What are the pros/cons of being a foreign exchange student?

Returning to exchange host university as graduate student?

• I am an exchange student in Japan. My major is East Asian Studies and I have intention in returning after I get my Bachelors degree to Japan for graduate studies. What do you think are the merits for returning to the host exchange institution --- not as short-term exchange student; but as a regular graduate (masters and/or phd) student? Do you think there are any? Or do you think there are disadvantages? What do you think are the merits for the university? Of course I ought to think about the quality of the graduate programme the university has. But not thinking that for a second, do you think it's a good idea for any ex-exchange student to go back to their host university this time as a regular international student? And do you know of any universities with scholarships awarded to graduate-level students who were ex-exchange student?

• Answer:

  Certainly there is no reason not to go back to the same university. Probably, you just spent a few months or a year there. I have lived in a couple of countries (currently I teach at Tsukuba Univ, Japan), and my own feeling is that it takes a couple of years to fully get to appreciate a place. Think of your exchange program as a primer - learning your way around - and your Masters as the time to squeeze the information out of the professors. The university (which one?) should be delighted to have international students - it helps internationalize the Japanese students.