Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!
- Thread starter Wingmaker
- Start date
screwed? oh god, which stage did you got screwed?
Don't stop trying.
securing a professor's consent is most important. I think i passed the interview mostly because of that email from my prof.
keep contacting more universities, you may want to scan all your documents (the exact same set sent to your embassy) in PDF and attach them in your email, once you got the "form for LoA" and "passing certificate", scan them into PDF as well and send them over.
If you have japanese language proficiency write in japanese.
I did all that, though my japanese is not enough ACADEMIC, and I'm afraid that I would look like a dumbo rather than make good influence on the teachers. any way, I've got another question.... some universities require the original paper of the preliminary selection certificate... is it possible to ask for more from the embassy or just send a copy and give an aliby..?
how many copies did your embassy send?
Ours sent 3 original copies.
You only send when you've got the consent and i suppose it should be enough, unless you got consents from more than 3 profs
- 30 Mar 2008
- 166
- 3
Menrui,
Thank you very much for your help. I recently started taking Japanese classes so I took the form to my Japanese teacher and she said more or less the same thing. There was no way I could fill the 1st page myself. So I've already emailed my professor and asked him to fill up both pages.
So ur aiming for Osaka as 1st choice? All the best!! Frankly, I hope we all get it so we all can meet up in Japan or something. Grin.
- 30 Mar 2008
- 166
- 3
To the malaysian candidates, when u guys send in your health certificates and LoAs, do u guys label the envelope with Attn: Ms. Yin?
Just making sure.
Just making sure.
abltmusician
後輩
- 17 Aug 2008
- 6
- 0
Hi everyone!
This is my first time here and I want to thank you all for sharing your experiences about applying for the Scholarship!
Right now, I'm a graduate student studying Computer Science in NY. I'm very interested in applying for the research student scholarship. I found out that applicants will need to take English and Japanese proficiency exams. Did anyone take the Japanese Exam? Were they similar to the sample question posted on this website? studyjapan?
In additional to exams, I see that it's hard to get a reply from the professors, especially if they don't know you. Did anyone successfully received replies from Japanese professors? Any suggestions on how to contact them and so forth?
Thank you so much for all of your help! Good luck to those who are preparing for the scholarship and starting their studies in Japan!!!!!
This is my first time here and I want to thank you all for sharing your experiences about applying for the Scholarship!
Right now, I'm a graduate student studying Computer Science in NY. I'm very interested in applying for the research student scholarship. I found out that applicants will need to take English and Japanese proficiency exams. Did anyone take the Japanese Exam? Were they similar to the sample question posted on this website? studyjapan?
In additional to exams, I see that it's hard to get a reply from the professors, especially if they don't know you. Did anyone successfully received replies from Japanese professors? Any suggestions on how to contact them and so forth?
Thank you so much for all of your help! Good luck to those who are preparing for the scholarship and starting their studies in Japan!!!!!
As for the exams at the embassy, I think that you as anative wouldn't find any real problem, except if there's competition between you and other candidates, thus I advise you to revise your grammar (I mean the tricky kinda grammar), and exercise your speed reading to keep a competitive advantage.
as for the japanese test, you should learn as much as you can, cuz more proficient you get, the better it is. JLPT 4 is a must to get a minimum satisfying result.
for the supervisor stuff, it's a little bit messy. You should look arround in every faculty or graduate school for teachers and try to get in touch with as much as you can.
that's it I think, anything else?
as for the japanese test, you should learn as much as you can, cuz more proficient you get, the better it is. JLPT 4 is a must to get a minimum satisfying result.
for the supervisor stuff, it's a little bit messy. You should look arround in every faculty or graduate school for teachers and try to get in touch with as much as you can.
that's it I think, anything else?
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
abltmusician,
Its a good thing you are finding interest in this scholarship so early. As you can see from our experiences, it would really benefit you to start thinking about it.
You said that you are already a graduate student. I think most applicants are using the scholarship as a way to enter graduate school. I'm not sure how that will affect you but I think it will raise some questions.
We all took the Japanese exam. The test are in the exact same format as the ones on studyjapan. This year, and maybe from now on, they used a slightly different format. Instead of 3, one hour, test(A-C, easiest to hardest, i think similar to JLPT lvl 4, 3, & 2 skill level), they gave 1, one hour, test that got progressively harder. I think they eliminated the easiest of the 3 test, A, and started with questions from B and ended with reading from C.
