Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

[gakudan]

menrui:
oh i see.... nah i'm a community college student. i need to read the research student guidelines over and over again until i fully understand what's required. here's details about my college career:
-in the summer i'll be able to graduate with a general AA degree.
-during the fall i'll be going to a university.
-currently i'm in my third year of school (so i'll have a total of 15 years of school by the end of spring 2009).
i noticed another criteria in the "qualifications" section of the research students guidelines (i still can't post links due to my low post count, sorry)
(3) Academic Background: Applicant must be a graduate from a Japanese university or have academic ability equal or superior to that of a Japanese university graduate. A person will be deemed to have academic ability equal or superior to that of a university graduate, if he/she
① has completed or will complete a 16-year school curriculum in a foreign country (or an 18-year school curriculum if he/she desires to enroll in a doctoral course in the field of medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, or pharmacy which is founded on a 6-year department or faculty)
maybe in 2010 if i stick to going to a university for a year, i can qualify for this research program. i'm trying to draw out what paths i can take, and what qualifications/requirements i need for each one. if i can't follow through with the research program, i'll probably just get a B.A. in english as a second language then get a teaching job in japan. that's another path.

btw, this must mean that everyone applying for the research program got their B.A. degrees all ready?

[menrui]

I myself have a BS degree. btw, when you said that joke about being old at 22, it was a bad joke, because theres a good chance we're all 22 or older here :( .

moving on, you should definitely check with your consulate about those academic qualifications. like, find out what exactly do they mean by "16 years of school curriculum". then, whether or not it is required to have a bachelors degree, or if they prefer it.

[ooilingfan]

> menrui, gakudan
I think what they're looking for is a Bachelor's Degree. As the "research student" category is actually leading to a postgraduate (master's or PhD). The entrance exam, in most cases/universities, is a formality, because we come from different countries with diff education backgrounds, some of us (including me) don't even have japanese language proficiency at the point of being granted the scholarship, hence we need to pass the entrance exam to prove that we qualify to enter their grad school.
>Abeeyo
please follow menrui's link to read about the difference between research student and special training. We try to minimize repetition of questions here.

[kouki]

>gakudan

Not everyone here got their BA or BSc here. Some of us here are still on the way to get our bachelor degree.

My suggestion: try the October intake, since you will be graduating in fall 2010. I was wondering will you make it on time? (Since I am not sure the exact month you are graduating)

[ooilingfan]

>Gakudan
bottomline, you have to complete your Bachelor's Degree before you leave for Japan.
Some finish their degree in Fall so they join the october intake, so you have to adjust your timing well. If you're going for the April 2011 intake, don't apply too early as they are not able to defer your scholarship for 1 year. The application this March is for 2010.

[Charles Barkley]

its might be less competitve... but keep in mind, its still no walk in the park. i think 2 are selected from each consulate and there are 20 or more applicants(depends on your location, hawaii would seem like a hotspot). you should definitely still give it a go.


The realization that you are probably right about this makes me realize how "right place, right time," my application under the special one time only JET scholarship period was. Phew.

[Charles Barkley]

Good advice. Believe me, I preach this gospel. I have had nothing but terrible luck with this sort of thing dating far back (this scholarship is only a small part).
My anger/depression is more or less because I feel like a bit of a fool for spending two years waiting on this, when I could have made alternate arrangements. Two years in which I didn't put down roots because of my plans to leave. Two years doing stuff I didn't enjoy when I had the option to go. Though my two years in wait haven't been horrible, and had good things come of them, they are two years where I suppressed what I wanted, for no reward at the end.

Although the circumstances under which I "wasted time" are quite different, I understand the sentiment. I will add that good can come from such an experience as the resolve thereafter to 大事にする your 時間 over other factors. Where I am now is in the upswing (3.5 years in) after a time wasting aftermath, and, in my experience at least, it is easy to maintain a certain momentum when one can favorably compare one's present to one's past trends.

Anyway, good luck.

[kshoo]

Hi guys, me again. Just to give a quick update, I recently spoke to the admissions officer at the university i've applied to, they said that MEXT has recently been in contact with them. However the feedback is they are still finalizing the list, and most probably will only provide the official announcement around Feb '09.

Anyone else has any new developments from your side?

[kouki]

>kshoo
I have contacted the secretary of my professor. No replies yet, it seems that they might be on their winter holiday, or just got back from their winter holidays and there are loads of things awaiting them. So I guess no reply is getting here soon.
So our first week went without any replies from our universities or embassy. I am getting harder to fall asleep at night now.
By the way, did you state that you are the MEXT scholarship applicant? Because February sounds like the release of the results of the students going into the university's new academic session.

[c0ok1e]

Im actually hoping the results will come before february after chinese new year because i need to finish up my work before resigning... im doing research hence do not 1 2 b irresponsible leaving it halfway and run away.. also i need to clarify with my supervisor whether i will be going for the 6 months labguage course which im really hoping to go.. but i have a feeling my supervisor wants me to go there as soon as possible and be a research student before joining his lab... he actually told me what he planned for me while obtaining the letter of acceptance... hope can negotiate with him..hehe:p

[menrui]

nothing officially new for me either. i havent even received a tentative letter :( . but wow, february is only a month away. it feels like i've been waiting forever.

cookie,
yeah my professor gave me a feeling that he wants me to skip the language courses too. he said something like, 'you dont need japanese to do research. when i was doing research in germany, i didnt learn any german and i did fine.' o.O

[ooilingfan]

hmm....but germany is in europe. You can survive with english.
Japan....it's a homogenous society. The language is crucial for survival.

Anyway, february is really late....i may not be able to resign and handover in time. Damn.

[kouki]

>ooilingfan

Let's hope for the best. There are still 2 weeks before Chinese New Year.

By the way, my professor insisted me to go for the Japanese Language Training.

[kimberleylhj]

my professor insisted on japanese language training. in fact, he wrote in the admission letter itself that in order to do the research, i must be well verse in japanese. and that really makes me scared! haha.. coz what if i can't catch up with the language and not the research.

[kouki]

>kimberleylhj
That means that we are on the same boat. But according to a site, students can pick up the Japanese language in 6 months, in a completely native Japanese environment. So I think you should not be too worried about that.

[gakudan]

>kimberleylhj
That means that we are on the same boat. But according to a site, students can pick up the Japanese language in 6 months, in a completely native Japanese environment. So I think you should not be too worried about that.

i wouldn't doubt that is true, for reading kanji at least. it really depends on how determined you are to study japanese though. like always apply in conversations what you learned from studies, rather than only sticking to what you all ready know and are familiar with. talking to japanese people also helps a lot with accuracy and speed since you can see in the people's faces if they understand what you say or not.

nobody else got notifications? is everyone in here doing the research program? good luck :)

[kimberleylhj]

yeah, the biggest challenge for me will certainly me kanji. and i totally agree that i have to apply what i learn rather than sticking to what i already know coz that's exactly what's happening to me now. but well, i would say i'm pretty determine to learn. so, i hope i'll do fine.

i got a feeling notification will only be out in feb, i have no idea why. =(

[ooilingfan]

doesn't matter when it comes, as long as it comes with GOOD news. =p

[menrui]

"picking up" the japanese is 6 months? sounds really tough. i wonder how "intense" the 6month course is... lately i've been getting really overwhelmed with kanji. its like, pouring water into a cup and causing it to overflow :( .

im going to give my consulate another call tomorrow. hopefully my MEXT coordinator will be there and maybe he can give me some news.

[ooilingfan]

It's gonna be very very intense.
Suppose after the course we're expected to be equivalent to JLPT 2.
I think we'll be in the course for 1 year (according to what my supervisor told me). For month 7th-12th, no. of hours for japanese language will reduce while research in the lab starts.

[kouki]

Don't worry too much about kanji. You have the electronic dictionary. It is impossible for us, even for Chinese, to know all kanji. So when we come across those word, that's when the electronic dictionary comes in handy.

In my opinion, quite a number of those words in JLPT 1 would not be used in our daily life. At least, when I am trying to watch Japanese dramas and magazine, most of the words have been covered in JLPT 2 or 3.

>ooilingfan

I thought the Japanese Language course would only last 6 months? I remember reading it somewhere in a few universities' FAQ for Monbukagakusho Scholars.

[luckyme]

Hi guys,
I think some universities provide program in English, especially engineering or IT related programs normally conducted in English so don't worry about it. Even economics, some universities offer program in English (like MBA). I don't know how MEXT define us to learn in English or Japanese and can we change the option after coming to Japan?
To be honest, I think that 6 months is a short-time and it's very difficult to master Japanese. However, with your hard-work, you can manage to reach 2 kyuu level but the important is how well you are cause the people with 340 is very different with the one with 240, which is enough is pass.
I guess many people here study natural sience, so I think you guys don't have to worry since I think you will work in the lab most of the time and don't have to write reports as much as people learning social sience.
I think we shouldn't worry about the language right now since the result is not official yet and we not secure whether we will receive a scholarship. I know that everything is not defined yet but somehow I can't control my feeling, I keep thinking about going to Japan all the time and can't concentrate in working, learning. I'm really bad.

[Nall-ohki]

"picking up" the japanese is 6 months?

I don't know - I think I learned 85-90% of my Japanese in the first 6 months I lived there and did nothing but speak Japanese (having one year studying at school previous to it). I was able to pass JLPT 2-kyuu about a year later without major study.

I think 6 months is enough to make you competent and with the tools to learn anything you need to deal with whatever challenges they give you if you work hard at it.

[kshoo]

Hi Kouki,

Yes, i did confirm with them that I am a "tentatively selected" MEXT scholar. I think what MEXT Tokyo plans to do is to coincide the release of their list with the university's official announcement. I understand that most of the unis i applied to confirms incoming students in February, and I wouldn't be surprised both will come out back to back, in Feb '09.

So now, it's back to waiting...

[menrui]

jlpt2kyuu in 6 month(or more)!? i've been taking jpn class at my university for 3 years, and i think im around jlpt2.7... im so ashamed.

[kimberleylhj]

i'm worse than u menrui.. i should feel more ashamed.. haha

[kawabanga]

i think im around jlpt2.7

And I'm JLPT 0.0.

[ooilingfan]

Hahaha. Same here!
0.3 for me, just had class for 3 months, 1 once a week =(

[kouki]

The time of learning a language is not proportional to the level of the language you are possessing. If you are in an environment forcing you to use and learn the language, certainly it takes you lesser time to adjust yourself to the language. Therefore, it is said that if you stay long enough in Japan, you should be able to communicate in Japanese fluent. However, there are exceptions as well. Hope it does not apply to us here.

By the way, JLPT level goes from 4 (beginner) to 1 (advance). I am just level 3.

[kawabanga]

By the way, JLPT level goes from 4 (beginner) to 1 (advance). I am just level 3.

Oh. Then it's 5.0 for me.

