Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

So clockwork, are you saying we can sit for the August entrance exam as well if we go in april? that's good to have 2 tries for the April 2010 intake. At least don't have to wait another year.
I was told by my supervisor that the entrance exam will be in Feb. But hope i can go for the August one as well. Shall see how's it next year =)

Well clockwork, you may envy Lancetology but he has to turn down 6 universities later. =)
 
clockwokorange, what kind of questions do they ask in the exam??general language questions or the scientific questions?

if we go on april im still not sure if we can sit for the october exams because we have to go for the language course...dont know if we have enough time to prepare or will we get to our uni on time..what u guys think?
 
clockworkorange said:
Hello everyone,
To lancetology, i can only say i'm very very envious of you. To be accepted by 7 universities is a feat eh? i started getting my research proposal together only during the application itself and did not get into contact with professors until it was confirmed i passed the exam. So you're way ahead and if you ask me, have nothing to worry about. Anyway, the application for next year will probably come ard March. This year, it was out on March 12 or 15.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
:-)...well...thanks from all of you..compare to some of my colleagues that had started their life in Oxford & Cambridge Univ...I'm quite a bit late, initially I taught that this application can be done within a few months, but never wonder it could take up to one year as well. .I do have worries too..about the english test...how to consider pass & will be call for interview...OR they have some quotas of number, & only choose the highest scoring within the number, others will consider disqualify...all these I have no idea..if you guys have any ideas..I'm more welcome to tell me...at least can help to alleviate some worries...:-)
Yes...its true...I'm being exempted from sitting the entrance examination from all those universities. This is why I have no worries other than just the first barrier (english & jap test)..if I can pass...I think shld be no problem. Shall I enclosed those offered letter as well during the application? (if all if us manage to get there...maybe can come-out & have a steambot fest during winter time:-))
Turning down other universities indeed a difficult decision, becoz the prof are really nice person & their research are very good...part of them invlv core science research, part of them offered applied research, esp in clinical approach. All are very interesting....tats Y my advice to all of you is, in Japan, no matter which lab or which univ you get into, the area must be your most like...but in terms of the subject (like the type of research), you can always proposed to ur supervisor & diversify them, but of course you need to know what methods or techniques, knwldge/skills that might involve, if the lab you join do not have those experts, & at the same time your idea is really BRILLIANT, I think your supervisor will be very glad to make a call or send an email to any of his/her colleagues in other labs/varsities to ask for collaboration (In that case you might have to do part of the wrk in other place)...
Every lab or univ in Japan I beliv they are all great. Please do not feel turn down when you did not get into TOP univ OR juz got accepted by only one or two (in terms of number). :-)
 
judging from your post, im pretty sure you can pass the english test. its not too hard really.
it seems like the test is only used to trim down the amount of applicants. i dont think there is a quota. the interview is the biggest obstacle.

hmm, you probably shouldnt include those letters in the application. like i said, there is already a section for that in the application itself. plus, they will most likely ask you about it during the interview too. maybe you can include it with your LoA later. im not sure.

steambot fest? is that a robot thing? you probably meant "steampot." either case, count me in haha. we talked about having a get together before, but we decided to wait until everything is official before we plan anything.
 
i think he mean steamboat..thats what we call it in malaysia...count me in too...but not sure if all of us going to the same place..👍
 
Lancetology,

Wow. I must say i'm very impressed by the fact that you don't need to sit for entrance exams at all. Is this a normal practice for Japanese universities? On what basis do you not need to sit for the exams? Excellent past results? Endorsement by the professors? An excellent research proposal? Does this then mean you will not need to pass the research student phase? Sorry for the questions. Skipping the research student phase would save time hence the interest. Are you fluent in Japanese then?

Appreciate if you could clarify.

Ha, menrui. I don't really know what steampot is but i'm guessing its the same as steamboat. Its really just a big pot of boiling soup which everybody sits ard and dunks stuff in. It'd be nice if someday we could all meet up for that. I'm forever trying to put a face to each of you guys in the forum.
 
