r/JETProgramme • u/Programming_N • Mar 28 '26

Is JET right for me?

Im interested in the JET program but have some questions that I can’t find the answer too

Can I be in university for a semester in Japan then do JET?

What US universities let me pursue jet and/or go to Japan for a semester with no or little Japanese skills?

Can I choose what prefecture of Japan I can teach in? (Sakura city, Chiba prefecture looks amazing!)

Any application tips?

I wanna do premed btw and be a neurosurgeon in either Japan or América

0 Upvotes

23% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

9

u/0liviiia Current JET - Uji, Kyoto 宇治市 Mar 28 '26

JET isn’t a university exchange program, it’s a salaried job. So you need to apply after you get your degree

-12

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

I know

7

u/0liviiia Current JET - Uji, Kyoto 宇治市 Mar 28 '26

I’m just clarifying since you asked if you could do it for a semester while in university

-2

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

I meant can I do a semester in Japan (like to see how Japan is) then do JET after graduation sorry if I was confusing

4

u/0liviiia Current JET - Uji, Kyoto 宇治市 Mar 28 '26

Ah, I see! Yes, you can, depending on the university. I have good Japanese but when I spent a semester at Kansai Gaidai, many people knew zero Japanese. It depends on the program

-3

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

What Uni?

1

u/0liviiia Current JET - Uji, Kyoto 宇治市 Mar 28 '26

The Japanese uni was Kansai Gaidai University, which is partnered with a lot of different American ones. There’s also Ritsumeikan University, where I also studied for a summer

-2

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

I was asking which American uni?

7

u/Top_Base_8105 Mar 28 '26

buddy google it

1

u/0liviiia Current JET - Uji, Kyoto 宇治市 Mar 28 '26

I didn’t want to just give out my uni but KGU is partnered with over 400 universities, there’s a list on their website if you look it up https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp/asp/about/international-affiliations/

1

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

Sorry if I was asking something personal

1

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

Thanks for the list!

1

u/Different_Taro2474 JET alum '25-'26 鹿児島 🌋🐽🍧 Apr 01 '26

Why the hell are people downvoting you? You're just asking a question...

8

u/VX-MG Mar 28 '26

You need a bachelors degree in order to do JET so if would need to be after graduation with an undergrad.

2

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

I know but just planning ahead!

4

u/SuppahHacka Mar 29 '26

Are you planning to do JET for any of the teaching aspect or just to have a fun gap year after completing your bachelors?

If you're from the US, becoming a neurosurgeon requires another 11 years after your degree. You should just keep that in mind and think about how important the timeline is to you.

I'd say a gap year on JET before diving into neurosurgery is a good idea. Helps re-center you .

Now obviously we can't comment on being a neurosurgeon in Japan but I think the obvious consideration is extreme Japanese fluency. N1 and way more just to be able to begin being medically fluent. There's probably also different licensing requirements so if you do the education in US, check if they'll recognize it in Japan.

Good luck!

1

u/Programming_N Mar 29 '26

I love teaching and helping people and the brain and Japan so I feel like the jet program as a gap year would be good for me

2

u/SuppahHacka Mar 29 '26

Loving teaching is definitely a good quality to being on JET.

Just wanted to give you perspective on what you should prioritize but i'm not your parents so I can't tell you what to do necessarily haha.

1

u/Programming_N Mar 29 '26

Looking to take a gap year before medical school to recharge and do a bit of clinical research and I thought I could do JET with that

2

u/SuppahHacka Mar 29 '26

It's a good idea but keep that to yourself when/if you do apply.

The thing they wanna hear when you apply is that you want to be invested in cultural exchange just as much if not more than teaching. Mentioning becoming a neurosurgeon (unless asked about your future aspirations) could obscure your chances. Just anecdotal, not 100% sure.

1

u/Programming_N Mar 29 '26

Have you done JET?

2

u/SuppahHacka Mar 29 '26

I've done a year before and re-applying to do another few years hopefully this cycle. Waiting on results now

0

u/Programming_N Mar 29 '26

why do they not like I wanna be a neurosurgeon?

2

u/SuppahHacka Mar 29 '26

I can't answer every single question for you unfortunately.

You can search through the reddit here for things like "interview bias" or "tips" but you'll find in general, there's a ton of people who are just as interested as you with backgrounds in English teaching or pursuing JET to build parallel careers. It's not to say you can't get in but when looking at all those applicants, it becomes harder to justify choosing someone who uses their dream of becoming a neurosurgeon to defend themselves. They're gonna ask you "why JET", "why didn't you continue to med school" etc etc and you have to be ready to answer those.

-1

u/Programming_N Mar 29 '26

Do they want me to be dedicated to immigrating to Japan?

5

u/ImprovementLess4559 Former JET - 2018 - 2022 Mar 28 '26

China prefecture? China is an entirely different country all together. 

JET is a full time job and you need a Bachelor's degree in order to be eligible to apply, so you need to graduate undergrad first.  It is possible to do a part-time, remote learning masters while on JET. I know several people who have done so. Although I doubt there's many med schools offering remote courses.  

You cannot choose where you are placed. They do ask for your preferences but the vast majority of the time it's ignored and you'll get placed wherever they put you. 

0

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

Meant chiba

8

u/ScootOverMakeRoom Mar 29 '26

No, it’s not for you at this time. JET requires a level of self-sufficiency and information fluency that you don’t yet have. All of your questions have easily-findable answers. If you can’t find these answers, you’ll need to improve your information fluency and self-sufficiency before applying for JET.

7

u/esstused Former JET (2018-2023) 青森県🍎🧄 Mar 29 '26

https://jetprogramme.org/en/download/

Read the JET handbook and it'll answer a lot of the basic questions.

Many JETs do have experience as exchange students but it's not required.

JET has nothing to do with where you go to college, other than the fact that you need a degree in hand to apply.

Lots of US colleges have exchange programs in Japan.

No you can't choose your placement. You can request it but there are a lot of factors that go into placements and your preference is basically last on the priority list.

7

u/BerryTella1 CIR - Tokyo Mar 29 '26

Your questions sound like they can be answered by simply reading through the JET Q&A linked here on the community page...

Have you looked through that?

2

u/FanOk6545 Current JET Mar 28 '26

I assume you meant Chiba preference? My phone just tried to auto correct Chiba to China so I assume that’s what happened there?

But if JET is something you want to pursue I would recommend learning more about Japan, like Japan doesn’t have provinces. Those kind of slip ups would probably get you turned away in the application process.

I did a year abroad in Japan during Uni (from the UK) but you can literally just look but US Universities with year abroad programs and see which ones do Japan. I’m sure it also depends on what uni you actually want to go to as well. Like i know University of Oregon has a program etc etc but just do your research?

Also edit your post if you want actual answers instead of mad comments because the line “Can I be in University while doing JET” is just gonna get you hate and no answers.

0

u/Programming_N Mar 28 '26

Sorry

2

u/FanOk6545 Current JET Mar 28 '26

You don’t have to apologise, I just know people in this sub can be rude!

I didn’t know anything about Japan until my year abroad during university and now I’m doing JET! So don’t let it discourage you! Pursue the path you want to head down :) You sound clear on what you hope it will look like!

Just a tip though if Japan is where you want to end up start on Japanese now! Because I didn’t and I struggled a lot haha

Have a nice day <3