[Chandani]

Its been a long time since i post here...i wonder if there are other members here that are currently in Japan...
anyways...feel free to contact me if there is anything you need to know B4 coming here...
the place is beautiful, the people are nice...studies are tough but good...
i still get time to go sightseeing when i have a break from studies...

[c0ok1e]

which part of japan r u in?

[Chandani]

Oita-ken, Beppu...are you in Japan as well?

[c0ok1e]

Where is that?ever heard of... is it near hokkaido? im not in japan but just thinking if i might get to meet u if i ever come over to japan

[parady]

Hello everyone, joining the collective hysteria that spreads all over this post regarding the MEXT confirmation. I am an architect from the Dominican Republic, after being selected by the embassy i'm in the same train as most of you, i got a call from the embassy where they explained that MEXT is currently in negotiation with the universities to officialy confirm the scholarship, so waiting is all we got left, i already quit my job so the only thing that keeps my mind off this and off checking the email every five minutes is doing some travelling to places with no internet access!

They also explained that the results will be out by february. The only thing that keeps me calmed is that they told me that so far no person reccomended from the embassy in Santo Domingo has ever been rejected. For our country there are only to places each year, and the embassy only sends two reccomendations to MEXT, so i think most of the selection takes places here; Then again they did insisted that so far nothing is secured so... still anxious!

One more thing, I want to undergo research in sustainable urban planning, anyone else with similar research subjects?

[Chandani]

hi c0ok1e,
Oita is south of Japan... Hokkaido is north...
although ...right now we are having a snow storm you might want to think its Hokkaido...heheh..
best wishes... yea if you do get to japan we can get in contact...
have u ever been to japan?

[gakudan]

since you guys were previously talking about JLPT testing....
(this is for mac)
i have a japanese-english dictionary program for my computer that also has practice JLPT testing. if you guys are interested its called JEDict and you can find it in google because i can't post external links still >_>

btw, welcome to the forums parady :D sounds fun that you get to travel but yeah just gotta keep that internet access, you never know when you'll get a letter or something. good luck and again good luck to everyone.

[menrui]

guys! i just called my MEXT coordinator and he said that they 'have approved of my application and that i am sure to go. now it just depends on where.' I guess that just means that i too have been "tentatively" selected. :p

im so excited~ im going to step up my studying now.

btw gakudan, i remembered you posted that a while back. i think im the only person that is using jlpt as a study guide. it looks good, but i have enough study materials to go over. thanks for the advice though.

[DaiUso]

to parady:

:))
I am glad to find a fellow architect here. (though this title might be a bit too big on me - i've just graduated this summer)

I am going also for architecture, but my subject is sustainable residential planning. Hope you will make it, as promised by your embassy. :)

Where have you applied to?

[parady]

DaiUso, nice to meet you!, our subjects are quite similar, although my research will be oriented to Transit Oriented Development, it's still city making, one way or another.
I got Letters of Acceptance from Tokyo University, Kyoto University and Tsukuba University, my preferences are on that order also, now it's just a matter of where the ultimately decide to place me. What about you?

Menrui: That was what the embassy told me as well, i guess its waiting for february then!

[menrui]

parady,
yeah many people here have been told the same. nothing official yet, but some people have hints as to where they will be going. february will be here soon, lets keep wating. oh, and good job getting a LoA from tokyo and kyoto. those univ are very popular. welcome to the forums~

[kouki]

>Chandani

Do you mind sharing with us what would be done during the Japanese language training period? How long does it last? By going through the phase, would we be able to write papers or reports using Japanese?

[Chandani]

hi kouki,
sorry i cant help you there...i am attending an international university here... all courses are done in english. but learning japanese is important ...especially if you have to be here in japan for years...
so i will start my japanese soon and continue during my break here...
but some of my chinese friends told me that they had to do japanese language for 6 months in tokyo and it was not easy!! sorry i cant help you more...if there is anything else ...feel free to ask

[kouki]

>Chandani

Thanks for you information though. Can't think of anything to ask just yet. Thank you again! :)

[kimberleylhj]

chandani should be in ritsumeikan apu. =)

february is just a month away!!! already waited for such a long time.. what's one month more. haha..

[DaiUso]

parady,

I got LOA from Tokyo University and Kyushu University.

Hope February will bring pleasant news for all of us here :)

[ooilingfan]

parady,
yeah many people here have been told the same. nothing official yet, but some people have hints as to where they will be going. february will be here soon, lets keep wating. oh, and good job getting a LoA from tokyo and kyoto. those univ are very popular. welcome to the forums~


Hmm....February ya? Perhaps this year is a bit late. Last year some got the confirmation end of Dec. Or was it the tentative letter?

[menrui]

i really think those were the tentative letters.

[parady]

Early morning today i got an email from my research advisor in Tokyo University asking me about lodging plans, if i wanted to apply for Todai lodge, he said that as far as he understands i will be going to Tokyo on April!!, no confirmation from the embassy yet but this is good!!

DaiUso, congrats on Todai! maybe we will meet over there, who is your research advisor?

[Nall-ohki]

Early morning today i got an email from my research advisor in Tokyo University asking me about lodging plans, if i wanted to apply for Todai lodge, he said that as far as he understands i will be going to Tokyo on April!!, no confirmation from the embassy yet but this is good!!
DaiUso, congrats on Todai! maybe we will meet over there, who is your research advisor?

Don't rejoice yet on that one - the professor is most likely in the dark as much as you are.

I received the same letter from Tokyo University when I was selected as alternate.

[kouki]

>parady

I think you should call your embassy to find out about that. I remember reading in this forum that someone said he received the e-mail and called the embassy. The embassy said that he can reply to the e-mail about the lodging.

[luckyme]

I still didn't contact with my advisor since the last time when I received LoA. I contacted to my Consulate and they said that I passed, however, it is not official yet (the same as many of us here). So I even don't know that whether I can go and where to go. Do you think that I should contact with my University to ask whether they are contacted by MEXT? I think the advisor don't know about this because MEXT will work with people in Admission Department first, not the proffessor.

[menrui]

someone here said that the professor is contacted and questioned(by whom? i dont know). so if you would like a hint of where you could be going, maybe you could asked your professor if he/she was contacted.

[kimberleylhj]

basically MEXT will contact both the university admission office and the professor. normally, by this time.. MEXT will already finish their discussion with most universities, and with both agreeing on accepting the student. however, the FINAL decision is not from the university or the professor, but by MEXT. so, there are chances that the university had agreed with MEXT, thus telling the student that you are sure to come, and started discussing on accommodation and what to do after arrival, only to know later that MEXT comes up with an official letter that you are not going after all. so, WAIT for the MEXT confirmation then we shall celebrate!

[ooilingfan]

basically MEXT will contact both the university admission office and the professor. normally, by this time.. MEXT will already finish their discussion with most universities, and with both agreeing on accepting the student. however, the FINAL decision is not from the university or the professor, but by MEXT. so, there are chances that the university had agreed with MEXT, thus telling the student that you are sure to come, and started discussing on accommodation and what to do after arrival, only to know later that MEXT comes up with an official letter that you are not going after all. so, WAIT for the MEXT confirmation then we shall celebrate!

I think the "tentative letter" means MEXT has approved our scholarship. Refer to the heading "Result of Nomination" (our embassies nominates us to MEXT, hence MEXT reviews, makes a decision and inform our embassies on the results of nomination) So university is the last step. If university says yes, then it should be fine.
If you read last year's posts - towards the end of December, many got calls from embassies telling them that they have been chosen, and they need to wait till Feb to know their university placements. This year, for Malaysia, we got the letter instead of phone calls, and it's very early - 17 Dec. Hence we got a bit confused. Supposedly that IS the results. We have been chosen. (By refering to last year's situation). Perhaps the word "tentative" is really disturbing, and the tone of the letter doesn't make us excited.
Perhaps it's the way the message is conveyed:
1. You are selected, kindly wait till Feb for your university placement.
2. You are selected, but SUBJECTED to successful university placement, if there are no university that may accept you, we have the right to CANCEL the scholarship.

Hence, by receiving it the 2nd way, we tend to be more cautious.
So for those who has got the tentative letters, if your university contacted you for hostel arrangements, GO FOR IT, and hurry. It's far cheaper than private residences.

But what kimberly said is true - Nothing is official yet. The last cue is university. So if they contacted you, you're in.

[kawabanga]

The last cue is university. So if they contacted you, you're in.

Kaaawaaabaaangaaa!

[clockworkorange]

But what kimberly said is true - Nothing is official yet. The last cue is university. So if they contacted you, you're in.


But what if you haven't been contacted? :(

I've probably said this in the forum a thousand times but my professor hasn't contacted me since receiving the LoA.

In fact, even during the LoA period, he said NOTHING about what i might be doing during as a research student. What happened was i wrote to him asking if he would be willing to be my supervisor and he wrote back saying yes. and he didn't say anything else until i wrote to him again saying i needed the LoA. He obliged me by sending me the LoA. and thats it. that was the gist of our correspondence so far.

I was thinking that i shouldn't contact him until after confirmation of the scholarship. Coz it seems to me that you'd be inconveniencing the professor asking about future plans and stuff if you're not guaranteed the scholarship. Unless of course your professor/university offers you the information without you asking.

But the university placement does concern me and makes me wonder if its not a good idea to just e-mail my professor after all. Especially when compared to you guys, it seems my professor and I don't communicate that much. :okashii:

[ooilingfan]

Different Unis have diff ways of handling things. Some contacted their prospective students early as they have limited dormitories. My university hasn't contacted me at all except that my supervisor told me he has replied to MEXT in Nov when i wrote to ask.
You may write to the universities that you've applied to find out. For those who got multiple LoAs, you may have to write to all of them =p

[luckyme]

About the "tentative letter", I think if you received this letter, you was secured to receive a scholarship so Congratulation all of you. I said that because in my country, Japanese Embassy nominated us to MEXT. After reviewed, MEXT chose and send the list of approved people back to Japanese Embassy (around the end of December). The people in the list is secured the scholarship but the University is not decide because some of us received LoA while some people not have LoA from any University. In January, the list of people which MEXT approved to award scholarship was official announced (with University is not decide) and they also made some note that MEXT will arrange with University and doesn't accept anyone chance the University which MEXT choose for them. Even if you don't receive any LoA (some people of my country did), don't worry, MEXT will arrange University for you. I remember someone in this Forum said that he was refused by the University at the first time, but after was selected award scholarship by MEXT, they managed to get him into his first choice University.
All I want to say is Congratulation if you receive letter from your Consulate. For me, I said the result is not official because I didn't receive any formal letter. I just called to my Consulate and heard that I passed. The official information only announce in website some next day. At that day, I will know that I was secured to get the scholarship.

[kouki]

>clockworkorange

To my understanding, most of the professors are really busy with their work, thus they entrust the work of communicating with others to their secretaries. So, no worries if you are not receiving any correspondence from your professor(s). I have not got any news since my submission of Letter of Acceptance as well.