Hi Clockworkorange,

Thanks for sharing your experience at the edu fair. I was busy during the weekend studying for my JLPT so I didn't get a chance to go. Looks like it was worth your time to be there as your univ had a booth set up where you were able to talk to the student reps and make new friends. Do they have something like a Malaysian Students Support Group over at U of Tokyo? Going to another topic, are entrance exams in Japan typically as tough as you said or is it just U of Tokyo (and someone mentioned Kyoto U, too)? What's the passing rate?

Hi Lancetology,

It's extraordinary to be accepted by 7 unis without having to take the entrance exams. I think you're a sure-in for the scholarship. You must have an outstanding track record and a brilliant research topic. All I can say is I'm proud of you as a fellow Malaysian and I think Japan can definitely use a talent like you. 👍
 
c0ok1e said:
I saw in JASSO website that some courses dont require international students to sit for the entrance exam..
Click to expand...

yeah some universities, like kyoto university, don't require government sponsored students (that would be us) to take entrance exams
but obviously not all unis exempt us from taking it, you have to check

Lancetology said:
I do have worries too..about the english test...how to consider pass & will be call for interview...OR they have some quotas of number, & only choose the highest scoring within the number, others will consider disqualify...all these I have no idea..if you guys have any ideas..I'm more welcome to tell me...at least can help to alleviate some worries...:-)
Click to expand...

i don't think you should be too worried about the eng exam, your eng seems good enough

i remember the guy at the embassy telling me that you only needed like above a 50% on the eng exam, and that my scores on the japanese exam weren't as important
 
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clockworkorange said:
I'm forever trying to put a face to each of you guys in the forum.
Click to expand...
<== thats what the avatars are for... 🙂
i did some searching, yeah i think he means steamboat. i had some before, i just never knew the term for it. also, a steampot already has the ingredients inside, so its a bit different.
 
menrui said:
<== thats what the avatars are for... 🙂
i did some searching, yeah i think he means steamboat. i had some before, i just never knew the term for it. also, a steampot already has the ingredients inside, so its a bit different.
Click to expand...

perhaps if given the chance to visit malaysia, we can bring you out for the malaysian style. Steamboat yin yang style (clear soup / tom yam soup) with bbq (hot grill). Even better, it's eat-all-you-can at only $5-6 USD. =) Best served with cold beer.
 
thanks for the offer ooilingfan. wow, all you can eat at 5-6$ would be great. oh, and unfortunately, i dont drink alcohol 😌 .

speaking of which, it seems like its very common for colleagues to get together and go drinking or go "konpa" . i see it in anime and tv shows. every one is laughing and getting drunk. i would go with them of course, but would they frown upon for not drinking with them? at my university, people would give me a weird reaction when i tell them that i dont drink at all. and it doesnt help that my univ is rated the #1 party school, which is a good thing in the US haha.

its not a serious question, but i think about it sometimes.
 
clockworkorange said:
Lancetology,
Wow. I must say i'm very impressed by the fact that you don't need to sit for entrance exams at all. Is this a normal practice for Japanese universities? On what basis do you not need to sit for the exams? Excellent past results? Endorsement by the professors? An excellent research proposal? Does this then mean you will not need to pass the research student phase?.....
Click to expand...

:-)....looks like you'r trying to search for "ways" to skip the entrance exam...well, your professor is the one that holds the "power" to decide whether to exempt you from taking the exam....depends on your BOSS...but based on most of the post from you guys, can see that your BOSS doesnt have intention to exempt you all from sitting the exam.

My dear lovely clockworkorange, there is no way that you can exempt from exam (including other people as well)...as for me is becoz I have an in depth research experience, of course, I had submitted a very brilliant research proposals, but in order to produce that, you must be very experience also in that relevant field, then only you can know more & know what, which and why is that important, how it can contribute & revolutionize the scientific area. This cant be done with just few weeks or months or juz read a few articles. I have publications in several good journals...I have done plenty of research...including constructing transgenic animals etc. all this I dun think you guys have.....thats why, standing from the point of view as your supervisor in japan, the mentality of you guys as a "post-graduate" is still suspicious. Furthermore, from the way you write your proposals, your prof already know your level of mentality in scientific integrative skills, way of expression, creativity & the most is, whether you know in depth about their research.

