Leveraging your strengths in your favorite subjects, you can use the Common Test scores to get into your dream school.
# Entrance exam preparation experiences
Haruya Ogawa
Department of Data Science Faculty of Business Administration
Admission method: University Entrance Common Test-based admission (first term)
Admission method: University Entrance Common Test-based admission (first term)
2025.11.18
This time, we interviewed Haruya Ogawa, a first-year student in Department of Data Science Faculty of Business Administration. Mr. Ogawa, who successfully passed the entrance exam using the Common Test, made the most of his strengths in subjects such as mathematics and English to gain admission to his desired university. We asked him why he chose this department, how he prepared, his strategies during the exam period, his feelings on the day of the exam, and his future prospects.
Please enter your text.
We'd like to hear about your experience taking entrance exams that utilize the Common Test.
Q1. Please tell us the type and content of the entrance examination you took.
I took the entrance exam in the first phase of the Common Test-based admissions process.
Q2. Why did you choose that entrance examination method?
Since I was consistently good at mathematics and information technology, I chose the Common Test-based entrance exam to leverage those strengths. The efficiency of being able to apply to multiple universities simultaneously was also appealing.
Q3. What were your reasons for choosing your current faculty?
My primary reason for studying this was my interest in data science. By also studying business administration, I hoped to develop data-driven business decision-making skills and become someone who can contribute to companies and society in the future.
In fact, as part of a data science class I'm currently taking, I have the opportunity to be involved with the official TikTok account for the university's public relations activities, "Asia University Faculty of Business Administration." It's interesting that students are responsible for creating the university's introduction, including planning, filming, editing, and inserting AI narration. I think it's a very practical and stimulating learning experience.
(Official) Asia University Faculty of Business Administration: https://www.tiktok.com/@asiauniv?lang=ja-JP
Please tell me about your university life.
Q4. What aspects of attending Asia University do you find particularly appealing?
I find it incredibly valuable and appealing to be able to study data science while enrolled in Faculty of Business Administration. The ability to gain such a broad range of knowledge within a single curriculum is a unique strength of this university.
Furthermore, the fact that many International Student participate in the same classes means I can study in a diverse, international environment, which is very stimulating. I'm really looking forward to having opportunities to interact with these International Student in the future.
Furthermore, the English classes taught by native speakers have a bright atmosphere, making learning genuinely enjoyable. It's a great stimulus for my language skills and motivates me to continue learning every day.
Q5. What do you want to work on during your university life going forward?
I haven't decided on a specific country yet, but I'm interested in studying abroad because I want to thoroughly learn English. I hope to improve my language skills and deepen my understanding of different cultures by immersing myself in a different environment.
Through such experiences, I hope to not only broaden my horizons but also increase my options for future career options.
Q6. Please tell us about your dreams and goals for the future.
Looking ahead, I want to dedicate myself to studying for qualifications. While it's still undecided, I'm considering career options such as becoming a certified public accountant or tax accountant, leveraging what I've learned in my current faculty.
By acquiring knowledge of accounting and finance, along with data science and business administration, I hope to build a foundation that will allow me to excel in a wider range of fields.
Please tell me about strategies and preparations for the entrance exam.
I took the entrance exam in the first phase of the Common Test-based admissions process.
Q2. Why did you choose that entrance examination method?
Since I was consistently good at mathematics and information technology, I chose the Common Test-based entrance exam to leverage those strengths. The efficiency of being able to apply to multiple universities simultaneously was also appealing.
Q3. What were your reasons for choosing your current faculty?
My primary reason for studying this was my interest in data science. By also studying business administration, I hoped to develop data-driven business decision-making skills and become someone who can contribute to companies and society in the future.
In fact, as part of a data science class I'm currently taking, I have the opportunity to be involved with the official TikTok account for the university's public relations activities, "Asia University Faculty of Business Administration." It's interesting that students are responsible for creating the university's introduction, including planning, filming, editing, and inserting AI narration. I think it's a very practical and stimulating learning experience.
(Official) Asia University Faculty of Business Administration: https://www.tiktok.com/@asiauniv?lang=ja-JP
Please tell me about your university life.
Q4. What aspects of attending Asia University do you find particularly appealing?
I find it incredibly valuable and appealing to be able to study data science while enrolled in Faculty of Business Administration. The ability to gain such a broad range of knowledge within a single curriculum is a unique strength of this university.
Furthermore, the fact that many International Student participate in the same classes means I can study in a diverse, international environment, which is very stimulating. I'm really looking forward to having opportunities to interact with these International Student in the future.
Furthermore, the English classes taught by native speakers have a bright atmosphere, making learning genuinely enjoyable. It's a great stimulus for my language skills and motivates me to continue learning every day.
Q5. What do you want to work on during your university life going forward?
I haven't decided on a specific country yet, but I'm interested in studying abroad because I want to thoroughly learn English. I hope to improve my language skills and deepen my understanding of different cultures by immersing myself in a different environment.
Through such experiences, I hope to not only broaden my horizons but also increase my options for future career options.