>ooilingfan

I don't think the universities have the news either. They have all replied to the MEXT in November/ December, looking at the schedule being put in the universities' admission corner. Most of the work now is in MEXT, not the universities. For me, I do not know how should I contact the universities. I can't think of a good reason asking for the news (since I have nothing to report 'by the way' of writing that e-mail. :( Any good suggestion on how to ask them? Please help.:souka:

[clockworkorange]

Hi kouki,

Thanks for the reply. To ooilingfan and luckyme, thanks as well.

Kouki, i assume you're wondering about whether the university you applied to has been contacted by MEXT as well? And also about accommodation?

I might write to my professor as well and if i do, i plan to just come right out and ask. More specifically i'd mention that i have received a letter stating my tentative selection and how my university placement is still not confirmed. Then i'd asked my professor if he has heard from MEXT. I'd also ask about accommodation and what he might have planned for me should i get the scholarship. Last of all, i'd apologize just in case i have inconvenienced him. Like you pointed out, they must be busy ppl so the last thing i want is to bug my professor.

The one thing that stops me from asking straight out is the fact that i applied to go in October. So I keep thinking i can wait for news from the embassy before i email my professor. Oh well, I'll see. I'll wait till i'm feeling desperate. :P

[kouki]

>clockworkorange

I applied for the October intake as well. So I am a quite reluctant to ask that.:bluush:

[ooilingfan]

Guys, I called the Malaysian Embassy.
What they tell me is exactly what our letter stated. Accepted, but tentative, and subjected to university placement. They say "those who got the letter will mostly go". So it's good news i guess.
FINAL FINAL confirmation on departure date and to which universtiy will be out in February 09.
So lets have a worry-free Chinese New Year, shall we? =)

[Vyen]

Ooilingfan,

Thanks for the news. Hopefully they won't delay it again.:relief:
But I think worries will always accompany me as long as I haven't receive the confirmation from embassy..haha..

[ooilingfan]

My supervisor just replied.
Apparently the deadline for universities to respond to MEXT is 15 Dec. So it will take roughly 1-2months for them to compile all the results (hundreds of them).
If anyone happens to call MEXT, Tokyo. Kindly update us :p

[c0ok1e]

my supervisor did contact me and ask me to fill in some kind of form similar to the scholarship application although his emailed is a very short, cool message didnt really say i was sleected or wat... it was a few weeks before i received the tentative letter..does this mean im selected or still have to wait n c?:souka:

[abeeyo_q8]

for those of you asking about lodging i have a lil bit of experience. and by bit, i mean insy weensy bit

the deadline for the international dorm at my uni is jan, so i wanted to get on top of things asap. so i emailed the woman at the embassy asking if she had any news or anything like that for me from MEXT. well i'm also travelling for a few weeks so i wanted to make sure there wasn't anything that needed to be signed, etc before i left. i mentioned lodging and stuff...i GOT NO REPLIES...and she's usually very prompt with her replies

anyways...i wake up this morning and i have an email from my prof and it was about international student lodging and how the deadline is approaching and it's really competitive and that he had gone ahead and applied to it on my behalf...such a sweetie

i had no idea that was even possible...cause my plan was to call the number that the uni website has and just deal with them directly and hope for the best

so i don't know if that really helped...

makes me wonder if the woman at the embassy emailed him, cause the coincidence is just sooo...you know

[kouki]

>c0ok1e

If you call Miss Yin, I am sure she will say 'You are tentatively selected. Please wait a little bit longer.' :)

By the way, what is the title of the application you filled up? Is it in Japanese?

[c0ok1e]

>c0ok1e
If you call Miss Yin, I am sure she will say 'You are tentatively selected. Please wait a little bit longer.' :)
By the way, what is the title of the application you filled up? Is it in Japanese?

The form he asked me to fill was about my education history then he also asked me to send him a scan copy of my transcript..its in english..if japanese i would take forever to fill it

[menrui]

^ my professors just asked me for my MEXT application before they wrote the LoA. and then a couple of other questions they wanted to know about me.

im getting tempted to email my professor so i can get a heads up to where i will be going... it would be nice to prepare for housing and such.

[ooilingfan]

i checked with my friend again and according to him MEXT or the university will take care of our lodging for the first 6 months. So i'm trying not to worry too much. They know that some of us (like me!) will be going there totally blur. I can imagine that i'll look rather retarded during the first few weeks. Deaf and dumb most of the time. :p

[abeeyo_q8]

ooilingfan,

wow that's great info...wow MEXT is really great to take care of that...i don't know any other scholarship sponsors that are as helpful

and here i was thinking that my supervisor was a such a sweetie and was going well and out of his way for me ... LOL well he still is

[ooilingfan]

MEXT is the best scholarship ever. Who else will sponsor you to study their language, fly you there, find you a good university (and tried very hard), arrange your hostel and give you a generous stipend?
It's just GodSend

[clockworkorange]

They know that some of us (like me!) will be going there totally blur. I can imagine that i'll look rather retarded during the first few weeks. Deaf and dumb most of the time. :p

Don't worry. I'll be there to make you look good.

Although you applied for April intake right? But if i do go in October, they'll probably forget how retarded you were. I'll set the new standard. :P


Kouki!!!
An October friend!!!! This is great!! Now i don't have to imagine myself all alone and scared at the airport.

Plus ur an engineering student too, am i right? Lets shake hands!!!
*offers hand to shake*

[kouki]

>c0ok1e, menrui

I was thinking, why are our supervisors asking us to fill in our CV for them (Are there any special reasons, since they can make a copy of our application form being sent to them)? I did the same, my professor interviewed me (a very detailed interview, lasted for more than an hour) before giving me my LoA. Before this I have already submitted my CV to him before asking LoA.

[Charles Barkley]

I'm going to weigh in on the language thing and say that:

a) what school and what department and what professor will determine how much japanese you need to or even will be able to use. If your professor tells you you don't need japanese, you probably won't need japanese (to study).

b) the language course, though intense, will not prepare you for 2kyuu, nor is there any realistic hope of getting there within 6 months (unless A] you already know kanji from studying chinese/korean and study exclusively for the test, to the detriment of actually acquiring Japanese skills or B) are a very motivated korean).

Your language course may be attached to a university, in which case it will be on a semester system, and though it says 6 months, it will likely be 3.5 months, on par with a normal semester, meaning that to improve very quickly, it will be incumbent upon you personally to go beyond the scope of your course. The waseda course for beginners, after one semester, puts you somewhere between 4kyuu and 3kyuu.

Another thing is that if you are placed in a dorm, you are likely to be put in a social environment where using Japanese is not entirely necessary and where the lingua franca will be English, at least among graduate students (a split developed here between Japanese language students, or those who came with high level language skills, and those who came without any). Also, as the general expectation for those who do not look asian is that they do or at least can speak english, even if you want to immerse yourself in Japanese, it can be a battle. I am borderline 1kyuu level myself, and keeping the conversation in Japanese, even if it is the stronger shared language, can be a battle.

But you'll see what I mean...


PS: I don't mean to discourage anyone. Just keep the expectations realistic. The curve of language improvement seems exponential (until you reach a certain level anyway) rather than linear, so the jump between 6 months and 1 year, or from 1 year to 1.5 years, is probably much greater than the first 6 months. That's why coming over with something, anything, in terms of language skills, is, in my mind, so important.

[ooilingfan]

Don't worry. I'll be there to make you look good.
Although you applied for April intake right? But if i do go in October, they'll probably forget how retarded you were. I'll set the new standard. :P
Kouki!!!
An October friend!!!! This is great!! Now i don't have to imagine myself all alone and scared at the airport.
Plus ur an engineering student too, am i right? Lets shake hands!!!
*offers hand to shake*

Just curious. You're going in October, you're still taking the 6 months japanese language course? So there will be no research student stage? or they'll cramp both together?

[luckyme]

Yeah, MEXT is good. I don't want to turn you down but as far as I know, all kind of Government scholarship will support you well (not organization scholarship). However, I think one advantage of MEXT is that you can extend this for PhD while other scholarship couldn't.

[kouki]

>ooilingfan

Maybe Charles can answer that for us?

I think the October intake will be 6 months Japanese language, then 1 year research student phase, as compared to the April intake - 6 months Japanese language, 1 1/2 year research student phase. Then you can sit for the entrance examination while you are in research student phase. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[ooilingfan]

yup you're right.

[luckyme]

The time of entrance exam is vary from which University you applied. In my case, if I go to Japan in April, may be, I will take the Entrance exam at September which mean I have only 5 months for preparation. Luckily, I learned Japanese a lot before (4 years at University). However, I don't use Japanese for more than a year and I forgot the words.
I still wonder about how the 6 months of Japanese training different for people studied Japanese before and people who don't know Japanese before going to Japan. Is there anyone experience about it.

[kouki]

>luckyme

Remember we took the English and Japanese test for the preliminary selection? They will decide our Japanese level on that. For some language schools (I understand that we will go to language schools, rather than university in most cases), they will hold another competency test to decide the level of our Japanese, so that they can allocate us into the appropriate classes.

[menrui]

>c0ok1e, menrui
I was thinking, why are our supervisors asking us to fill in our CV for them (Are there any special reasons, since they can make a copy of our application form being sent to them)?
i have no idea. maybe they didnt read our MEXT application? one of my professors asked for a CV, and i just sent him my application. he said that was fine.

i also have a thought. if you are part of the october intake, do you have to wait until august to receive results from the university?

[kouki]

>menrui
Hopefully not. You are making me more and more desperate. :blush:
But from what I have read from this forum, those who went for October intake received their results along with others.
Hope that it will be the same this year. :-)

[menrui]

oh haha, sorry about that. i just wanted to confirm if we all should be waiting for february.

[ooilingfan]

=.=''

February is just 16 days away.
Hang in there, guys.
We're all going to make it.
Grind through 10-20 kanjis a day and before you know it, poof, February is here.
=)

[DaiUso]

though february is 16 days ahead news are slowly making their way through :-)

i've just received an email from the secretary of my professor, asking if i want to apply to the international dorms...(sounds like the one Parady got earlier)
does it mean they're expecting me, or what? :relief:

though, according to Nall-ohki, i can't be sure yet...still it seems that MEXT contacted the university and is making progress...

can't wait to call the embassy in the morning, to find out their side of the story...

[Charles Barkley]

>ooilingfan
Maybe Charles can answer that for us?
I think the October intake will be 6 months Japanese language, then 1 year research student phase, as compared to the April intake - 6 months Japanese language, 1 1/2 year research student phase. Then you can sit for the entrance examination while you are in research student phase. Please correct me if I am wrong.

DISCLAIMER: It could vary greatly depending on what school you attend and I only have Waseda as a reference (I feel like I need to attach this to every generalization I make).

