Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

[Nall-ohki]

haha, good point.
It's so hard to stop thinking bout japan. Hence keep logging in here even at work.
Can't concentrate at all. I wonder what disaster it'll be when i get rejected next Feb.
Positive!positive!

Don't worry - it'll destroy you the first time - a few weeks.
The second time, you'll be hurt for a few days.
Third time, you'll be bummed for the day.

Fourth and fifth times onward - you're used to it!

...not that I'm speaking from experience or anything...

...

 

[menrui]

You're killing us Nall....

 

[jim84]

You're killing us Nall....

haha, exactly. Damn it.
Hope i can find something to do to dilute the pain of waiting.
And definitely not my job... lost the motivation to fight when thinking of studies. Just realised how much i enjoyed studying.

 

[Nall-ohki]

haha, exactly. Damn it.
Hope i can find something to do to dilute the pain of waiting.
And definitely not my job... lost the motivation to fight when thinking of studies. Just realised how much i enjoyed studying.

Sorry about teasing you guys. I'm slightly bitter and jaded about the whole "aiming for the big prize thing", but for some reason I'm too stubborn to give up. Not sure if that meets the definition of "insanity" or not. Doesn't mean I can't have a sense of humor!

To be honest - waiting is BY FAR the worst part until you've done it a few times. I remember the leadup to the first time left me a nervous wreck for a couple months.

My only recommendation is to NOT COUNT ON IT. One of the tricks I do is to plan what happens if I don't get it. There is a lot of fun in planning. Look into other programs that you might have to pay for, or other scholarships.

Looking at your other options allows you to shift your focus onto your choices, instead of placing your entire worth as a person onto whether you receive an award passed out by faceless people thousands of miles away who know you only through documents, and decide based on arbitrary facts.

It's a foolish thing to judge yourself on, but I guarantee all of you are doing it. God, I know I did.

 

[jim84]

Well said Nall. =)
All the best to everybody

 

[kshoo]

Congratulations Kimberly! I'm hoping that I can also join you guys on the flight as well Two of my universities responded positively on most probably able to send me the LOA by next week, so things ARE looking up.
Fingers crossed, fingers crossed....

 

[kimberleylhj]

Let's all wait together!!

 

[jdoramred]

Hello all,

I'm heading off to Nagoya University in October with a MEXT scholarship, initially as a research student, but then hoping to do a masters in comparative law after the initial 6 months of language training. Is there anyone else who is heading to that part of Japan, or to Nagoya university? Would be interesting to hear from anyone else from the UK who has received the scholarship as well.

 

[menrui]

^welcome to the club~
I never seen a person from the UK on the thread... I think most people here are Malaysian for some reason. Also, alot of us here are still waiting for the final results, so we don't know exactly where we are going yet. I received my letter of acceptance from Nagoya University today, but Nagoya is my 2nd option.

So you're entering as a research student, then after Japanese language studies and not doing any research, you are applying and entering a Masters Course? Sounds cool, I think my prof wanted me to do something like that too instead of spending a full 2 years as a research student.

 

[Charles Barkley]

menrui: you actually want to spend two full years as a research student? Or were you indifferent and just stating advice you were given?

 

[menrui]

I was trying to be indifferent. But I personally would like to be a research student for 2 years. I want to keep my school life as long as possible haha. Anyways, I have no idea how the scholarship works and how would be able to enter a Masters Course earlier. But thing might change, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Charles Barkley]

You can enter the master's course by meeting the regular admission requirements of the school you will be studying at.

That was one of the reasons I chose a school that allowed English--even though my Japanese is decent and presumably could get to quite a high level after a year or so of being a research student, it might not be enough that I could pass an exam designed for Japanese students.

I hope to enter the degree track as soon as possible--attending a school for 2.5 years and coming out with a masters makes a lot more sense than coming out of two years without any certification. Of course you could try for 2 years as a research student, then 2 as a degree student, but 4 years for a masters...

You could always apply to other scholarship programs in other countries if you just want to be a student for a long time. Get a degree in Japan, then try to study in China/korea through a fullbright, or enter a MBA/law program you could combine with your other degree to give you some serious skills...

