【合格体験記】Computer Science - UC Berkley - Makoto Okamoto - DVC

Japanese Association (Academic Officer + VP)

インスタで見つけて、友人を探すために応募。

物理と日本語の授業のチューター

日本語：友人から聞いた。

物理：メールで招待がきて、即応募した。

合格のために勉強面で頑張ったこと、苦労したこと

・頑張ったこと

気合と根性

CS以外の専攻には興味がなかったので、自分の目標の大学に行くためには、CSというライバルの多い土俵の上で気合と根性で頑張るしかなかった。

MathやPhysなどは、日本での定期テスト対策の方法がそのまま有効だったので、実践した。

プロフェッサーに分からなかったら何でも聞きに行った。

平日の空いている時間は全て勉強、休日は課題をやらなくてよいように目指したが、セメスターによっては、休日の空いている時間も全て課題に費やした。

忙しいセメスター：平日はCS以外の課題。休日は、終わらないかもしれないCSに全て費やした。

・苦労したこと

プログラミング系はその時初めてだったから、全然できず、優しい先輩に教えてもらった。

ENGL-126で最後のエッセイで9割を取らないと、Aにならないという状況に追い込まれ、最後の3日、先生の所へ通い続けたら、ぴったり90点もらった。

合格のために勉強以外で頑張ったこと、苦労したこと

・頑張ったこと

興味がある分野は、自分でとことん深めた。

エッセイを書かなくては行けないセメスターでは、友人と毎日朝7時から8時に集合し、その時間はエッセイを進め、お互いに見せ合うという事をしていた。

休日も、暇があったら、スタバで友人とエッセイを進めた。

・苦労したこと

コミカレ生だから、インターンが探すのが難しく、出来なかったこと。

チューターを初めて、週に確定で何時間か取られてしまい、自分の課題を進めるのに苦労した。

チューターの仕事をしている時でも、生徒がいないときは課題を持ち込み、時間をうまく使って課題をした。

Application出してから合格発表までの過ごし方や準備

州外でUWは絶対に出したかったので、それに集中した。

英語の試験が必要だったので、Duolingoの勉強を少々やりました。

メンタル面は、Phys-231の授業がやばかったので、そっちに集中しており、あまり合否のことは頭になかった。

合格発表近づいてきたら、さすがに緊張しました。

Berkeleyより先に合格発表の大学(San Jose State)で合格をもらえたので、行くところがあるという安心感が持てた。

Berkeleyの発表を待っている間、San Jose Stateの入学準備(書類や期日確認)をしたりしていた。

・合格発表から学期開始までの準備や心得

予防接種が多く必要で、時間がかかった。

地元の病院に相談し、予定立ててもらい、全部打った。

気分が向いたときに、やらないといけない書類を提出した。

移住にあたって、ルームメイト探しや、家探しが大変だった。

寮は、編入生はほぼ入れないと聞いていたので、オフキャンパスで探した。

メンタルは、夏休みを全力で楽しんだので、良かった。

提出したエッセイ

テーマ1

Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university. How have classroom experiences shaped your interest in your major? What experiences outside of the classroom have helped develop this interest? What other influences (culture, community, family, etc.) have steered you toward this major? How is your intended major tied to your long-term goals? 

提出したエッセイ

My interview with the <個人情報(人名)>, made me interested in the video game industry. He told me about the importance of challenging himself because video games are not life necessities, and I realized how cool the game industry is and that I want to bring people joy. When I was 15, I went to an IT camp and tried to make a game using the online platform Unity. However, I couldn’t do anything the teacher taught me even though I read the textbooks for many hours. 

I was disappointed that I could not create games, but I still had a passion for them, so I worked at a factory that makes video games during my gap year. The excitement that I was a part of creating games made me want to continue.

I put my passion into action when I started college. However, I had two problems that I needed to overcome: learning the programming language used in Unity (C#) and 3D modeling to create the objects to put in my game field. I had difficulty understanding it at first, but by taking programming classes and enhancing my knowledge through the online programming practice platform leetcode, I built up programming knowledge. 3D modeling requires physics knowledge to make realistic objects, and I trained my skills as a physics tutor. While tutoring, I learned to approach problems from various directions and understand physics concepts deeper. Finally, I made a 3D car game with the object of pursuing a goal while avoiding obstacles. In this game, I created the car using 3D modeling and wrote a program to control it. To make it realistic, I programmed the car to have basic functions such as accelerating and turning right and left. I was glad that I created my first game and that my parents enjoyed playing it. 

In this way, I challenged myself to gain the knowledge I lacked and made people joyful. I’ll continue challenging myself at UC to gain more in depth knowledge and apply it in the future to make games that spread happiness around the world. 

テーマ2

 Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

提出したエッセイ

Choosing a better learning environment changed my life greatly. I faced a  huge educational barrier at public school in 4th grade. Some terrible students gathered together in my class and started breaking windows, throwing chairs at our teachers, and even barricaded our classroom. Since my teacher was physically injured by them and developed mental health issues, she quit her job. Within one year, 5 teachers came to my class, and no one could stop this circumstance. 

To overcome this situation, I decided to go to cram school and study hard so I could pass the entrance exam of an academically-challenging junior high school and avoid the terrible students. However, I was shocked and frustrated by the huge education gap between students who had a normal education and me, so I asked the teacher to give me the study material for 4th grade and doubled my studying hours. From this experience, I realized that if I could focus and try my best, I can break any barriers I may face. 

During my first semester at college, I was taking an online, asynchronous programming class, but because it was my first time programming, I couldn’t understand the material by just reading the textbook. I was disappointed and almost gave up on it. However, I remembered my childhood and felt motivated to work hard, didn’t hesitate to ask for help, and actively worked to fill the gap in my knowledge. I bought a book for self-studying, went to office hours, and explained my circumstances to my professor.  I was the only person who attended office hours, so my professor explained everything I couldn’t understand in the textbook. After that, I went to almost every office hour to create a better learning environment, and I successfully earned an A in the class.

My spirit of doing whatever I need to do and creating a better learning environment for myself made it possible to overcome my educational barrier. Now I’m confident that when I face difficulty in the future, I can overcome it with my perseverance and hard work.   

後輩達へのアドバイス

DVC時代は、基本を怠るな。

課外活動より勉強にプライオリティを置いて、編入後のレベルの高い授業にもついていけるように、基礎の勉強を大切にするべし。