Research student phase and language student phase maybe is not the best way to think about it. While everyone who has come to Waseda is taking Japanese language classes during the first 6 months, everyone is also taking at least one class in his respective graduate school. I am taking 3 classes in my graduate school and 7 classes in the japanese school (don't ooh and ahh, its not as much work as it sounds).

Also, it is possible here to continue taking japanese classes as long as you are on the scholarship. So even though I will enter the master's program officially next semester, I will probably at least take a couple more language classes then, and maybe even one or two keigo classes next fall.

The important differentiations are not language student/research student but rather regular student (officially enrolled in masters/phd) vs irregular student (not officially enrolled). Best to think of the division in that way.

[luckyme]

>> Charles,
What do you learn in your Graduate school while you are at the first 6 months of Japanese training? Do you have to do homework and receive mark?
Do you have to pay money for the Keigo class?
I also want to improve English. Is the school offer any free English class?

[kouki]

>Charles
So does that mean that you are taking your Japanese courses in Waseda itself, but not Tokyo Language School? Have you heard of the other students (your friends, maybe) whom they are learning Japanese at places which are not their graduate schools? (e.g. students to be research student in Tokyo University, but they have to learn their Japanese at another place, such as Osaka?) I read it some where that some research students will have to do so.

[ooilingfan]

i think that's a good point. It's good for us to know where we'll be taking our language course before confirming our dorms cause we might be heading to a different place first.

[kouki]

Oh... something that I would like to say about a post long time ago. :relief: The posts have been increasing in an amazing rate. :-)
In my opinion, not every university will be contacting us directly. For the previous years, I think those in Malaysia received a phone call and a mail package informing them about the outcomes of the scholarship application.
However, some universities will send in their packages as well. Most professors will not contact us directly. It is either through the admission office (International Student Office) or the secretary of your professor. But I think the contact from the professor is quite a rare case. (But if you are informing them your results, it might another different story)

[ooilingfan]

What i meant was - if the university contacted you on the details - it's just an INDICATION that you're cleared of the final barrier - university placement. i didn't say it will be official. The official info always comes from the Embassy.
I will not say anything more if it confuses you guys. Just wait till Feb for the embassy's call.

[kouki]

>ooilingfan

I am sorry... What I was trying to say is that there are a number of things coming together when the results are announced. I was not implying that you are saying that, the correspondences from the university means the result is official.

By the way, the results came out in late February last year. I am expecting it to be almost that same time. That means more waiting for us. :(

[kshoo]

Don't worry. We are all in the same boat. Let's all be optimistic. Whether it is early, mid or end-February, we should always keep an open mind that it is the home-stretch already. Let's all not get too worked up on certain items. Or else there's just no end to worrying...

[Charles Barkley]

>> Charles,
What do you learn in your Graduate school while you are at the first 6 months of Japanese training? Do you have to do homework and receive mark?
Do you have to pay money for the Keigo class?
I also want to improve English. Is the school offer any free English class?

The deal wih the MEXT scholarship and how it works at Waseda is that we are allowed to take, for free, classes in our respective graduate schools, the japanese language school attached to waseda (not all or maybe even many schools will have this, but waseda has its own Japanese language school that you can apply to if you just want to study japanese, or that people studying at Waseda who aren't on the scholarship can take classes at for a fee), and maybe even at other graduate schools attached to waseda. I don't think we are allowed to take undergradaute courses.

I receive grades in my Japanese classes but they will not appear on my master's degree so it doesn't really matter how I do. By fall of next year, I won't really have much Japanese left to study except perhaps keigo (by then study will be entirely equivalent to "use"), so that's why I said I will prolly take that class, and of course it will be free.

In the graduate school I am at now, almost all the classes are offered in english AND japanese, so yes, it is very easy for me to take English classes, and in fact all 3 of the classes I am taking now are held in English.

For my graduate program, one can apply up to 5 classes taken while a research student, in other departments, or at other schools to one's requirements for a master's degree after one has officially been received into a degree program. The grades I receive for the classes I am currently taking will appear as is when I eventually get my master's degree.

>Charles
So does that mean that you are taking your Japanese courses in Waseda itself, but not Tokyo Language School? Have you heard of the other students (your friends, maybe) whom they are learning Japanese at places which are not their graduate schools? (e.g. students to be research student in Tokyo University, but they have to learn their Japanese at another place, such as Osaka?) I read it some where that some research students will have to do so.

I have never heard of Tokyo language school.

I imagine that at smaller schools, or more specialist schools, there might not be language schools, so research students attending those schools might be sent to private, unaffiliated language schools. Sadly, I cannot answer your question with confidence because all of my friends here are either attending Waseda or Sophia, so I don't really know what it is like for those attending other schools.

[luckyme]

> Kouki,
I will try to wanswer you as much as I can.
As far as I know, undergraduate student will go to learn Japanese at Tokyo language schooll or Osaka language school for a year to prepare for their entrance exam at University. All undergraduate student will learn in Japanese and since they don't know which University they will study (because they have to pass the exam first), they will start their Japanese training at 2 school I give above.
Things will be different with Graduate student. MEXT will choose University for us before coming to Japan so if we need to learn Japanese, may be we will learn at the same University (some of us don't need to learn Japanese if course in English). I think most University you guys applied are big (for example: Tokyo, Waseda, ...). There are a lot of Graduate school in just one University (for example: Graduate School of law, of economics, language, engineering,...). So I think normally, we will learn japanese at the same University.
Please correct me if I wrong. I only know some of my friend's case and I guess it will be like that.
> Charles,
I have a friend learning Master at Tokyo University. He learn in English but he said that he was encourage to take Japanese classes and it's free.
What I want to know is that is there any English classes free? I mean that the class teaching English as a language, not using English in economic classes, etc. The English classes which will teach you how to write English report, thesis, as such some kind of TOEFL, IELTS test preparation classes. Actually, I took IELTS test and receive 6.5 in overall, but receive only 5.5 in speaking and writing so I want to improve them. Because
I know that we still need English even study in Japanese (since I learning economics) and the entrance exam also test translation from English to Japanese. Am I right?

[MakKuro]

Hi guys!
Really great forum!
Anyone goin' to KyoDai?!

[abeeyo_q8]

Hi guys!
Really great forum!
Anyone goin' to KyoDai?!

me! school of biostudies...you?

[MakKuro]

@ abeeyo_q8 :)

nice!

I'm in School of Human and Environmental Studies.

Any mail from the Uni? ^^

[abeeyo_q8]

well not any mail in the post or anything...but i have recieved emails from the embassy and my supervisor at the uni

what about you? i kinda feel like there should be some sort of official paper...or welcoming package from the uni

you going in oct or apr? i'm going in april

[MakKuro]

Yeah! Nutin' official yet!

Just a call from the embassy and a mail from the office of GSHE Studies asking me to fill some questionnaires, about the lodging.

April, as well! ^^

[abeeyo_q8]

yeah the last email my supervisor sent was about lodging

did u ask for the international dorms?

are u a research student or grad student?

[MakKuro]

Research student. ^^

I didn't ask 'bout the international houses, they asked me ;)

Shugakuin int. house look goody! Did you filled the questionnaires?

[Charles Barkley]

What I want to know is that is there any English classes free? I mean that the class teaching English as a language, not using English in economic classes, etc. The English classes which will teach you how to write English report, thesis, as such some kind of TOEFL, IELTS test preparation classes. Actually, I took IELTS test and receive 6.5 in overall, but receive only 5.5 in speaking and writing so I want to improve them. Because
I know that we still need English even study in Japanese (since I learning economics) and the entrance exam also test translation from English to Japanese. Am I right?


I don't know. I am a native English speaker (who majored in English at University) so I have never really had the need. I imagine that there would at least be something like a writing center where you could get free help with writing assignments. Also, once you've reached a certain point (looks like you've reached it with English), the best thing you can do for your language skills is to study something else that you are interested in in that language. Or at least that's been my experience learning Japanese...

[kouki]

>luckyme

I think there are some English courses for the local students. (I heard that they have to sit for TOEIC in order to enter master course - might be rumours). But I am not sure whether you can take them or not. However, I read it some where in this forum, saying that we are allowed to take some undergraduate courses, as long as the professors allow us to attend the classes. I suppose you can try ask, once you reach there, since it varies from case to case in different universities.

>Charles

I got it that if we are Monbukagakushou scholars, then whatever courses we are taking in the university should be covered by the tuition fee by MEXT, right? (Here, I don't mean taking advantage of that term by taking whatever courses I like. I believe we are allowed to take courses relevant to our studies?) Hope you can help me with this?

[abeeyo_q8]

Research student. ^^

I didn't ask 'bout the international houses, they asked me ;)

Shugakuin int. house look goody! Did you filled the questionnaires?


All he asked me was if I wanted to stay in the international dorms. That was it. I hope it's one close to my campus. Cause kyoudai has 3 campuses.

What was in the questionnaires?

[luckyme]

Last week, I called Japanese Embassy in my country and they sadi I was choosen for MEXT scholarship but the result is not official yet. Then, I was so anxious so I write e-mail to ask my advisor that did he heard anything from MEXT. He suggested me to contact with International Student Exchange Department. I wrote to them.
Yesterday, I received 2 e-mail. The first e-mail said that they sent my official LoA and it will reach my adress some next day. I want to mention that I received LoA (condition letter) since September last year but it has condition that I will be accepted only if I was choosen for MEXT scholarship. The 2nd e-mail they stated that they decided to accept me as Research student from April 2009 to March 2011. They also give the outline about the schedule and asked me to fill out the form of dorm.
I was so happy since I think it mean that I was official selected for MEXT scholarship. However, I still wonder because the Consulate in my country still didn't announce the result official yet. Do you think that I was secured for MEXT scholarship?
About the questionnaires apply for a dorm. They give me informations about 4 dorms which I can apply and state that the dorm will decided by lottery. The questionnaires are about am I smoke or not, what kind of room I want to apply for (single, married, couple), what dorm which I like (dorm with many events or quiet dorm which good for study) and some other question?

[abeeyo_q8]

About the questionnaires apply for a dorm. They give me informations about 4 dorms which I can apply and state that the dorm will decided by lottery. The questionnaires are about am I smoke or not, what kind of room I want to apply for (single, married, couple), what dorm which I like (dorm with many events or quiet dorm which good for study) and some other question?

by any chance did they have a price range or anything on the questionnaire? i'm curious about how much a single room is compared to a double

oh btw which uni you going to luckyme? (belated congrats as well)

[ooilingfan]

Congrats, Luckyme!!
judging by your statement, you should be 99.9% assured of the scholarship. Just waiting for the official document to be delivered.
=)

[luckyme]

by any chance did they have a price range or anything on the questionnaire? i'm curious about how much a single room is compared to a double
oh btw which uni you going to luckyme? (belated congrats as well)

In the application form for dorm which my Univ send to me to fill in, there isn't any question about the price. However, they are allow you to write any other things that you interest in with the last question. So I intend to state directly which kind of room and which dorm I would like to move in, but remember that they also stated everything will decided by lottery. Anyway, let them know all things you are concern, may be they will consider.
From the information I received, the price of couple room is nearly the same with single room but they ahve better equipments. The price is not different so much, for example 19.300 yen compared to 23.200 yen. Since we live in International house, the price for a room is not expensive. The most expensive one was about 32.200 yen while the cheapest is only 9.900 yen.
I guess that you will go to Kyodai, is it right?
If things will go smoothly, may be I will go to Hitotsubashi.

