As a scholar-athlete, Isaki Sakashita of Japan wanted to attend a top university in America that offered academic excellence, a competitive women’s golf team, and warm weather.
Stetson University, named one of the Best Colleges in America, was a perfect match in sunny Florida. Sakashita now competes on the Stetson Women’s Golf Team while pursuing a degree in Communication and Media Studies.
For her, college life in America offers many advantages.
Back home in Japan, college students usually attend classes in large lecture halls and then head home. They do not live on campus and rarely do they form friendships with their classmates.
In the U.S., the college experience is different. Students live, learn, socialize, and grow together on campus and beyond. Sakashita lives in one of Stetson’s 28 residence halls. The classes are small, allowing her to get to know her classmates.
“I enjoy connecting with so many different people here,” says Sakashita, a second-year college student who grew up in Nara, Japan. “You make more connections [at colleges in America] and I think that’s important when you get a job after graduation.”
Stetson University has been named one of the most beautiful college campuses in the South. A statue of university benefactor, famed hatmaker John B. Stetson, greets people as they enter Palm Court. Source: Stetson University
A top college that exceeds expectations
Ranked among the top 15% of colleges nationwide, Stetson University offers 115 areas of study. Students find many pathways to successful careers, ranging from business, accounting and finance to psychology, health sciences, music, computer science, digital arts, environmental science and more. And, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, students receive personalized attention and mentoring from first-rate faculty.
“Stetson is a small school. I enjoy all my classes, interacting with all my professors and classmates, expressing my opinion and expressing myself,” Sakashita says.
Through internships, research and study abroad programs, students apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. It’s a more engaging way of learning and prepares students for professional careers after graduation.
By combining academic excellence and immersive, hands-on experiences, the university has achieved a 93% career success rate — that’s how many graduates land jobs or pursue advanced degrees.
“These experiences provide a tried-and-true path to successful professional careers after graduation or admission to many top graduate schools,” says Sherard Howell, Senior Associate Director of International Recruitment at Stetson University.
“In the Roland George Investments Program, for example, students manage an actual US$6.8 million portfolio of stocks and bonds, and many of them receive job offers after graduation with America’s top investment firms.”
Live your best life at Stetson
Stetson welcomes international students from 60 countries around the world. The university has been recognized as a College of Distinction for providing exceptional support to international students, including scholarships, services and other support.
The campus community is diverse and close-knit, making it easy for students to feel a sense of belonging. They will find 130 student organizations on campus, including the Asian Pacific American Coalition, African Student Union, and Middle Eastern and North African Association, just to name a few.
Stetson also offers robust NCAA Division I Athletics, the most competitive level of intercollegiate athletics in America. Student athletes compete as the Stetson Hatters on 18 teams, including football; men’s and women’s basketball, golf and tennis; beach volleyball; baseball; softball; and rowing at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center on beautiful Lake Beresford.
Sakashita goes to practice early every morning at Stetson’s new $3 million golf complex before heading to classes. The excellent training facility and the coach have helped her earn many accolades on the Stetson Women’s Golf team, including being named the 2025 Freshman of the Year for their conference.
She also was selected for a prestigious All-American Scholar Team for her outstanding performance in the classroom and on the course.
After graduation, she hopes to compete around the world as a professional golfer. Her degree in Communication and Media Studies will be an asset, helping her engage with fans, market herself through the media, and attract sponsorships.
“Being part of an NCAA Division I athletic team has helped me develop skills that are beneficial as an athlete and as a person. I feel more mature. I handle problems better. I have better time-management skills,” she says.
Most of all, being on the golf team is like “having a new family,” Sakashita says. “My teammates and coach always help me if I need it. They always check up on me, and we take care of each other.”
Follow and learn more about Stetson University on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
