been planning a trip abroad, but we couldn’t travel while I was studying for my exams. My sister, not the least, and my parents had patiently waited for me to pass. Now we could finally go. There is still some time left before classes start, so I will use it to prepare. I need to brush up my English to follow the instruction.

I hope this will be of some help for those of you who are contemplating entering Keio Academy of New York. Please keep your spirits up and work hard, so that you may pass your entrance examination as well.”

Ecole de l’Enfant Keio NY Instructors and advisors

National Honor Society elect, Keio Academy of N.Y. graduate
Currently student at the Keio University School of Law, Department of Politics

※ National Honor Society: A body targeting all students in the US. Students elected must not only have an outstanding academic record, but also have made a contribution to society, as well as demonstrated excellent human qualities and leadership ability.
“I remember very well when I got admitted to the Keio Academy of N.Y. It was a nerve wracking yet fantastically joyous experience. All of a sudden I saw the path to New York open to me. At the same time, I felt dwarfed by the other successful applicants around me, whom I imagined were all fluent in English.
Thinking back, I believe I didn’t have much confidence in my English ability at the time. But that lack of confidence disappeared once I had begun my studies at Keio Academy of N.Y. My attitude changed after talking with teachers and friends; I decided to give first priority to pronunciation – to express myself in anyway I could, without hesitation, if I had something I wanted to communicate.
I liked English and wanted to become fluent. However, that was not the only skill I acquired by enrolling at Keio N.Y. English proficiency is but one of many bonus points of studying at the school. You’ll also benefit greatly from many other things, like extra curricular activities and dormitory life. You’ll be moved watching friends playing matches or performing on stage. I was a member of the dance club, and after a stage appearance my friends and seniors would send me heart-warming congratulations. Remembering those moments always fills my heart with memories of tears and laughter.
Days turned into months, and before I knew it four years had passed. I had a truly enriching experience behind me. Still, when I talk about those days with my friends the discussion becomes animated, and even after enrolling in university my friends from Keio NY remains dear to me. I feel very fortunate to have met them.

For those of you who are planning to follow in my footsteps and study at Keio NY I have some advice on how you may prepare yourself. Perhaps you feel uneasy about how to go about doing this. I prioritized improving my English by concentrating on expanding my vocabulary and improving my command of useful phrases. I enjoyed learning new words every day so I didn’t feel that the process was painful in any way, but I guess this was the most intensive period ever in my English studies.
I am convinced that the best way to pursue your academic career is to stop worrying and concentrate on the topics you enjoy learning. This will put you on a path to a meaningful future. I felt this way after enrolling in Keio NY, and I still feel this way now. I wish for you all to discover this compass within yourselves, and that it will allow you to spend a wonderful time of your life at Keio NY.

Ecole de Keio NY Special Advisor

Former PTA at Keio Academy of NY

To those of you who are considering enrollment at Keio Academy of NY:
I put my two sons in Keio Academy of NY after they graduated from 9th grade in Japan. Later I was assigned the role of PTA (at Keio NY they are called PA), when my son was in 11th grade. I hope to be able to be of some help to those of you who are considering enrollment at the school, as I am now working as a special advisor for students aiming at entering Keio NY.
What I feel especially happy about regarding my own sons enrollment at the school is that they were able to experience things they wouldn’t have otherwise. I think many kids who leave their home country to live in a dormitory abroad feel anxiety and uncertainty about how their new life will turn out. But the positive thing about this change is that they are forced to learn how to think, make decisions and take action on their own. I believe this truly helps children to mature.
Furthermore, students who choose to join the politics class in 12th grade will be able to take part in something called “model UN”, where they can discuss world topics with other students and experience a simulated UN environment, take part in cultural exchange, as well as engage in volunteer and club activities. Students in Japan, by contrast, are under constant pressure in the juken entrance examination system, and have no opportunities to experience such things.
Students at Keio NY also meet kids from many other countries and cultural backgrounds, can learn about how they think and how to express their own thoughts in dialog with them. I believe many Japanese have difficulties expressing their own opinion, but I found that the students at Keio Academy of NY manage to do this very well. This will be a critical skill in our ever faster globalizing world.
Another benefit of the Keio NY experience is dormitory life. Almost all students chose to live in the dormitories 3 – 4 years, which results in strong bonding, not only with friends in their own grade, but also with students in different grades. These bonds tend to be lifelong, thanks to networking tools like Facebook.
Our family has lived many years abroad in the US and other countries since our children were small, since husband was constantly stationed overseas. By the time they started in second grade in junior high school we were still living abroad. We considered a Japanese education for them, so we returned home that summer and visited a number of schools. However, we could not find one that seemed suitable for our boys.
I think it is no overstatement to say that what happened next changed their lives. They participated in the Keio NY summer camp right after those study visits, were they made good friends. Their new comrades all said they wanted to enter the US school together with our sons. When our boys returned home they told us they were eager to go. I really want to parents to support your children are interested if they seem interested in going to Keio NY. There is an old Japanese saying: “If you love your children, send them out into the world”. Life in Japan more or less always flows smoothly from day to day, and is rarely disrupted by such things as power failures or a damaged water supply. In many other countries, those kinds of problems are part of everydays life. But I my view, that is actually a splendid opportunity to make your children think! When they see no way out, they will ask for your help, but until then, hold back and see what kind of solution they will come up with.
I have no doubt in my mind that your child will return home as a much more mature person. And it is precisely such maturity that will grow in the kind of environment that the Keio Academy of New York offers.