[luckyme]

Congrats, Luckyme!!
judging by your statement, you should be 99.9% assured of the scholarship. Just waiting for the official document to be delivered.
=)
Thanks a lot.
By the way, what Univ will you go, Ooilingfan? Sorry if you stated before but I'm not remember. You guys here are amazing and because some of you received many LoA, I can't remember exactly where will you go.

[ooilingfan]

>Luckyme
IF successful, I'll be going to Osaka University since that's the only one i applied =p
It would be weird if they placed me in my 2nd or 3rd choice since I didn't receive any LoAs from them and my supervisor from Osaka Uni has replied positively to MEXT in Nov '08. (Keeping fingers crossed that everything goes well from there)
Perhaps we can have a simple gathering during holidays in Tokyo or something. It'll be nice to meet up with scholars from diff parts of the world that have accompanied each other through this (application) journey.
For malaysians, in the past the embassy organized something like a send off ceremony where all the candidates will gather in KL before departing. Hope they still do that this year, maybe bad economy, budget cut? :p

[menrui]

grrrr, now i really feel like writing my professor an email... but its the weekend now, so i will have to wait.

wow, 9900yen for a room? thats crazy cheap. is there also a limit to how long you can stay in those dorms? for osaka U, i think the maximum length of stay is 1 year.

[abeeyo_q8]

grrrr, now i really feel like writing my professor an email... but its the weekend now, so i will have to wait.

wow, 9900yen for a room? thats crazy cheap. is there also a limit to how long you can stay in those dorms? for osaka U, i think the maximum length of stay is 1 year.


yeah you can only stay up to a year at the international dorms in kyoudai...but does that mean you can still stay in the other normal dorms once your year is up?
i heard the international dorms are cheaper and usually better equipped than the regular dorms (this is hearsay from ppl i know who have been to japan)...

but if the dorms are really anywhere near that price...that's crazy cheap...that's amazing!

[luckyme]

>> Ooilingfan,
I hope you will be fine. Let try to contact with your Univ, may be they will know before your Consulate.

>> all,
In my case, there are 4 kind of dorms to apply for (single room). One is about 1 man/month, one another is 2 man/month but with this cheap roon, you can only stay up to 1 year. After that, you have to move out. The 2 others are more expensive, about 3 man/month (JASSO house) but you can stay there up to 2 years.

[kouki]

>ooilingfan

Oh... how stupid am I!!! :p

I have only filled up two choices of university, since I have only got two LoAs. I left my third blank. It is because I thought that in order to put in the university of our choice, we have to attach the LoA together with our choice... :(

[ooilingfan]

grrrr, now i really feel like writing my professor an email... but its the weekend now, so i will have to wait.

wow, 9900yen for a room? thats crazy cheap. is there also a limit to how long you can stay in those dorms? for osaka U, i think the maximum length of stay is 1 year.

The allow up to one year in Osaka Uni, but they can only guarantee 6 months. They have an online system for reservation, when i check it's already full :(
So i doubt i can stay on after 6 months. But i'd be happy enough if i can get a dorm, since there're 6 months to look for private lodging.

[menrui]

full already? hmm thats not really surprising since they are so cheap. i too wanted to stay at the dorms for a short period of time until i settle in and find an apartment or something.

[MakKuro]

@ abeeyo_q8
What was in the questionnaires?
Here are the docs:
h.kyoto-u.ac.jp/jinkan/student/keijiban/pdf/housing.English.pdf
One more useful link: Handbook for international students 2008/ 2009 Kyoto University:
opir.kyoto-u.ac.jp/publish/pdf/handbook_2008-2009.pdf

[emreduman]

I have received a mail from The University Of Tokyo about my accomodation. It was directly from professor. He asked me if i will go to Tokyo alone or not. They said that they will arrange a room in Komaba International House. Is there any person who will study at The University Of Tokyo this April? Please mail me !!!

[luckyme]

There is one thing that makes me worry a lot now. I hope you guys can help me. Actually, I wearing braces for more than one year and have one year left. I worry a lot what happen with me after coming to Japan. I did some search on the Internet and figured out that I will have to cover all the fee myself cause it not including in the health insurance. The price is quite expensive, however I think because I already on treatment process, the price will be lower a little bit and if I pay each month when go to check-up (like I do in my country now), I still afford this.
However, I read a case of a wife of an American solider post on Yahoo answer just one month ago. She also wearing braces now. One replied for her question stated that some people couldn't go to oversea just because they are wearing braces. They said that you will be health checked before coming oversea and they will category your dental class as 4 level. If you are in level 3,4, you can't come oversea.
I really confuse and worry a lot now. Is there anybody have experience about it? What will they going to check me?

[menrui]

yeah i just read that dental braces are the most expensive in japan, for some reason.

i tried to do a quick search regarding your question, but sorry to say, i really couldnt find anything. if you dont get anything here, try asking in another part of the forum. maybe the foreign and immigration section? good luck.

[luckyme]

Thanks, Menrui. Anyway, after deeply thinking, I think that wearing braces can not block me coming to Japan. Some people even going oversea to do health treatment so I think I don't need to worry about such problem.
The people in charge for MEXT students in my Univ seemed to be very nice and I believe that she will willing to help me if I need any help.
By the way, did you contact with your Prof, Menrui?

[pipokun]

...
However, I read a case of a wife of an American solider post on Yahoo answer just one month ago. She also wearing braces now. One replied for her question stated that some people couldn't go to oversea just because they are wearing braces. They said that you will be health checked before coming oversea and they will category your dental class as 4 level. If you are in level 3,4, you can't come oversea.
...


The case above is about an American and the military case. They don't need to enroll the national health insurance, NHI, scheme in Japan. So it is not applicable to your case. The NHI does not, however, cover dental brace/bridge or orthodontic treatment except very few cases.

I don't know how often you will have to go to see a orthodontic dentist, but it may be around 10,000/month for your periodical check-up, I suppose.

Most schools have student health union or something, so when you are sick and get the NHI designated treatment incl. medication, everything is covered. The brace stuff is not covered, but you don't have to worry about other medical treatment too much in Japan.

[menrui]

luckyme,
yes i did~~. and he replied to me not too long ago. my prof from osaka basically said that i was "selected" and will receiving information about it "beginning of february". he also said they would send me information about accommodations soon. im very ecstatic!

by the way, which university did you plan to go to? or applied to? i dont remember you saying so, sorry.

[ooilingfan]

So menrui you're going to Osaka eventually instead of your first choice?

[c0ok1e]

Begining of february? yay.. hopefully will get letter around valentines day... since u guys going off u dont miss your love ones or girlfriend or boyfriend? how do u feel leaving them for so many yrs? you are not afraid they will meet some other people?:(

[Nall-ohki]

Begining of february? yay.. hopefully will get letter around valentines day... since u guys going off u dont miss your love ones or girlfriend or boyfriend? how do u feel leaving them for so many yrs? you are not afraid they will meet some other people?:(

That's a hard one, but anyone who is going on the scholarship should have seen this coming as an eventuality.

Unless your significant other is coming with you, you and them are going their separate ways.

[midorineko]

Nall-Ohki,
That is not necessarily so. My guy and I have been together for over 12 years, including the year I spent in Japan in college where I left him here in the us. While in Japan we skype every night and there are opportunities to visit each other during vacations. There is no need to go separate ways as long as you are willing to be creative about staying together.

[menrui]

ooilingfan,
osaka was always my first choice out of my 3 LoA. i dont remember stating the other 2 univs i applied for...

cookie,
hehe im single so i dont have to worry about that. but since you brought it up, i think you are the one who is afraid that your girl(or guy, cant be sure) could meet other people. :blush:

nall,
*hi5

midorineko,
wow 12years!? my relationship didnt go past 5month, and we were only 200miles away :(

[SAVbjj]

Hello all-
Im completely new here, but didnt want to make a whole new thread when this one already existed. I'm a US undergraduate student studying biology who is very interested in a monbusho research scholarship...Im currently a junior and will be graduating in May of 2010. I've tried searching both this thread and the internet for information on a basic timeline to apply for the october entrance date but so far havent come up with anything i can wrap my head around. Basically, I'm wondering how early i'd need to start applying to begin a monbusho research scholarship in october of 2010? I see alot of talk about waiting a year, etc. so im just wondering how best to coordinate my application process. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

[menrui]

you really couldnt find anything? did you even search hard? :okashii:

ok enough flaming. first of all, the deadlines for the april AND october(of the same year) intake are the same. so go to the website of your nearest japanese consulate:
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/consulat.htm
and find out what those exact deadlines are. download the guidelines too. right now, you only need to worry about the application deadline, which shouold be around june for the US.

um, i think you should be able to apply as long as you meet the academic requirement(by graduating) before your departure date. please verify that first.

so if you want to go during oct 2010, you should apply this year. and my advice, start now. that should give you about 4-5months. you might run into some problems and it really doesnt hurt to start asap. this also gives you a lot time to focus on your research proposal, which i believe is a very important part of the application process. good luck~

[kouki]

>SAVbjj

You might want to have a look on the application form, so that you will be more prepared on what to expect in the application.

[ooilingfan]

>Savbjj

If you want to go in October 2010, apply this year.
If you wish to go only in April 2011, then you apply Feb-March 2010.
Everything is on the application guidelines. You can google the PDF file. I suppose the whole world is using the same guidelines.
If you want more details, read up the posts here from March 2008 till September 2008. That should let you understand the procedures in more detail.

Like what menrui pointed out, you should start working on your research proposal now. Try contact some universities/potential supervisors to help you develop a suitable title/research area. It's easier to pass the interview with an informal consent from your supervisor together with an excellent research proposal.

[athz]

Hi minna-san! It seems that most of you are granted the scholarship, congratulation!! (sorry if it's too late ^_^).

I'm just going to share some info that i got from Japanese Embassy in my country. Have you guys been asked to fill some kind of form (i don't remember what its name) that stated Mext will cover our one-way ticket to Japan (by JAL) and reserving hotel rooms for few days for us. They also asked me to sign a Pledge form which the main point is that we would not do any disrespectful act that will ruin Mext reputation. I think from now on we should work and study harder since it is also stated that Mext would bring us back home if we failed to achieve good academic performance ~scary....... ;P

To Menrui,
Congratulations for your acceptance in Osaka University \^o^/
I haven't been notified which university i will be enrolled... I really hope that it would be Osaka Uni.