 

[jim84]

I was trying to be indifferent. But I personally would like to be a research student for 2 years. I want to keep my school life as long as possible haha. Anyways, I have no idea how the scholarship works and how would be able to enter a Masters Course earlier. But thing might change, we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm not sure bout nagoya, but I was advised to study Japanese language for 6 months (Apr '09-Oct '09), then spend 6 months (Oct '09-Apr '10) as a research student. Meanwhile, there will be an entrance exam somewhere in Feb '10 which is a requirement to enter Master's degree program (2 years). So it all adds up to 3 years to complete a Masters.

 

[menrui]

Charles,
Thanks for giving me advice on how to extend my school life but I think I'm going to stop once I get a PhD degree. But I plan to enter a career in academics. Being a research professor at a Univ. would be great for me I think because I would get to plan my own research and teach students.

One reason I'm taking the time as a research student is the prepare to the entrance examination, which is most likely in Japanese. You said you were going to Tokyo U right? I think Tokyo U is maybe the only university that allows you to replace the entrance examination with the GRE: subject test, and I already taken it for my field. But the professor at TokyoU didnt give me a reply. So, I might need alot of time to prepare for entrance examination because of the japanese.

Yeah getting a degree as soon as possible would be great, but I really enjoy school so I dont really mind. It would give me alot of experience since I will be part of the research group too. Also, maybe the professor will be more willing to accept me into the Masters Course and possible the PhD course.

 

[menrui]

ooilingfan,
I was actually told something like that from my other University that I applied to. If they advise me to do that, then I will surely do it.

 

[Charles Barkley]

Nope, I am not studying at Tokyo U. I will be studying at Waseda's School of Asia Pacific studies, which offers classes in both English and Japanese, and consequently allows applications to be completed in both English and Japanese. There were no entrance tests listed on the site per se...just a process.

 

[jim84]

Nope, I am not studying at Tokyo U. I will be studying at Waseda's School of Asia Pacific studies, which offers classes in both English and Japanese, and consequently allows applications to be completed in both English and Japanese. There were no entrance tests listed on the site per se...just a process.

Charles, maybe it's because yours is a private uni.
Really worrying if we are evaluated side by side with the local japanese for the entrance exam, which is conducted in japanese.

 

[jdoramred]

It sounds as if I am looking to do the same thing as Charles - enter as a research student, do the intensive japanese course, then attempt to enrol as a masters student. The university have agreed to all of that in theory, the only issue that concerns me is passing the masters entrance exams! I've been told that the entrance exams and masters can be taken either in Japanese or English - Relief! However I haven't seen an example entrance exam. Does anyone know what to expect and what preparation is needed to pass?

 

[kouki]

You can try contacting the admission office for the past year papers and requesting related information on admission examination. Some universities required interviews as well. Make sure you know everything about their admission procedures.

Another way is to contact your academic advisor. I believe he/she will be helpful.

Good luck!

 

[jim84]

You can try contacting the admission office for the past year papers and requesting related information on admission examination. Some universities required interviews as well. Make sure you know everything about their admission procedures.
Another way is to contact your academic advisor. I believe he/she will be helpful.
Good luck!

well, the pressing issue still to get pass this stage and go there first.
we'll have another 10months to worry about the entrance exam...
But it's great news that we can choose to sit for the exam in english.

 

[menrui]

Nagoya University didnt send back my recommendation certificate... and I only have 1 of those! But, I dont think it will be a problem ha. My other Univ. allow me to email them a copy.
Does any know if we actually need those certificate? Like do we have to turn those in with the LoA? Or maybe we still need those in the future?

 

[kimberleylhj]

Nope you wouldn't need to submit that with the LOA. It's meant to be given to the university that you apply to. They actually need that in their records to prove that you have passed the initial screening or else they can't issue you a LOA.

 

[JapanDream]

Been real quiet down here these few days. Wonder how Charles is doing at Waseda? =) Finally, I got all my 3 LoA in!

 

[Vyen]

Been real quiet down here these few days. Wonder how Charles is doing at Waseda? =) Finally, I got all my 3 LoA in!

Wow...3 LoA...I still got nothing from the uni...seems like I choose the wrong research topic = ='''
just hope that can get one before the deadline...

 

[menrui]

Yeah, I think most people are just waiting for their LoA. So not much to talk about.

Vyen,
Wow that really sucks. My I ask what your research topic is about?