Counselor Interview

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Christina Hanazawa Christina Hanazawa
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Christina, an experienced academic and journalist from the United States, is a Senior Counselor at AGOS. She has coached hundreds of clients to develop successful applications and shine in interviews for highly competitive schools in the US and Europe. She grew up in Los Angeles, but moved to New York to attend Sarah Lawrence College, in order to study in one of the best writing schools in the country. She obtained a Master's Degree in Print Journalism from the University of Southern California (USC). While at USC she was the head of an English language program for foreign student spouses. She was also appointed as an assistant lecturer for specialized courses in presentation, writing and interview skills to foreign graduate and Ph.D. students majoring in business, engineering and science. As a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, she has also received a Master’s in Public Development and Management with an emphasis in Public Policy from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. During this time, she not only honed her journalistic skills working for Africa’s largest newspaper group, but also founded a charity mentoring at-risk youth sponsored by major local and international corporations.

Hey, Christina, tell us a bit about yourself.

While at Sarah Lawrence, I spent my junior year studying Italian and art history in Florence, Italy. I was additionally selected as a teacher for a prestigious summer-intensive program in Hong Kong. It was then that I fell in love with Asia and decided to move to Japan after graduation. I spent two years in a rural part of Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher. Even though I was very happy in Japan, I knew I wanted to become a journalist, so I returned to the west coast and studied journalism at USC. While there I also was an assistant lecturer and taught international graduate students presentation, negotiation and writing skills. A couple of years later, I moved to South Africa and became a journalist for Africa's largest newspaper group. While working for the company, I traveled around southern Africa and to the Middle East and wrote hundreds of articles about topics such as AIDS, politics and development.

Why did you decide to come to Japan and what has your experience been like so far?

Honestly, Japan has always been a very special place for me. I am constantly inspired by the scenery, people and energy here. As a writer, Japan is an ideal place to find new ideas because the society is a perfect mixture of old and new. I also decided to return to Japan to improve my Japanese. I am excited to wake up each day because living in this country is rarely predictable!

And you are a counselor at AGOS. What do you like best about your work?

It is inspiring to meet people from various backgrounds who all have a common dream-to succeed. It takes a different kind of person to want to live in a foreign country and to learn in a non-native language. I believe that this type of person is a risk taker and undaunted by challenges. It is for this reason that I believe at AGOS I not only have the opportunity to teach students, but to learn from students as well.

How would you describe your counseling style?

I do not like to waste anyone's time, so I am very direct and will always give honest feedback. My job is to help you produce a strong application that represents who you are. If I feel that you have not adequately answered the questions or your ideas are not fluid and coherent, I will offer guidance that will enable you to produce the best possible application.

What advice do you have for students who decide to work with you?

Students should know that applying to graduate school is not an easy task. There is a lot of hard work that goes into preparing a great application. If students are willing to put in the effort, I can help them to produce materials that best represent their achievements and talents. Students must be dedicated to allocating a significant amount of time for preparing their applications and to treat the process seriously. The amount of effort will be reflected in your application. At the end of the day, never settle for a mediocre application when you have the opportunity to submit an outstanding one.

Any final comments?

I know how stressful the application process can be since I have also been through it many times myself. It is important throughout the process that you be honest with yourself and listen to the objective advice offered to you. Doing so will go a long way towards ensuring that the long hours you put into the application process will pay enormous dividends. I look forward to working with you, and adding some valuable insights along the way!

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