MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2010: General Discussions.

[clockworkorange]

hi clockworkorange,
i am invited for an interview with japanese embassy next week but i have some problem filling up the form. there are some errors (1,4,6,7(ii),9,CPE) in the first application form that i filled in. Can you help me on this. I am not sure about these errors.
Thank you.

Hi danny,
Kouki has got it right of course. If the embassy has ascertained that your application form has errors it is best to refer to Ms. Yin for definitive answers. I can only give you answers based on my own experience.

However if for some reason you still need help, then sure i'll try to help. But you need to be more specific with the questions. Could you say which questions the numbers correspond to? Cause I'm looking at last year's copy of the application form (my form) and it might not be the same. What is CPE?
:?

Btw, if you are asking about the field of research and the study program, i think i listed down what i did in another thread called "MEXT Research questions" or something like that. The thread was started by ismori.

Best of luck!!

 

[ekoy]

hi clockworkorange,
i am invited for an interview with japanese embassy next week but i have some problem filling up the form. there are some errors (1,4,6,7(ii),9,CPE) in the first application form that i filled in. Can you help me on this. I am not sure about these errors.
Thank you.

CPE here means that you have made a (big?) mistake at 7(ii). Really, I'd advice you to call Ms. Yin. She's very helpful.

Ah, good luck in your interviews, Malaysians!

 

[thetrystero]

i'm coming for the interviews in Kuala Lumpur this Thursday. See you guys there!

 

[clipvain]

Hi All,
Got an email from the embassy to attend the exams coming Monday!
I was planning to stick with my phone the whole week, thinking that I might not even pass the document screening. But it seems like they will offer everyone a chance at the papers, and then look at the exam results and documents for the shortlisting process.

Anyone going for the paper as well? Let's all do our best!!!

 

[miao]

Hi, I am applying for postgraduate. =)
Had my interview yesterday. (Malaysia) Got 5 interviewers, questions were similar to those posted here previously...
I not yet contact any professors, anyone can provide some information on this? how should I write the email to professors? what should be the content? Thanks a lot!

 

[clockworkorange]

Hi, I am applying for postgraduate. =)
Had my interview yesterday. (Malaysia) Got 5 interviewers, questions were similar to those posted here previously...
I not yet contact any professors, anyone can provide some information on this? how should I write the email to professors? what should be the content? Thanks a lot!

Hi miao,

How did the interview go?

I think i wrote something about writing to the professors somewhere else in the forum but since i don't remember where it is, i'll just repeat.

I'll just tell u what i did and u can decide if u want to do the same thing.

I attached copies of my academic transcript, research proposal and CV to the professor. then in the email, i wrote that I'm applying for the Monbukagakusho scholarship. Finally, i stated the reason why I would be very happy if he would be willing to be my professor --> relevance of my research proposal to his research work..etc.

It is advisable to browse through the university website. They usually have some guidelines for scholars. For example, they usually list down what u shud include in a correspondence with a potential supervisor.

Best of luck.

 

[miao]

Hi clockworkorange,

Thanks for your info, it is helpful.
My interview... First question was to explain my research proposal. I bla bla bla the proposal, after I finish, they direct asked the next question without mentioning/asking any words on my research proposal again...
My interview very short. All the questions, they asked, I answered, then go to next question. I thought they will ask more based on my answers... but no. So I wonder - were they not interested and I have no chance... ??

well... just wait for the result... and email professors first as I not yet get any acceptance.

Good luck to everyone!!

 

[clockworkorange]

Hi clockworkorange,

My interview very short. All the questions, they asked, I answered, then go to next question. I thought they will ask more based on my answers... but no. So I wonder - were they not interested and I have no chance... ??

I wouldn't really worry about it. It's impossible to tell what they're thinking and i think if we try to speculate we'd go a little crazy.

In my opinion, my interview wasn't really all that great (as mentioned about a hundred times in this forum) and I was about 80% convinced i'd not get through. But I did and I'm really REALLY happy about that.

So I think ur doing the right thing. anyway the interview is done already. Best of luck with finding a professor.

 

[tomayto]

hi can anyone help me on error

7(ii),8,9,CPE

thanks

 

[arap]

It's been a while since the last time I posted in this forum...

At last... two days ago, I receive notification from the embassy (Indonesia) that I have an exam coming on next monday and interview on wednesday.

I nearly lost my patience while waiting for the first selection announcement but now I've got this mix feeling of happiness and nervous at the same time, well now I'm preparing to study my english and browsing this forum again for any information regarding exam and interview.

I just wanna say that I'm really grateful for all the post from previous applicants regarding this scholarship process. It really help me in many ways...Thanks guys and girls

Best of luck to all of us whom applying for this year scholarship.

 

[miao]

hi can anyone help me on error
7(ii),8,9,CPE

Hi tomayto, I would advise you to call Ms. Yin and ask about this, she will explain in detail.

If you unable to reach her, until your interview day, Ms. Yin always be there checking for the forms, if you go earlier, you can ask her how to fill in (but if not mistaken, no.8 is research proposal right? You got to prepare it earlier, so can't fill in on the spot)

I don't have forms in my hand anymore, 7(ii) is education background? hmm... i need to know how you fill in before i can tell properly.
I guess your error is the lower secondary and higher secondary? Lower secondary should be form 1 - 5, higher secondary should be diploma, pre-U, matriculation, etc.

no.8 is to explain your research program in detail... what research you plan to do in japan, how you going to complete it... methodology...

can't remember 8, 9, CPE are about what... =P

 

[tomayto]

i think u got it right on the 7(ii)
i put lower secondary form 1-3
higher secondary form 4-5

haha. thanks a lot
my interview is tommorow
im dead haha

 

[miao]

I don't have forms in my hand anymore, 7(ii) is education background? hmm... i need to know how you fill in before i can tell properly.
I guess your error is the lower secondary and higher secondary? Lower secondary should be form 1 - 5, higher secondary should be diploma, pre-U, matriculation, etc.
no.8 is to explain your research program in detail... what research you plan to do in japan, how you going to complete it... methodology...
can't remember 8, 9, CPE are about what... =P

hey tomayto, i just have a check on the form. 7(ii) is study program, 8 is education background. sorry, i mismatch these two. anyway, ya, lower secondary should be Form 1 - 5 (confirmed!). no.9 just write your working experience...

