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Are there any chances of me getting into Sophia University FLA?
yeah the numbers are a bit under the usual range tbh but i've seen people get in with less. the thing about sophia is they really care about how you frame your story in that interview and essay. the yotsuya campus is tiny and the FLA building is literally just one floor so they want people who actually want to be in that specific program not just any english degree
if you're near tokyo you could try visiting the campus and talking to the admissions office at the building on 7-1 kioicho. sometimes showing up in person leaves an impression. also the 3 languages thing is genuinely rare for japanese applicants so lean into that hard
have you looked at temple university japan as a backup? it's in setagaya and way less competitive on test scores, still a solid liberal arts option
tbh sophia is pretty competitive for FLA, especially with those numbers. your SAT and TOEFL are both below their typical range, I've seen most accepted students with at least 1200+ and 90+ TOEFL. the 3 languages thing is nice but it's not gonna move the needle much on its own.
if you're set on applying, make sure your essay is really strong and shows why you want FLA specifically. they care about fit. but I'd also look into other english-track programs in Tokyo like ICU or Waseda's SILS just in case. Yotsuya campus is gorgeous tho, I get why you want it.
yeah i know a couple people who got into FLA with similar stats, it's not impossible but you're right at the edge. the 3 languages thing is legit, they like that for FLA since it's all about international stuff. if you haven't applied yet, your essay and interview matter a lot more here than at other schools, so put real work into those. worst case, you could also try the regular english-taught programs at Sophia, they're less competitive and you can still take FLA classes as electives
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.