Compare to me, that is no doubt, thats why prof in japan are willing to support me by using their research grant, some are even willing to write a recommendation letter to me even thou they do not know me. I will start my postgrad project straight away during the period of research phase & continue, this is why if I really get the scholarship, I'm definitely CONFIRM in japan. but not for you guys. Now my job is just to pass the barrier during the screening in the embassy later.

My advice is...the six months as research student is very important for you all...becoz during this period, you are going to tell BOSS later...show them your mentality as post-grad level, show them you re hardworking, willing to learn, take advice, can get well with the staffs. But thats is not enuf, you must show your ability in scientific integrative skills, interpreting skills, troubleshooting...etc. who knows,you BOSS might change his/her decision & exempt you from sitting the exam...OR...even if you fail in the exam...they will still take you in as well.

So..nw you know why I'm so different...:-)..but I'm confident...you can do it...gal-mah..shld be more hardwrking derr....😊 but of coz...I do have some excellent past track records as well....but I think thats not the main reason for them to offer me all those things...my ability in research is no doubt..this is the main reason.

But dun mis-understood, I'm nt an old man...Im just 23 years old...but I did pass through hard time before, I do struggle before, troubleshooting, optimizing, do research till late at night, no results after at d end of the exprimts which makes me felt depressed...all these make me grown & becm what I'm today. Tomorrow, monday, I nid to back to my lab & repeat some experiments, the results will be submitted for publication this year..my colleagues all already submitted, my prof is waiting for my part...!

Anyway, there is no shortcut to success in this world...my current prof is a Japanese too :-),he told me one thing before, which woke me up, now I pass to you:

"qualification is just a piece of paper, I can gv you that scroll within one or two days, but who you're, you dun have EXPERIENCE, you do knw how to give talks in international conference, you duno how to write good papers,you duno how to troubleshoot the problems. You are noting but juz an empty can with Master/PhD scroll (outlook is nice only)."

Hop this useful for you up too. You shld know how competitive the world outside is, I shall thanks my current prof for making me such an experienced scientists. Please dun take anything for simple...

But Dun worry...the I'm confident that all you guys can pass...gambateh kudasai...:-)
 
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haha, seems like we're speaking to a Si Fu here.
all the best for your next year's application. Meanwhile, for the rest of us, results could be less than 50 days away.
I'm having quite frequent nightmares on failing lately. Perhaps due to fatigue from work. Got turned down by a scholarship days ago, doesn't boost my morale though. But shall hope for the best next Jan or Feb. All the best, guys!
 
Lancetology,

Thank you very much for your clarification. I appreciate it. I do not, however, take very kindly to your condescending tone nor your insinuation that I am looking to take the easy way out.

I am not fearful of the entrance exams. Looking through the papers, the exams are undoubtedly difficult. But i think if you work hard enough, passing is not such an impossibility. I've always dreamt of studying in Japan. The research student phase is a good thing since it gives you an opportunity to learn the language and the culture but it takes time. I thought it a necessary thing since some courses are conducted in Japanese until you posted on this forum declaring that you did not have to. That is why i asked you if you were fluent in Japanese.

I am very well acquainted with hard work. I think most ppl posting in this forum are.

There is no doubt that you are a brilliant person, to have achieved so much at such a young age. And you probably meant well. But perhaps you should learn to phrase your words in a way that does not piss the crap out of ppl.

Also, my dear lovely lancetology, perhaps it is time to learn some modesty too, neh? 😏

Best of luck for your application.
 
To ooilingfan,

regarding the entrance exam, i think i read it somewhere in this thread that if you are from the April intake, you have the opportunity to take the exam twice.

To cookie,

Well, the past year papers that i downloaded were pretty specific. I study chemical engineering - so its maths, chemistry (organic and inorganic)...the papers have pretty specific questions on each subject.

Very sorry for the late reply to you both. I must have overlooked your posts or else forgotten to reply while posting on the forum. I apologize.

