Keisuke Nito's Distance Education Story

International student Keisuke Nito originally pursued a traditional education at South Seattle Community College, but was discouraged to learn that the cost of living on campus was more than he had anticipated. He returned to Japan after two years, but remained determined to complete his studies and earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

When he first considered earning a degree through distance education, Nito was concerned that the courses might not be as academically challenging as those offered on campus. He was also concerned that potential employers might avoid applicants with degrees from unfamiliar distance learning programs. Being able to work while studying was of prime importance however, so he decided to research alternative education programs.

Nito began his investigation with a search on the Internet. He found many listings for distance education providers, but most of them offered online courses only. He was drawn to UW-Platteville because he could enroll in both online and print-based courses.

“Because of the time difference between America and Japan, I personally wanted to avoid online education,” Nito explained. “The reputation of UWP encouraged me; however, the initial reason I chose UWP was that it provided a print-based education.“

Ease of communication was also an important factor in his decision. Nito observed the speed of email responses that he received from various programs and was disappointed with the majority of programs.

“Frankly, I encountered a number of unfavorable schools with incredibly slow responses to email communication. I believe that the core point of distance education is the speed of communication between students and staff/teachers. This is key to the student’s success,” said Nito.

Nito’s biggest obstacle to earning his degree has been his difficult work schedule. Often his only available study time is from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. To keep on task, he focuses on his educational goal.

“Without a bachelor’s degree from UWP, my life does not start,” he admitted. “Without the degree, I do not want to think about my career plans. Without it, I do not try to get married and have any children. I would honestly say that I want to be rich. I want to be a success. I always walk ahead as though I was walking up to the sky.”

Nito confesses that he misses the direct interaction with instructors that he had on campus, but adds that working at his own pace has fit in well with his lifestyle. He also appreciates the self-control that he says he’s gaining from studying on his own. He is becoming more confident and believes that this independent spirit will lead to success throughout his life.

Asked what advice he might have for other international students, Nito recommends earning a two-year degree on campus, participating in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, and then completing the core courses at a distance. He strongly recommends that international students develop good time-management skills, as extra delivery time for textbooks and exams must be taken into consideration when working through the program from overseas.

“Communicating with invisible [staff] persons might be more difficult for non-English speakers,” warned Nito.

Nito offers the following observation for those considering committing to years of coursework before ultimately earning their degree: “Because work occupies so much of your life, you must consider it very carefully. If I live for 90 years, I sacrifice only a few years for education, but that period of time may decide my life. It’s important to know your goals, dreams, and desires. If you desire nothing, then, you can do anything you want, anytime, anywhere. However, if you have a dream, you must sacrifice at some time. Now or then? That’s your choice.“

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