Abdoukun has some good advise. Honestly, I didnt even read the reading. It was a bit long(and hard), and then you only answer 2-3 questions. So I just "tried" to read the first sentence of each paragraph. read the question, tried to find it in the reading, and then take a guess. I think it sort of worked... but I dont even know my score.
I think most of us have never met the professors that we are contacting. Yes, I think it is hard to get a reply from a professor. But with some persistant, I'm sure anyone can get a reply. The best way of doing so is email, it gives you time to write it, it gives them time to reply (and perhaps is the easiest way for them to reject by simply not replying). I personally sent out emails to about 10 professors, got a reply from 4 of them, and 1 of them rejected me. The other 3 expressed some interest.
Its a good thing you are finding interest in this scholarship so early. As you can see from our experiences, it would really benefit you to start thinking about it.
You said that you are already a graduate student. I think most applicants are using the scholarship as a way to enter graduate school. I'm not sure how that will affect you but I think it will raise some questions.
We all took the Japanese exam. The test are in the exact same format as the ones on studyjapan. This year, and maybe from now on, they used a slightly different format. Instead of 3, one hour, test(A-C, easiest to hardest, i think similar to JLPT lvl 4, 3, & 2 skill level), they gave 1, one hour, test that got progressively harder. I think they eliminated the easiest of the 3 test, A, and started with questions from B and ended with reading from C.
Abdoukun has some good advise. Honestly, I didnt even read the reading. It was a bit long(and hard), and then you only answer 2-3 questions. So I just "tried" to read the first sentence of each paragraph. read the question, tried to find it in the reading, and then take a guess. I think it sort of worked... but I dont even know my score.
I think most of us have never met the professors that we are contacting. Yes, I think it is hard to get a reply from a professor. But with some persistant, I'm sure anyone can get a reply. The best way of doing so is email, it gives you time to write it, it gives them time to reply (and perhaps is the easiest way for them to reject by simply not replying). I personally sent out emails to about 10 professors, got a reply from 4 of them, and 1 of them rejected me. The other 3 expressed some interest.
kimberleylhj
先輩
- 16 Jul 2008
- 91
- 0
I haven't gotten any.. 
Looks like 22 August seems rather impossible for me now..
Unless some kind of miracle happens in within the next 2 days..
Looks like 22 August seems rather impossible for me now..
Unless some kind of miracle happens in within the next 2 days..
abltmusician
後輩
- 17 Aug 2008
- 6
- 0
AbdouKun and menrui
Thank you very much for your advises! They are very helpful!
Do you know what's considering passing for the Japanese language exam?
Oh yeah, how did you "craft" your emails when writing to the professors? For example, did you include a detailed proposal on your study plan? Or could it be a casual yet have a serious tone...like " hi, I'm interested in completing a research on blahh blahh and I was wondering if this is possible to be conducted under your supervision?"
Thanks for reading!
Thank you very much for your advises! They are very helpful!
Do you know what's considering passing for the Japanese language exam?
Oh yeah, how did you "craft" your emails when writing to the professors? For example, did you include a detailed proposal on your study plan? Or could it be a casual yet have a serious tone...like " hi, I'm interested in completing a research on blahh blahh and I was wondering if this is possible to be conducted under your supervision?"
Thanks for reading!
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
cookie,
I hate to say it, but yes, sending in 1 LoA should give you a smaller chance compared to sending in 2(or more). The Aug. 22 deadline is drawing close so you might not have a choice. Did you read what Kshoo posted on the previous page(page37)? Maybe you could send the 2nd one in before the Sept deadline... Or, you could say that the one you have is your 2nd choice, and if you do receive the other before the sept deadline, you could say that one is your 1rst choice. Maybe this could work?
abltmusician,
I dont think there is a "passing" score. I hear some people just leave the japanese test blank and still are able to get an interview or pass the prelimary screening. My coordinator told me that I must "pass" either the english test or japanese test. But im really not sure what a passing score is for either.
You will most likely go through a series of email exchange with prof. so your first email doesnt have to be really detailed about your research proposal. What I did, I wrote a casual/serious tone email first: introduce myself, explain my situation, express interest, briefly state my proposal, etc. Then if he/she is interested, he/she will reply to you and ask questions or request documents(CV, transcript, MEXT application, etc). By the way, when do you plan to apply? next year right?