Hi lucky me,
I also wearing braces now, but I plan to take it off before the end of March since my case is not a complicated one. I suggest that you consult your dentist if it's possible to catch up for the result in these last three months, though it's kinda risky... and painful ^^ (it might require you to visit the doctor more often at least three times a month so they can monitor your teeth movement regularly). But it is up to your choice. Maybe you can try to find information of your country representative in Japan if they had a clinic/any medical facilities which provide a good dentist but i'm not sure that it would cost less expensive.

[menrui]

Mext would bring us back home if we failed to achieve good academic performance ~scary....... ;P
:blush: well of course, i thought that obvious. no scholarship would just give you the money and set you free haha. good grades, & dont do anything really stupid, those are simple conditions that everyone should be able to follow.

wow, airline tickets from JAL and a hotel for a couple of days!? isnt JAL high class? im not really sure. anyways, just wow.

yeah it would be great if you got into osaka. they usually put you in the university of your first choice so theres a good chance. good luck.

[ooilingfan]

The flight, if not mistaken, will be JAL, the official Japan airline (economy class of course). Unless there's a budget cut =p

[athz]

yeah i think JAL is more expensive than any other airline that travel to Japan... MEXT is really generous ^o^

[midorineko]

I suppose it makes sense to keep the money for the airline tickets in their own economy.

[luckyme]

I'm so happy. The Ministry of Education and Training has just post announcement about people award MEXT scholarship in their website. I was choosen for this scholarship. All the thing now is just waited for the University arrangement. However, I was informed by my University that I willl come there by April so I strongly believe that I will come Japan on April.
> Menrui,
I will come to Hitotsubashi University at Tokyo
> athz,
I had discuss with my dentist but she said that I couln't speed up the treament process. I had just wear braces for one year so there is more than one year left. Definitely I will have to continue treatment in Japan. Anyway, how long did you wear those braces?
If you go to Tokyo, may be we will have a chance to meet

[SAVbjj]

Thanks so much for the help...lots of info in the thread is is really helpful
've already started contacting some professors so ill hopefully have enough time to get everything squared away before the June application due date at the consulate in Boston. Thanks for clearing up the application timeline for me...
congrats to everyone who just received the scholarship!

[athz]

hi luckyme,
i've been wearing braces for almost one year. I think that your dentist knows what best for you, it's good that you follow her advice ^^
I think MEXT won't place me in Tokyo since my first and second choice is in Nagoya and Osaka. Maybe we would have the chance to meet somewhere ;)
To SAVbjj,
good luck for your scholarship application!! and make sure that you remember the deadline... coz i almost failed but was saved in the last minute before the application process is closed.....^_^!

[skfer]

I'm so happy. The Ministry of Education and Training has just post announcement about people award MEXT scholarship in their website. I was choosen for this scholarship.
can you put the link for this announcement .. I can't find it ..
do you think they will put the chosen names list on the internet ?

[skfer]

I'm so happy. The Ministry of Education and Training has just post announcement about people award MEXT scholarship in their website. I was choosen for this scholarship.
can you put the link for this announcement .. I can't find it ..
do you think they will put the chosen names list on the internet ?

[menrui]

umm i think thats a personal website that her embassy uses. so she probably shouldnt be giving out that kind of information.

luckyme,
i have a question. for reference, how many people are chosen for the research scholarship in vietnam?

[skfer]

i've checked that to .. but I can't find anything relevent

[Nurik]

Hello, minnasan!
Can anybody advise me on what the japanese are usually asking during Interviews?
I have one on next week.
And it is very important for me, as in the case I successfully passed it - I would study at Tsukuba University, Grad School of Humanities.
By the way, does anybody know Tsukuba University?

[menrui]

um, are you also applying for the MEXT research scholarship? most of us here only have experience with that.

here are some basix questions:
-why do you want to study in japan?
-why is it important to conduct your research in japan?
-how can you contribute to japan?

[ooilingfan]

>Nurik, welcome to the forum

Here are some more questions for reference:

- how much do your know about Japan
- If you were to be granted the scholarship, how can you help promote collaboration between japan and your home country upon graduation
- How significant is your research project
THen most of the time they will ask in depth questions about your research. The interviewers are likely to be comprised of experts from different fields so make sure you know your research proposal well and be as specific as you can.

[ooilingfan]

Fellow malaysians, I've received unofficial update that the final confirmation will most likely be out middle of Feb.
From my understanding out of the total 33 who were nominated this year, 3 voluntarily dropped their nomination. 29 were successful with tentative status and 1 substitute candidate was selected, in case any of the 29 were to give up.
And also from my understanding, the 29 are most likely to get the scholarship unless something happened at the university level, which I will not speculate as there are 1001 possibilities.
As to what will happen when the official news arrive is, we will receive a letter stating the university we're going, when we're going (april or october), the flight itinerary and a pledge form to sign (declaration and contract).
As for Visa, candidates are considered special cases under govt scholarships, so we don't actually have to 'apply' and wait for approval. Perhaps we only need to fill up a simple form as a formality so don't worry about the visa, just get your passport ready.
Ok, for those who received notice from their universities (official or non-official), a big congrats!
For those of us who are still waiting with out butts aching, lets hope for the best.

Happy Chinese New YEar and Gong Xi Fa Chai to all chinese members here. An ox..picious year ahead =)

[kouki]

>Nurik

Is the interview of Tsukuba for the confirmation of placement of MEXT scholarship there? I did not get any calls for interview for that, but I did that during my application time.

The interview will be of basic questions, and it is just to confirm whether you are suitable for their lab, and they would like to know your personality, and what you would like to do in their lab, since some labs have really vast research area.

Good luck for the interview!

>ooilingfan

I still haven't receive any mails from both my universities...:(

[kimberleylhj]

Nihon de aimashou.......... =D

Happy Chinese New Year to all celebrating!!

[menrui]

im surprised that they gave you all that information. 3 voluntarily dropped out? i guess they received some thing better... i wonder what it is haha. for the US, my best guess is that 2 in selected from each consulate, in which there are 14~15 consulates.

kouki,
did you try contacting your professor? or... are you just waiting it out? i only received news from my university because i contacted my professor.

oh yes, and happy chinese new years to every one~~ is that officially today? i never know the exact date.

[kawabanga]

From what my professor told me, MEXT has officially confirmed with the universities on the list of scholarship recipients.

So you guys might want to contact your professor if you would like to know the results, for purposes such as giving notice for your current job, etc.

Kawabanga!

[Vyen]

ooilingfan,

Thanks for the news. It looks like we gonna wait for 3 more weeks for the final confirmation. :-)
I haven't contact the universities yet since I submited 4 choices and not sure which one is chosen by Mext. I think I will just wait for Mext's decision.

Menrui,
The official date for Chinese New Year is 26th February 2009.

Dear all, Happy Chinese New Year~~!!!!:wave:

[athz]

Just got informed by my Prof. that i would be enrolled in Nagoya Institute of Technology...
Bye Menrui and Ooilingfan...... ^~^

Wish aLL the best for everyone who' s still waiting for your official notification.
Happy Chinese New Year... Gong Xi Fa Chai ^o^

[ooilingfan]

Just got informed by my Prof. that i would be enrolled in Nagoya Institute of Technology...
Bye Menrui and Ooilingfan...... ^~^

Wish aLL the best for everyone who' s still waiting for your official notification.
Happy Chinese New Year... Gong Xi Fa Chai ^o^

Congrats athz!
All the best to you too.

[Nurik]

um, are you also applying for the MEXT research scholarship? most of us here only have experience with that.

here are some basix questions:
-why do you want to study in japan?
-why is it important to conduct your research in japan?
-how can you contribute to japan?

thanx for info.
the program i'm applying for is specially designed for students form Central Asian States and conducted at Tsukuba UIniversity, but i guess all the costs are covered by MEXT scholarship.

domou

[kouki]

>menrui

I have contacted both my professors, not long ago. Still no replies from them. :(

>Malaysians

By the way, I have received an e-mail from Ms Yin. It says the the official results will be revealed in mid-February.

To all,
Happy Chinese New Year!

[ooilingfan]

>
>Malaysians
By the way, I have received an e-mail from Ms Yin. It says the the official results will be revealed in mid-February.
To all,
Happy Chinese New Year!

Yea, the notice was sent to all 30 of us. Perhaps they receive a lot of enquiries from us asking for results =p
It's very kind of them to give us some assurance.

[c0ok1e]

Fellow malaysians, I've received unofficial update that the final confirmation will most likely be out middle of Feb.
From my understanding out of the total 33 who were nominated this year, 3 voluntarily dropped their nomination. 29 were successful with tentative status and 1 substitute candidate was selected, in case any of the 29 were to give up.
And also from my understanding, the 29 are most likely to get the scholarship unless something happened at the university level, which I will not speculate as there are 1001 possibilities.
As to what will happen when the official news arrive is, we will receive a letter stating the university we're going, when we're going (april or october), the flight itinerary and a pledge form to sign (declaration and contract).
As for Visa, candidates are considered special cases under govt scholarships, so we don't actually have to 'apply' and wait for approval. Perhaps we only need to fill up a simple form as a formality so don't worry about the visa, just get your passport ready.
Ok, for those who received notice from their universities (official or non-official), a big congrats!
For those of us who are still waiting with out butts aching, lets hope for the best.
Happy Chinese New YEar and Gong Xi Fa Chai to all chinese members here. An ox..picious year ahead =)

sounds good..where did u get this unofficial news from?? the candidate that dropped probably are people who have found a good job with good career prospects..but they could have wait till the confirmation before rejecting..:-)

[menrui]

Bye Menrui and Ooilingfan...... ^~^
:( well dont worry about us, just do whats best for you.

kouki,
hmm maybe they are busy or just missed your email. looks like you will have to wait it out. 3 more weeks guys~

[mozart]

Dear All:
Errmmm.....very sorry for interrupting you guys in the middle of your "hot cakes" discussion...well..under the introduction of my friend, I get to know abt this forum, which I think I might obtain sum useful info abt the MEXT scholarship application.
Before this may I know anyone here is under the "University Recommendation"...? :-)
Thank you

[menrui]

Welcome to the forums mozart. Hmm I don't recall anyone here that is applying under the university recommendation...

Anyways, to every one else that is waiting, I found an interesting article that discusses how the Japanese government is making an effort to increase the amount foreign students(that's us!) in the country. It mentions "improving scholarship programs" (that's us too!).
Link:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080730a1.html
Steps eyed to triple foreign students here
Goal to enroll 300,000 by 2020
By TAKAHIRO FUKADA
Staff writer
The government, hoping to boost the ranks of foreign students in Japan to 300,000 by around 2020 from 118,500 at present, unveiled steps Tuesday that include simplifying immigration procedures and allowing candidates to complete admission and accommodations applications in their own countries....

