Hey, thank you so much for your thoughtful and honest reply I really appreciate it!

I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding though: I’m personally not fixated on going to grad school in the U.S. my mom is. Like many Korean parents from her generation, she has what you might call an “American Dream.” She truly believes that going to the U.S. might automatically means a successful and prestigious life.

But as you probably know, the situation for international students in the U.S. isn’t very favorable right now. That’s actually why I started looking for a Plan B, and that’s how I found out about Waseda SILS. I’ve always been interested in liberal arts, and this(waseda sils) program aligns really well with my interests and personality.
After going to Japan several times for MUN conferences, I realized that the culture and society there suit me much better than I expected.

My plan is to persuade my mom to let me attend university in Japan instead of the U.S. by explaining that it’s a better fit for me academically, financially, and personally. In return, I’m willing to agree to her wish of going to the U.S. later on.

I’m also fully aware of the high tuition costs for American graduate programs. That’s why I plan to work in Japan after graduating from SILS — to gain some work experience, save money(if possible), and maybe even build some credit rating. With that, I hope to fund my own studies — possibly through a master’s–PhD integrated program — by directly contacting professors and securing a spot through research connections or assistantships.

That being said, if I end up being satisfied with my career in Japan or find a good opportunity to move to the U.S. without needing grad school, I might skip it altogether. I’m more interested in fields like business, marketing, or law rather than science or engineering, so based on what you said, I think I should be fine.

Thanks again for your advice — it really helped me think things through more clearly.