Q6. Please tell us about your dreams and goals for the future.
Looking ahead, I want to dedicate myself to studying for qualifications. While it's still undecided, I'm considering career options such as becoming a certified public accountant or tax accountant, leveraging what I've learned in my current faculty.
By acquiring knowledge of accounting and finance, along with data science and business administration, I hope to build a foundation that will allow me to excel in a wider range of fields.
Please tell me about strategies and preparations for the entrance exam.
Q7. What kind of preparations did you make for the exam?
Because I prioritized club activities, I didn't seriously start studying for the entrance exams until August of my third year of high school. Until then, I hadn't studied much, but after the summer break, the school provided an environment where I could repeatedly solve past exam questions and practice tests. However, there wasn't enough time to review and reflect on the material on the spot, so I made time on my own and practiced repeatedly until I could solve the problems I got wrong.
I focused particularly on mathematics, my strongest subject, and improved my accuracy by prioritizing precision and speed. As a result, I believe I was able to approach the actual Common Test with confidence.
Q8. Have you ever experienced a slump? What was your method for overcoming it, and what triggered it?
When I first started thinking about taking entrance exams, I aimed for a university with a high academic ranking, even though I hadn't studied much up until then. As a result, people around me were worried and asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay?" However, those words were the trigger that flipped a switch inside me, and I started to concentrate on studying seriously. In the end, I wasn't able to get into the school I originally aimed for, but I am very satisfied with the time and experience I gained from the effort I put in during that process.
Looking back now, I wish I had started studying for the entrance exams earlier and gotten myself motivated. To all of you who will be taking entrance exams in the future, I hope you will set your target schools and subjects as early as possible, and get yourself motivated to work hard.
Q9. What was your method for cramming right before the entrance exam?
I didn't start anything particularly new. In the final period leading up to the exam, I actually avoided venturing into new areas and instead focused on specific problems that I felt I struggled with. I repeatedly solved those problems, practicing until I could solve them.
By doing so, I believe I was able to gradually overcome my weaknesses and approach the actual performance with confidence.
Q10. What did you gain from your experience of taking entrance exams?
The biggest improvement was developing the ability to set goals. Instead of studying aimlessly, I started setting clear target scores for each practice test and thinking about what I needed to do to achieve them.
As a result, I became more conscious of time management and planning, and I think I developed the habit of consistently working on things little by little. I feel that this habit, which I cultivated through studying for entrance exams, will definitely be useful in my university life and in the future.
Because I prioritized club activities, I didn't seriously start studying for the entrance exams until August of my third year of high school. Until then, I hadn't studied much, but after the summer break, the school provided an environment where I could repeatedly solve past exam questions and practice tests. However, there wasn't enough time to review and reflect on the material on the spot, so I made time on my own and practiced repeatedly until I could solve the problems I got wrong.
I focused particularly on mathematics, my strongest subject, and improved my accuracy by prioritizing precision and speed. As a result, I believe I was able to approach the actual Common Test with confidence.
Q8. Have you ever experienced a slump? What was your method for overcoming it, and what triggered it?
When I first started thinking about taking entrance exams, I aimed for a university with a high academic ranking, even though I hadn't studied much up until then. As a result, people around me were worried and asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay?" However, those words were the trigger that flipped a switch inside me, and I started to concentrate on studying seriously. In the end, I wasn't able to get into the school I originally aimed for, but I am very satisfied with the time and experience I gained from the effort I put in during that process.
Looking back now, I wish I had started studying for the entrance exams earlier and gotten myself motivated. To all of you who will be taking entrance exams in the future, I hope you will set your target schools and subjects as early as possible, and get yourself motivated to work hard.
Q9. What was your method for cramming right before the entrance exam?
I didn't start anything particularly new. In the final period leading up to the exam, I actually avoided venturing into new areas and instead focused on specific problems that I felt I struggled with. I repeatedly solved those problems, practicing until I could solve them.
By doing so, I believe I was able to gradually overcome my weaknesses and approach the actual performance with confidence.
Q10. What did you gain from your experience of taking entrance exams?
The biggest improvement was developing the ability to set goals. Instead of studying aimlessly, I started setting clear target scores for each practice test and thinking about what I needed to do to achieve them.
As a result, I became more conscious of time management and planning, and I think I developed the habit of consistently working on things little by little. I feel that this habit, which I cultivated through studying for entrance exams, will definitely be useful in my university life and in the future.
Please enter your text.
Please give some advice to students taking entrance exams.
Q11. Please give a message to high school students who will be taking the same entrance exam.
I want you to give it your all as you work towards your goal. The time you spend taking exams is only a small part of your life. Because it's such a limited time, I think it's important to just focus on it and work hard.
The experience of putting in effort will undoubtedly become your strength. Give it your all so that you can have the confidence of having seen it through to the end.
I want you to give it your all as you work towards your goal. The time you spend taking exams is only a small part of your life. Because it's such a limited time, I think it's important to just focus on it and work hard.
The experience of putting in effort will undoubtedly become your strength. Give it your all so that you can have the confidence of having seen it through to the end.