 

[tomayto]

anyone still up?
i need to ask regarding the application form attachment
question no 6: field of study in japan, detailed field of study

what should i write. what is the different with the study program form?
in my opinion its a brief version of what i should write in the study program... is it true?

 

[miao]

anyone still up?
i need to ask regarding the application form attachment
question no 6: field of study in japan, detailed field of study

what should i write. what is the different with the study program form?
in my opinion its a brief version of what i should write in the study program... is it true?

not sure whether it is late to reply now.
question no.6 just provided one sentence's answer space, so i didn't write much, less than 10 words:
field of study in japan > I state my study field
detailed field of study > my research theme (the title)
(When i submitted the forms, Ms.Yin didn't say it was wrong, so i guess is correct)

 

[miao]

finding professors

hey,
I emailed several professors in my study field. however, some of them replied and said that the research theme i proposed is not in their field/specialist. I think my research proposal is too specified.
My question is for MEXT, do we need to follow exactly the research theme we submitted in application form? or we can change the research theme as long as it is in the same field? If can change (of course i'm willing to change to other topics in same field), then it is easier to find professors with wider scope. or else, i worry i can't get any professor doing exactly what i proposed.

Anyone has any experience on this? Please share with me... thanks...

 

[tomayto]

if im not mistaken we are allowed to change...

 

[clipvain]

Hi All,
I would like to ask those who have taken the Japanese paper this year about it. As mentioned by some, the format contains about 20 passages and a question to each passage. Are these questions more on the contents of the passage, or simply fill in the blank with the correct words/grammatical forms? I'm considering what kinds of format to focus on, so would like some advices.
Thanks alot in advanced!

 

[miao]

Hi All,
I would like to ask those who have taken the Japanese paper this year about it. As mentioned by some, the format contains about 20 passages and a question to each passage. Are these questions more on the contents of the passage, or simply fill in the blank with the correct words/grammatical forms? I'm considering what kinds of format to focus on, so would like some advices.
Thanks alot in advanced!

hi clipvain,
yes, the japanese paper i took this year contained 20 passages with 1 question for each passage. the questions were about the content of the passage. each passage about 2/3 of each page (to me, it was long), written in Kanji. no need fill in the blank, just choose the correct answer from four choices.
I don't think it related to grammar... (correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[clipvain]

hi clipvain,
yes, the japanese paper i took this year contained 20 passages with 1 question for each passage. the questions were about the content of the passage. each passage about 2/3 of each page (to me, it was long), written in Kanji. no need fill in the blank, just choose the correct answer from four choices.
I don't think it related to grammar... (correct me if I'm wrong).

Hi miao,
Thanks alot for the prompt reply. It really helped me alot in my revision with whatever time I have left And good luck for your interview results, keep us updated!

 

[miao]

clipvain, you're welcomed.
to me, the japanese paper was very difficult, my level is JLPT3 but frankly I can't really understand the content and I made guessing for most of the questions.

good luck for your test grab the interview chance!
keep us updated too!

 

[miao]

finding professors

if im not mistaken we are allowed to change...

oh, we are allowed to change? that's good!
So that means we actually don't need to tell the professors our research theme... and just choose a research topic from what they doing?

I have sent many many emails to different professors from different University... but not yet get any acceptance. So far, all replied emails were reject email (with reasons - research theme not their interest / not accept research student anymore).

 

[clipvain]

oh, we are allowed to change? that's good!
So that means we actually don't need to tell the professors our research theme... and just choose a research topic from what they doing?
I have sent many many emails to different professors from different University... but not yet get any acceptance. So far, all replied emails were reject email (with reasons - research theme not their interest / not accept research student anymore).

Hi miao,
I heard from one of my Japanese friends that their professors prefer students who come in with their own research proposal/ideas. Even if they might ask you to join their research group or you might change your theme later (which is very possible), they still prefer if you come armed with a proposal, which means to them you have thought over what you want to do. Just my 2 cents worth, but maybe the previous batches of MEXT scholars can give us some advices too?

 

[miao]

hmm... so i have to mention my research theme in 1st email. When they reply and say not in their research interest, then only I ask what research theme they interested to do... and tell them i want to change?

actually i didn't attach my academic transcript and research proposal, I wonder should I attach those documents in my very 1st mail to the professor?

 

[clipvain]

hmm... so i have to mention my research theme in 1st email. When they reply and say not in their research interest, then only I ask what research theme they interested to do... and tell them i want to change?

actually i didn't attach my academic transcript and research proposal, I wonder should I attach those documents in my very 1st mail to the professor?

In my case I emailed this one professor whom I was really keen to work, wrote him a short intro (thus no transcript or CV yet), my purpose for mailing him, and a rough idea of my proposal. I also mentioned that I'm open to other research themes that he is working on, so that leaves abit of space for negotiation. If you want to, you can also read up on the Uni homepage on which area of specialization the prof does, so that you will not approach the wrong guys. I had not sent in my proposal, but I see some of the past year applicants had done so, having received the nomination from their embassies.

Sad to say, the prof had to reject me as he does not have any seminars in English, but recommended 2 other profs working in similar fields, and conduct English seminars. Maybe you can try asking the profs as well if they have any recommendations too?