[ooilingfan]

sounds good..where did u get this unofficial news from?? the candidate that dropped probably are people who have found a good job with good career prospects..but they could have wait till the confirmation before rejecting..:-)

Well, my guess is that they are not very keen on studying in Japan.
To most of us here, going to Japan is like a dream come true. But there are many also who are not so sure whether they want to do their postgrad in a new language and a place so foreign.
Or perhaps they have better offers of scholarships to places that appeal to them more.
Anyway, just hope that all of us will make it through smoothly. The number is smaller compared to previous years.

As for where i get the news, I editted the post to omit the source cause it's kinda classified information. But i'm sure you can take a good guess. =)

[ooilingfan]

By the way, guys, I know it's a bit early for this suggestion, but can i suggest that after we all got the confirmation, we open up another fresh new thread. Something like "MEXT: postgrad batch of 2009". Just for all of us here to keep in touch as usually after arriving to Japan, students will not visit this thread as often anymore, if at all. Or perhaps there's a new channel for us to discuss new future issues.

[c0ok1e]

By the way, guys, I know it's a bit early for this suggestion, but can i suggest that after we all got the confirmation, we open up another fresh new thread. Something like "MEXT: postgrad batch of 2009". Just for all of us here to keep in touch as usually after arriving to Japan, students will not visit this thread as often anymore, if at all. Or perhaps there's a new channel for us to discuss new future issues.

yup..can use facebook or some other way to keep in touch and meet up once a year or so..hehe

[ooilingfan]

haha, yea
we should clear up this thread and make way for the new batch

[menrui]

Yeah we definitely polluted this thread with a lot of unrelated stuff. I don't think everyone here has facebook... Maybe we can start a "social group" on this forum? either way, maybe we should exchange contact info too.

[athz]

yeah i agree with u guys... just realize that there's almost 2000 posts in this thread... ^o^
The recipients of MEXT scholarship 2009 in my country has also started a group in facebook. It's a good idea to start a new thread or even a social group so we could exchange our contact details. Maybe we can hang out together in Japan ^^

[Vyen]

Good. :cool:I totally agree with the social group and facebook's suggestions so that we still can keep in touch if we all manage to study in Japan.

[abeeyo_q8]

i think a facebook group is a great idea!! i'm sure most ppl on the thread have fb and if not... could always create an account...well this thread is more anonymous than fb but i'm okay with either one :D

[menrui]

oh, I thought facebook was just a US thing, I'm so out of touch. Seems like there are already some MEXT scholarship facebook groups, like 3 I think. There's even a Osaka University group hehe. Anyways, yeah facebook sounds like a good idea. I already have an account, so I don't mind. If we do use facebook, are we going to make our own group? Or just join an existing

[c0ok1e]

yup i also have a facebook account and dont mind adding extra friends... i think we shud make a group for ourselves since if we joined an existing one, the group might be too large that we dont even know half of the people there.. at the same time we could join the existing one to meet any MEXT scholar in our university... :cool:

[Charles Barkley]

There will be tons of MEXT scholars at your school. You will have no problem meeting them whether you make a facebook group or not. If you live in a dorm, your whole dorm will be full of them.

Not that it you should make meeting MEXT scholars a particular goal, over say the normal goal of just 'meeting people.' Though now I am sure that is the uniting thread that pulls you and everyone else you know who will be in Japan together, once you actually get to Japan, that thread will vanish and you won't even remember it was there...

[c0ok1e]

:okashii:There will be tons of MEXT scholars at your school. You will have no problem meeting them whether you make a facebook group or not. If you live in a dorm, your whole dorm will be full of them.

Not that it you should make meeting MEXT scholars a particular goal, over say the normal goal of just 'meeting people.' Though now I am sure that is the uniting thread that pulls you and everyone else you know who will be in Japan together, once you actually get to Japan, that thread will vanish and you won't even remember it was there...

true true... humans tend to be united when they r in the same boat..once we got out of the boat we wont know each other anymore..thats human nature.. whatever plans we have will just vanish as soon as we got to japan.. :(

[menrui]

:( I just died a little bit inside...

[Nall-ohki]

:( I just died a little bit inside...

What happened? :souka:

[menrui]

:relief: err, I was referring to Charles and cookies' harsh reality.

[c0ok1e]

:relief: err, I was referring to Charles and cookies' harsh reality.

LOL.. thats just a generalization..maybe we can show to the world that it is possible to break out of the norm and plan a get together every year and stay in touch...:p

[mozart]

Welcome to the forums mozart. Hmm I don't recall anyone here that is applying under the university recommendation...
Anyways, to every one else that is waiting, I found an interesting article that discusses how the Japanese government is making an effort to increase the amount foreign students(that's us!) in the country. It mentions "improving scholarship programs" (that's us too!).


Ou...but nevermind....maybe on other information. My Prof told me that I will get to know the result in June, is there a second review for the intake if fail to get in during June? Thanks a lot

[ooilingfan]

LOL.. thats just a generalization..maybe we can show to the world that it is possible to break out of the norm and plan a get together every year and stay in touch...:p

i agree.
I just attended my primary school classmates' gathering 2 days ago. We've been doing that consistently every year since 1997. More than 30 attended, including our form teacher. It is possible. Not all humans are ugly, not all realities are harsh. =)

Now, it's only 2 weeks away from the official confirmation!!

[kouki]

Ou...but nevermind....maybe on other information. My Prof told me that I will get to know the result in June, is there a second review for the intake if fail to get in during June? Thanks a lot

>mozart

I think for university recommendation, it differs on university's basis. It is more likely to be a collaboration between two universities. It does not deal with the embassy. It might be true that you may receive the results in June. Try check with the Japanese university you are applying. You should be able to get the answer in the FAQ of the admission page.

[luckyme]

LOL.. thats just a generalization..maybe we can show to the world that it is possible to break out of the norm and plan a get together every year and stay in touch...:p
I totally agree with you. Some one said to me that I have no chance to receive scholarship but I still keep going on and I successed. So I think if we try together, we can do it. I will be happy if I have a chance to meet you guys in this forum even after coming to Japan. I think all people participate in this forum is really serious about learning and we can learn a lot from each other. Of course, some people could be busy after coming to Japan. However, I believe that we can manage to have a meeting in Japan.
It's too early to talk about what happen after going to Japan but I have an idea that after have final result, may be we should creat a list which indicate name, university (place of Univ) we will go. With that info, we will easily find people who will learning in the same area and make the connection.

[menrui]

Some one said to me that I have no chance to receive scholarship...
Wow, who told you that? What a jerk. If(when) you do receive this scholarship, you should shove it in his/her face.

2 more weeks~~ then we can make the group, and maybe make some concrete plans.

[c0ok1e]

Wow, who told you that? What a jerk. If(when) you do receive this scholarship, you should shove it in his/her face.
2 more weeks~~ then we can make the group, and maybe make some concrete plans.

yup 2 more weeks... every day i feel heavier cuz have to leave my beautiful country... and my family and friends... :(

[kouki]

>mozart

I have confirmed for you, the results for the university recommendation scholarship students should be revealed in June. Try look at this, but it is in Japanese though.

http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/ryugaku/081210.pdf

[c0ok1e]

Hi,
Just wanna ask if any of you received a document by express mail from your supervisor? My supervisor sent me a few documents but its all written in Japanese!! What shud i do?:souka:

[kshoo]

Hi C0kk1e, just to cheer you up, i received something through the express mail too. While it's in English, it's just a piece of blue paper to tell me that they have received my application. How's that for setting high expectations and coming back to reality? :))

[ooilingfan]

Hi C0kk1e, just to cheer you up, i received something through the express mail too. While it's in English, it's just a piece of blue paper to tell me that they have received my application. How's that for setting high expectations and coming back to reality? :))

Received your application on?

[kshoo]

It was just to confirm that they have received my documents correctly :)

[kimberleylhj]

cookie, just get someone to help translate for you.

[c0ok1e]

cookie, just get someone to help translate for you.

how come mine notin english??? and my family dunno japanese.. also the form looks very complicated to fill... :(

[menrui]

hehe, if the form were simple, I could probably help you... but it seems like that isn't the case. Also, if the form is in Japanese, does that mean you have to fill it out in Japanese too? ><

[kouki]

Are those from your respective universities? I have not received anything yet. Perhaps you should send e-mail to the person-in-charge, asking for the English version.

I suppose it would be application for hostels and the Japanese course?

[kawabanga]

how come mine notin english??? and my family dunno japanese.. also the form looks very complicated to fill... :(

Why don't you bring the forms to the Japanese embassy and have the people there to help you?

[c0ok1e]

I dunno la... maybe try ask my university japanese teacher help first c how.. :relief:

[kshoo]

Alternatively, go down to JEIC at Amcorp mall and show it to the councellors. They can probably help too.

[skfer]

Untill now our embassy hasn't got any information about me or the other guy .. is that true or they are trying to say that I haven't been chosen politely ?
does anyone here has the same situation ?

[kouki]

>skfer
On our letter from embassy, it states that the results will only be known from MEXT in Tokyo, at mid-February. Therefore, I suppose we will have to wait until then to know our scholarship results. Don't worry.

[menrui]

A little bit of bad news. According to our friend Charles Barkley, MEXT will be lowering the monthly stipend for MEXT scholarship students a little bit. You can get more details from the following thread:
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?p=617692#post617692
Please discuss it there.

[oronen]

Just found this board and this thread.

I was also selected for the research student scholarship starting in April. If all goes well, I am going to Kyodai and will be at the linguistics department. As with everyone, final confirmation only in mid-February... (though Kyoto is the only university I have an acceptance letter from and I already filled dorm request forms sent by my advisor)

[MakKuro]

@oronen Hi there!
I'm heading to KyoDai too! Also filled the dorm questionnaires. All we're on level: waitin'..... one more week, or so.... :) ZzzzZzZzZ!

[ooilingfan]

Final final week left........ or more?

[menrui]

Either the end of next week, or around the beginning of the following week... I think that is when results should be coming in.

[kawabanga]

Just found this board and this thread.
I was also selected for the research student scholarship starting in April. If all goes well, I am going to Kyodai and will be at the linguistics department. As with everyone, final confirmation only in mid-February... (though Kyoto is the only university I have an acceptance letter from and I already filled dorm request forms sent by my advisor)

@oronen Hi there!
I'm heading to KyoDai too! Also filled the dorm questionnaires. All we're on level: waitin'..... one more week, or so.... :) ZzzzZzZzZ!

We could be dorm mates! (Bulgarian + Israeli + Malaysian = Fun?)

[Vyen]

Just received an email from Waseda University this morning regarding lodging. Looks like there is a high possibility that I am going to Waseda.:blush:
One week left....

