Why go to a university in the United States

20230116 §

• Writing down thoughts that have come to mind after half a year has passed.

• Ultimately, feeling that both Japan and the United States have their own strengths and weaknesses as learning environments, making it hard to determine which is better.

  • While various aspects like diversity and the level of education can be discussed, I believe others would cover those topics.

• Despite that, finding meaning in living outside the so-called Comfort Zone.

  • It’s not about “growing by leaving the comfort zone.”
    • (Though depending on the scale, it might feel achievable, but that’s not the point I want to discuss.)
  • Acknowledging that life may be meaningless, I have started to believe in Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World as a way to spend my time, even though it lacks a solid basis.
    • While there’s no solid foundation, I have a desire to drive my life in a certain way.
    • Perhaps a form of Active Nihilism?
  • For instance, when considering the concept of Happiness per hour, I might think that being in Japan could offer a higher level of happiness.
    • However, it’s important to remember that It is not necessary to always spend life happily or always have fun.
    • Moreover, the evaluation axis of happiness is quite mysterious and subjective, so it’s not necessary to solely pursue it.

• Being in the United States allows for easier participation in events within the country, which I found to be a positive aspect.

  • UIST, MIT Reality Hack 2023, Stanford TreeHacks 2023, etc.
  • While there are financial barriers in Japan, I also feel there are psychological hurdles.

• As mentioned in various places, I still feel like it’s a matter of Is it happiness to affirm the current situation and aim for gradual progress?,

  • Finding joy in current life, actively engaging in mysterious and fun experiences, and gradually accumulating them without pressure seems to lead to a state of Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World.
  • (Although this is not the main goal,) I also think it seems beneficial from the perspective of personal growth.

• In pursuing Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World, I believe that acquiring the ability similar to ”The Power to Live Outside the Comfort Zone” would be useful.

  • The ability to find enjoyment in new environments and create mental stability, among other skills.
  • I feel that I have significantly developed this ability over the past six months.
    • 2022 Fall Study Abroad Diary

20220630 §

• University of Tokyo has been very enjoyable, and I have been thinking about this issue a lot recently (blu3mo).
  • Honestly, the prospect of having a fun four years at the University of Tokyo seems quite promising.
    • The community is very interesting, the liberal arts curriculum at Komaba is enjoyable, and there are various opportunities available at Hongo in the third and fourth years.
    • (While I believe extrapolating the carefree University of Tokyo life during the gap term to a four-year experience is inaccurate, I still anticipate that four years at the University of Tokyo will definitely be enjoyable.)
  • Amidst this, I was quite troubled around the first half of June by the question of why I am choosing the uncertain Columbia over the seemingly enjoyable University of Tokyo..?
  • While attempting to compare University of Tokyo vs. Columbia, I feel that choosing the university with higher expectations of happiness is practically impossible.
    • Of course, there are many exciting things in NYC as well.
    • However, due to the high uncertainty of life at Columbia and the even more random nature of post-university life, making a comparison is challenging.
  • With that in mind, the clear reason for choosing Columbia that remains is the expectation of experiencing things/people/worlds I have never seen before (blu3mo).
    • Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World, valuing the pursuit of uncertainty itself.
    • (It feels like I am suppressing the fear of uncertainty with the expectation and faith in Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World.)
      • (In reality, unless there are significant reasons like scholarships, I believe I am somewhat forcing myself to justify the decision to go to the U.S. and cannot easily turn back.)- After arriving in the United States, I really felt that Columbia University was like the University of Tokyo. I think it’s important to have the courage to turn back if needed.
• In the first half of June, I was starting to lose this feeling a bit, but as I looked at advice from Columbia Seniors and Others and things to look forward to in NYC, I got excited and my feelings were revived.
• I’ve written about why I want to go to an American university in Why Go to a University in the United States before, but in the end, it’s all about this (blu3mo)(blu3mo)(blu3mo).
  • counterclaim: Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World
    • I’m being criticized by my past self… lol (blu3mo)
    • Well, yeah…

https://note.com/yukihiromurata/n/ne844378f8bc9

• It’s a bit late, but I thought it’s important not to forget the mindset of “doing things that can only be done there in a limited time” as I read the above.
  • With regular studying abroad, the local environment becomes the default, so this perspective is easily forgotten.

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#us University Application#us University from 11

• (Although it’s a decision,) I’m going to rethink and write about “Why go to a university in the United States.”

  • It’s almost like a declaration within myself of “going to the US for this reason and doing this.”
  • Understanding Multidisciplinary Thinking/It’s Better to Be Exposed to Various Fields in College
    • Liberal Arts, Core Curriculum
  • Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World, Choosing the Unexperienced
    • I feel like this is significant.
    • In the sense of choosing the “unknown.”
    • In this regard, NYC seems like the perfect choice.

• Well, in the end, the choices I’m making now seem closer to “believing in what is considered good” rather than “accurately evaluating and choosing the right one.”

  • Of course, if comparing the first and thousandth rankings, I would choose the first, but in the case of University of Tokyo vs. Columbia, the difference doesn’t seem significant.
    • (blu3mo) believes in Living in a Way that Clears the Fog of the World and bets on that path in life, with that feeling (blu3mo)(blu3mo)(blu3mo).
  • It’s a decision in a situation where the uncertainty is too high to compare expected values, so it’s closer to the latter, I guess.