School

I’m currently 20 years old and working a part-time job in the U.S. while saving money until around February or March. I graduated high school with a certificate and had a low GPA (around 1.6).
My goal is to move to Japan and study at a language school. I’ve been researching options through Go! Go! Nihon and have also looked at several language schools directly. I’ve seen some people mention that applying directly to schools can sometimes be cheaper than using an agency.

-For those who have gone through the student visa process

-How much money should I realistically save before applying?

-Does my low GPA or high school record affect admission to language schools or a student visa?

-Are there any language schools you would recommend for someone on a budget?

-Is it usually cheaper to apply directly to a school rather than through Go! Go! Nihon?

So far, I’ve researched Go! Go! Nihon and a few language schools, but I’d appreciate hearing from people who have actually studied in Japan.