Kimberleylhj,
*sigh, I'm really sorry to hear that. there is still 2-3 business days left, so lets hope for the best. If not, maybe they will allow you to make the Sept deadline. If everything fails, remember, you still have a chance because the embassy will try to place you in a university.
I hate to say it, but yes, sending in 1 LoA should give you a smaller chance compared to sending in 2(or more). The Aug. 22 deadline is drawing close so you might not have a choice. Did you read what Kshoo posted on the previous page(page37)? Maybe you could send the 2nd one in before the Sept deadline... Or, you could say that the one you have is your 2nd choice, and if you do receive the other before the sept deadline, you could say that one is your 1rst choice. Maybe this could work?
abltmusician,
I dont think there is a "passing" score. I hear some people just leave the japanese test blank and still are able to get an interview or pass the prelimary screening. My coordinator told me that I must "pass" either the english test or japanese test. But im really not sure what a passing score is for either.
You will most likely go through a series of email exchange with prof. so your first email doesnt have to be really detailed about your research proposal. What I did, I wrote a casual/serious tone email first: introduce myself, explain my situation, express interest, briefly state my proposal, etc. Then if he/she is interested, he/she will reply to you and ask questions or request documents(CV, transcript, MEXT application, etc). By the way, when do you plan to apply? next year right?
Kimberleylhj,
*sigh, I'm really sorry to hear that. there is still 2-3 business days left, so lets hope for the best. If not, maybe they will allow you to make the Sept deadline. If everything fails, remember, you still have a chance because the embassy will try to place you in a university.
Hi all,
With regards to Menrui's comments, the items that i posted was feedback from the officer handling the MEXT scholarships at the embassy of Japan in Malaysia. Not sure if it is applicable for other countries as well (e.g. US, Algeria), so the best thing is to double-check with the local country embassy on this.
Guys (C0ok1e, menrui, kimberleylhj), you're not the ones who are worried. At least you have gotten a reply from your professors. I haven't gotten any even (!!!) as all my communications thus far is through the specific international centers/coordinators. Am finishing up my letter to be sent to Ms. Yin at the embassy, informing her that both herself and I need to continue to wait. Ah...the waiting and the worry.....
With regards to Menrui's comments, the items that i posted was feedback from the officer handling the MEXT scholarships at the embassy of Japan in Malaysia. Not sure if it is applicable for other countries as well (e.g. US, Algeria), so the best thing is to double-check with the local country embassy on this.
Guys (C0ok1e, menrui, kimberleylhj), you're not the ones who are worried. At least you have gotten a reply from your professors. I haven't gotten any even (!!!)
as all my communications thus far is through the specific international centers/coordinators. Am finishing up my letter to be sent to Ms. Yin at the embassy, informing her that both herself and I need to continue to wait. Ah...the waiting and the worry.....Hey frens, I wonder have any of u heard of this. Even if we get the LoA for all the three choices we listed out, we won't be guaranteed to study in these 3 uni if we passed the final round. There was a master student who had graduated under this scholarship. He was sent to another university which was not listed under his 3 choices. So, since, the japanese government will decide which uni we are going, why are they asking us to find the university and get an LoA? May be those who din get an LoA still has chance?<-- My main point
Hey frens, I wonder have any of u heard of this. Even if we get the LoA for all the three choices we listed out, we won't be guaranteed to study in these 3 uni if we passed the final round. There was a master student who had graduated under this scholarship. He was sent to another university which was not listed under his 3 choices. So, since, the japanese government will decide which uni we are going, why are they asking us to find the university and get an LoA? May be those who din get an LoA still has chance?<-- My main point
Yes, that is a very good point.
There is no guarantee in anything. The final decision is still at Tokyo's head office. Everybody who reached this point still has a shot before Feb 2009.
So guys, don't give up. Keep up your effort for the 21 Sept Deadline. Meanwhile, draft a letter to the embassy stating the LoA will come late due to holidays and delays in transit, with the emails bearing 'verbal' consent of supervisors attached.
According to Ms yin's email, the deadline is 30th september, isn't it? am i not notified by her? the embassy changed it to 21st?? this is making me panic
i'm sorry, my mistake. It's 30 Sept.
don't forget to make 2 copies. I attached the email containing the consent of my supervisor.
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