[MakKuro]

(Bulgarian + Israeli + Malaysian = Fun?)
Sure thing Splinter! :cool:

[ayumi.tt]

Just received an email from Waseda University this morning regarding lodging. Looks like there is a high possibility that I am going to Waseda.:blush:
One week left....
wow vyen, congrats. :bravo:i am still waiting for news... hope we can board the plane sooner~

[menrui]

Sure thing Splinter! :cool:
hmmm, you guys are going to need a 4th turtle :-)

[MakKuro]

@ menrui ^^
We have kawabanga as Splinter.
oronen as Leonardo (?!)
Kinda see myself as Michelangelo (hahaha)!
abeeyo_q8 - April O'Neil (?!)
So, we’re two turtles short. Anyone….
……interested in joining the Kyoto-pizza-Krew? ^^

[kawabanga]

@ menrui ^^
We have kawabanga as Splinter.
oronen as Leonardo (?!)
Kinda see myself as Michelangelo (hahaha)!
abeeyo_q8 - April O'Neil (?!)
So, we’re two turtles short. Anyone….
……interested in joining the Kyoto-pizza-Krew? ^^

I wish I was as humble. Can I be Raphael instead? I had an action figure of him when I was very young.

Well, while waiting for the other two, maybe the four of us can start a game of mahjong? :blush:

[oronen]

In fact, I always liked Donatello the best. Purple is a cool color!

[abeeyo_q8]

@ menrui ^^
We have kawabanga as Splinter.
oronen as Leonardo (?!)
Kinda see myself as Michelangelo (hahaha)!
abeeyo_q8 - April O'Neil (?!)
So, we’re two turtles short. Anyone….
……interested in joining the Kyoto-pizza-Krew? ^^

looool interesting thing you guys got going here!! :D
april o'neil ha? loool she was the news girl right?
wow the kyoudai peeps are increasing!! woohoo!!

[MakKuro]

‘K then!
… a few switches’ later:

oronen dropped the leadership, becoming our tech-reptile: Donatello! Omedeou nia ^^ All sort of purple things are to be send to oronen….including some Deep Purple albums.
kawabanga, questioning his modesty took down some fur, replacing it with a red mask, thus Raphael is born! ^^
kawabanga – I can’t recall TMNT playing mahjong!! Can we replace the game with pizza eating?!
april o'neil ha? loool she was the news girl right?
Yup, that’s the one. The HOT, RED-HAIRED news gir!! ;)
So, Leo and Splinter wanted!
D'oh! Totally out of topic!!
The waiting….the waiting….
C’mon week passssss faster, you…..:mad:

[kimberleylhj]

Just received an email from my first choice of University regarding entrance arrangements. Guess I should be going there! Yuhoo!

[kouki]

>kimberleylhj

Are you going in April or October?

I have received nothing...:souka:

[ooilingfan]

congrats kimberlylhj....
we're still painfully waiting.....
I thank the long weekend, just 4 days before 'mid february' now
hope their prediction is accurate, i can't bear another weekend =p

[kouki]

>ooilingfan

I would suggest you to make the mid-Febraury as next week's weekend end...

I am becoming more and more anxious...

[kshoo]

Congrats again Vyen & Kimberlylhj. Just out of curiosity, did you get that through email or normal mail?

[ooilingfan]

>kouki,
you meant that weekend of 21st? No........!

[c0ok1e]

something about the reduction of scholarship to 155k yen..

I think the reduction is same as the 160k yen b4 right cuz now yen strengthening then yen have more buying power... so things shud b cheaper over there compared to last time...then the 155k yen now i ssame as 160k yen last time? can think like dat?

[kimberleylhj]

kouki, i'm going in april..

kshoo, my university contact me via email... the postal mail should come to us from the embassy....

[ooilingfan]

something about the reduction of scholarship to 155k yen..
I think the reduction is same as the 160k yen b4 right cuz now yen strengthening then yen have more buying power... so things shud b cheaper over there compared to last time...then the 155k yen now i ssame as 160k yen last time? can think like dat?

yen appreciation doesn't affect your spending power in japan. Dollar to dollar it's still the same. But if you send the same amount of yen back home to malaysia and convert it to Ringgit, then it'll translate to much more than before.
Hence when yen is high, save up and send it home. =)

[Vyen]

Congrats again Vyen & Kimberlylhj. Just out of curiosity, did you get that through email or normal mail?

kshoo,

I received email from the university. They said they already replied to MEXT and I should get the confirmation soon.
Just pray that we all can receive a call or an email from embassy by the end of this week.:-)

[ooilingfan]

kshoo,
I received email from the university. They said they already replied to MEXT and I should get the confirmation soon.
Just pray that we all can receive a call or an email from embassy by the end of this week.:-)

That's the last thing i heard from the university as well. No dorm arrangements, no further updates. Just to wait for the official confirmation.
Not sure when the embassy says mid-Feb means they'll receive it from japan Mid-Feb, or they'll send to us Mid-Feb. =p
If they receive it by Mid-Feb, say 16th, then they'll compile the stuff and send to us by normal post, that will take our poslaju friend another 4 days to deliver, so that'll make it, say 3rd week or end of Feb?
Expect 20th Feb i would say, if not during the last week.

[menrui]

^haha whoa, take a chill pill dude. Results will come.

[kouki]

>ooilingfan

They just mention they will inform us once the results are released from MEXT. I am not sure on the operation... But I suppose they will be contacting using emails, and we will first be informed by Ms Yin through phone calls, like previous years?

I can't sleep well for days now...

[ooilingfan]

^haha whoa, take a chill pill dude. Results will come.

yea dude. Good or bad it'll come. But it's driving me nuts.
My colleagues kept asking me, have you got the letter, have you got the letter..... =.="
Don't know which $%#@ went to spread the news about me leaving. Now everywhere i go, somebody will remind me of it though i'm trying to get busy with my work handovers.

[luckyme]

May be depend on which University you applied, the time you receive e-mail will be vary. I myself received e-mail from my University very soon (mid-January). They said that it is official Letter of Acceptance (I received LoA with condition in September last year). However, since I still didn't receive any official document from Japanese Embassy, I have in no emotion to prepare to go to Japan. In Vietnam, the official only comes at the beginning of March.

[ooilingfan]

>Luckyme
beginning of March? that's really rush. Unless you start emotionally prepare yourself now. =p
Unless you're going for the October intake?

[emreduman]

I have recieved a mail from UT, they sent us a list of new students with their names. I am relaxed.

[kshoo]

Well explained Ooilingfan. However, note that unless things drop in price ala the late nineties (ie. Japan suffered from DEFLATION once upon a time), i doubt that you can actually save more.

We shall all wait and see :)

[alabsinatheer]

To apply for this scolaship you have to struggle and prepare well for the interview because the interview has a lot to do with the selection process. You have to show the a good image because Japanese will make an impression about you through the interview more than through other things. Offcourse you have to pass the exams with a good score to go to the next step.

[menrui]

^ :blush: can you tell us something we don't already know?

By the way, according to your last post, you were having trouble entering the masters course at Tokyo University because of entrance exam? Did you find a solution yet? This makes me a bit more worried about the entrance exam...

[ooilingfan]

Well explained Ooilingfan. However, note that unless things drop in price ala the late nineties (ie. Japan suffered from DEFLATION once upon a time), i doubt that you can actually save more.
We shall all wait and see :)

yea. When the economy is bad, usually prices go down. Gas is one example, with energy cost low, hope other costs follows suit.
Anyway, my friend told me another bad news.
Somebody mentioned they are doing well with 126,000 during undergrad and 152,000 should be fine for master's students. Well, this may not be the case. Due to the difference, postgrad students are expected to pay for the regular social activities. Undergrads need not pay. So, buckle up your wallet =p
Drinking can be expensive there.

[menrui]

ooilingfan,
If you are really worried, would you like to share a 1DK and a bunk bed with me? :giggle:

I still think 152,000 yen is more than enough... but yeah, we'll just have to wait and see.

[clockworkorange]

I have recieved a mail from UT, they sent us a list of new students with their names. I am relaxed.


UT as in University of Tokyo?

I did not receive anything. Emreduman, do you mean you received a list of names of students selected to go from your country?

Gosh, i'm so worried. :(

[emreduman]

UT as in University of Tokyo?
I did not receive anything. Emreduman, do you mean you received a list of names of students selected to go from your country?
Gosh, i'm so worried. :(

There were total of 31 students, 5 doctorate and 26 research student, from all over the world. I just received the names of embassy recommended students who will study engineering in The University Of Tokyo. If you won't study engineering, do not worry.

[parady]

clockworkorange, the email sent by Todai was from the graduate school of engineering, so it was only adressed to engineering and architecture students, what is your field of study? perhaps you belong to another faculty??

[clockworkorange]

I applied for Chemical Systems Engineering.

My field of study is engineering but i did not receive anything.

To parady and emreduman, may i know who the email is from? Is it from the International Student Office?

Maybe i can email the office. But it looks bleak.

Gosh i really feel like crying now.

Or if the list contains all the students' names, is it possible one of you could check for me?

I'd appreciate it.

[kouki]

>clockworkorange

Don't panic.

1. Are you going in April? Perhaps that is the list for the 'April List'?
2. Is that the only university you have submitted your LoA? If it is so, perhaps MEXT arranged another university for you.

Don't worry too much. I have not received anything at the mean time just yet. (Althought I didn't submitted LoA from University of Tokyo)

[ooilingfan]

clockworkorange,
Don't worry first, it's still 2 days away before end of the week.

[emreduman]

I applied for Chemical Systems Engineering.
My field of study is engineering but i did not receive anything.
To parady and emreduman, may i know who the email is from? Is it from the International Student Office?
Maybe i can email the office. But it looks bleak.
Gosh i really feel like crying now.

Or if the list contains all the students' names, is it possible one of you could check for me?
I'd appreciate it.

clockworkorange, can you please send me a pm and tell your name? I will look at the list.
The mail was sent by Office of International Students(OIS); but the list only contains the names of students from School Of Engineering

[clockworkorange]

Thanks, emreduman. I've sent you a private message.

Kouki, you've got a point. I applied to go in October so maybe, MAYBE thats why i didn't get the list.

At any rate however, its hard, at this point, not to feel anxious. I feel kinda resigned to the whole thing. There's nothing to do but wait and if its less than good news, there's nothing to do then either.

Anyway, best of luck to all. I don't think the results will be out this week though. Next week maybe.

[ooilingfan]

I just received an email from my University's International Student Affairs Division, confirming my entrance into their program. They will send me all the relevant forms and stuff via email attachments tomorrow.
YAHOOOO!!!!

I'm sure the official letter from the embassy will come really really soon.
I'll wait for the good news from all of you guys soon!!

[Vyen]

ooilingfan,

Congrats~~~!!!:cool:

[menrui]

Ooilingfan!
Guess what? We're going to be school mates! I just woke up to that email too!

[ooilingfan]

Ooilingfan!
Guess what? We're going to be school mates! I just woke up to that email too!

Yoohoo! congrats man.
=)