I’m really struggling to figure out how to pay for university, so I’m considering using a dating service like this. I’m still a high school student and can’t apply yet, but would I be able to apply during the three-month period after graduation and before I become a university student...? Sorry for asking such a blunt question.

I’m Meg, a female member. You’ll need a fairly large amount of money upfront, won’t you? Even if you apply for Type 1 or Type 2 scholarships, the money won’t be deposited right after you enroll. That can be really difficult. Some universities offer their own scholarship programs, and if you had good grades in high school and come from a low-income household, you may also qualify for tuition waivers or similar support. Have you looked into those options thoroughly? It might be worth contacting the university directly. As Saito♪ mentioned, there are also scholarship programs offered by various companies. I assume you’ve already been accepted, so please keep looking and do your best—even now☆ I’m rooting for you♪

I’m Saito♪, a column writer. This isn’t directly answering the question, but I really wanted to say this. There’s also a scholarship program for newspaper delivery workers. If you look it up on Wikipedia, you’ll find some negative descriptions, but more than 20 years ago, my parents were carrying an enormous amount of debt and couldn’t give me any financial support. I used this program and graduated from university. You live in a dorm, but it’s free, located near the university, and you receive a salary. You can even pay your tuition with the bonus. I honestly wonder why more people don’t use it. You can attend an information session or visit an actual workplace first. There were plenty of women, too. Because the job included delivering the evening paper and collecting payments, I couldn’t join a university club. But I joined a local community sports club for working adults and gained valuable real-world experience. From my perspective, students who rely on student loans to get by are more like slaves. I’ve felt that very strongly since entering the workforce. When I was a student, I also worked as a private tutor, started a company—and eventually shut it down. Haha. Sometimes I see working adults on TV who are struggling to repay their student loans saying things like, “The system is broken…” And I find myself thinking, “It would be dangerous to hire someone like that.” Of course, it’s an individual’s choice to consider paying for university through papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan), but: - You may not receive any offers. - The relationship may end partway through. - You may receive so much money that your student life falls into disarray. The risks are greater. Tuition deadlines won’t wait.

Maezawa from the Corporate Planning Office here as well. Unfortunately, you can’t register until April, after you’ve turned 18. So registration during March isn’t possible. We’d be happy to have you come in to register once April arrives. (You may be able to come in for an interview during the final week of March and register starting in April, but you wouldn’t be able to begin participating until April.)

I’m Date◎Yume, a male member. There are quite a few club members in circumstances like yours. I think you should be able to register, so make a strong impression and find someone willing to support you. In particular, be clear about why the male member is sitting in front of you and why you’re spending time with him. Let’s do our best to ensure that everyone can achieve what they want in the way they prefer. I hope you find someone who’s willing to support you soon（笑）