To menrui,
I wonder about the same thing too - about the drinking. As i do not drink alcohol as well. My Japanese teacher commented that in Malaysia the drinking culture is not particularly strong. That surprised me a bit since i was under the impression that the drinking culture in Malaysia is thriving!!! My friends sometimes give me a hard time about not drinking, what a good girl i am, how they must get me drunk some time (ha, they can try!!) bla bla bla....so yeah i worry about how things will be in Japan (if i get there) but i figure i'll worry about it when i have too.
 
well, the average malaysians are not submerged in a strong drinking culture.
We have soft drinks, teh tariks, coffees, ICE LEMON TEA (my favourite) during meal times apart from sky juice instead of alcohols. Perhaps it's because we're in a muslim dominant country, we don't pick up the habit too easily.
Well, i think we shouldn't be too worried bout adapting to the drinking culture. If you really don't like alcohol, there's no need to force yourself.
And i always believe alcohol tolerance can be trained and if you find your right drink, you'll like it. Just like cheese.
For starters, you can take milder drinks such as mixing a little bit of chivas/whisky to coke. kanpai! :p

p/s: any hint of where to get my hands on some of the sample entrance exam papers?
just wanna get a peek on how tough it is =)
 
Dear all, I have decided to start self-studying basic Japanese language. I find the following materials very good for self-study.

Book
Title: Japanese From Zero! 1
Authors: Trombley and Takenaka
Remark: This is the best out of quite a number that I have browsed through. The presentation of the language is very systematic.

Web Site
URL: triple w dot freejapaneselessons dot com
Remark: Free but less thorough than the book.

Online Audio Lesson
URL: triple w dot youtube.com/watch?v=k0oFzx9ikoY&feature=channel_page
Remark: Very interactive, but does not teach reading and writing the Japanese language (at least not in the first few lessons that I listened).

Check them out if you're interested.

The URLs are quoted in such a way because apparently I "do not have enough posts to post a third party URL". (What kind of rule is this?!)
 
Lancetology,

I got some good advice from your long post and appreciate some of the insight that you gave..Thanks...but then again, I think maybe u would like to rephrase your sentences..Some sentences felt like you are boasting although you may not mean to..It happens often when you communicate online because the tone of the voice is not there so the emphasis is on the sentences...

menrui,
I am a social drinker...I only drink when there's occasion or when people offer me but dont really go hunting for alcohol..I think that none of us should be worrying about the crinking culture there because those drinking culture usually occurs for those working people.. as a scholar I do no tthink we will get much offer to go out for a drink... even when they do im sure they will respect our decision to drink or not..
 
hmm, i think im gong to pass on that steamboat thing...

ooilingfan,
about those sample exams, i think you have to ask your school/department for those(if they are not already online). or maybe you can the ask your supervisor. if you figure some thing out, could you inform me? speaking of which, my potential supervisor at osaka told me that the entrance exam is "easy"... and i really dont know what to make of that haha.

im not really worried about the "drinking" thing, im sure i will do just fine.

cookie,
even though we're not working, im sure colleagues often go out together. if i get the scholarship, i will be in a research group. and judging from their group photos, it seems like they hang out alot.
heres an example. one of my potential supervisors told me that he regretted accepting 1 of his students because he/she would seclude him/herself from the other students. then he wanted to know whether or not i was willing to interact with the other students by going to 'get togethers' such as "konpa". i was a bit suprised by this question, but i understand.
 
It will be hard for Muslims to join the "konpa" sessions ...because Islam forbides drinking alcohol or setting on the same table with someone who drinkes.
will that effect the study of the person who don't drink ?
 
From what I heard, drinking in Japan does not just concentrate on the working society. Lecturers and professors will actually bring their research team/students out for 'nomikai', Japan's popular drinking get together. Not only that, Japanese even offer alcohol during homestay programs if they know you drink. Haha.. But I'm sure they will respect if you don't drink. I mean, them being into alcohol doesn't mean they will force you to be into it as well. Just that probably Japanese themselves don't usually refuse an offer, so they may find themselves drinking though not really wanting to. I think we can share our side of the culture too. =P

As for the entrance exam, I am worried too especially since my university of choice is totally in Japanese. But according to my university, it's 'easy'. Hmm.. doubting that but I'm sure we will certainly do our very best. So, even if i did my best and still am not able to pass the entrance exam, well.. at least I shall enjoy my stint as a research student. That is if I actually get the scholarship of course!
 

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