MEXT undergrad scholarship a couple of questions

[MIDOxRI]

Hmm my question may sound weird without context, so I supply it too o_o
Hm here you have to send email to embassy to get the application forms and stuff, which I've tried to do, but didn't get an answer ): Tho it was long ago o_o I've tried calling them, but the person insisted all the information can only be acquired by email, and there is no other way to contact them, or to check if they as much as got my email >_>
I may try asking them AGAIN, but the deadline is coming near and I'm afraid I might not get all the stuff done in time if I wait for replay O:
I did find application forms and stuff on the internet (But I can't post a link, not enough posts :x)
But it says those things can vary from country to country~

So I want to ask:
Are you, in whatever country you are, have to get the same documents?
(Application form, recommendation, certificate of health, academic transcript for the past 3 years, graduation certificate)
Do you have to give them any additional documents?
I'd also want to know if stuff like health certificate, recommendation and application forms looks the same everywhere~ I can't show you the link with those I found but ~ can you send me the ones used in your country and I'll compare them myself? Or maybe you know if they are all the same/different ?

Other questions I have are :
1. Hmm about the photos, they are 3.5X4.5 but are they supposed to show only face-shoulders? or the whole upper body? o_o

2. About the academic transcript, if I didn't go to any kind of school for the past 2 years, do I just get them transcripts of the last year of highschool or last 3 years of highschool?
I would really appreciate if you could answer any part of these questions, or give me any suggestion, recommendations, thoughts or opinions
:x

 

[hjordis]

ドメインパーキング

Do you mean those? Most of the consulates here just link to those on their websites, so unless there's something special that your country has to do because of laws or something it should be fine to do that. At least start doing those and keep trying to get the documents from them just in case there's something extra or different. I would guess that even if there is it will be just a small thing, and it would be better to have the stuff from that website all done so you don't end up rushing it. I'm pretty sure the application documents don't really vary by country though.

To answer your other questions, 1. They are just face-shoulders, like a normal passport photo. If you have a place you can go to get photos for your passport you can just get them there. 2. Get the last 3 years. They want the last 3 years of your education, not your education FROM the past 3 years. Though personally I just gave them my entire high school transcript, since it's easier than requesting only certain years.

 

[MIDOxRI]

Thankyou so much for the answer
Turned out you were right O:::
Also, thankyou for clarifying the things about the photos and school record :"D I hope they saved school records of past students in school o_o I'll ask them XD

Actually they sent me the documents yesterday :"D I saw them at like 1AM XDD
They should have just give a link to that place in the embassy site :X Would have saved them lots of pointless hassle >_> Rather than sending it to people one by one via email~
(I actually first requested for it in the beginning of May o_o )
They just sent out the link XD AND they didn't say where to submit it to o_o Ohwell. First I should fill them forms tho XD Then worry about it!

Hmm I was thinking to write Japanese, Folkloristics and History as my preferences~ In the applications. But do you think it will reduce much my chances of acceptance if I wrote Folklore as first choice? As it's a weird thing and most places probably will not have it? o_o Or will it be okay since my other choices are "normal" and common o_o And they can just send me to learn that instead? If I wrote Japanese as first place tho, there is like 0% of being accepted to folklore probably o_o
Ptt~ What do you think? :"P

 

[hjordis]

The problem with Japanese is that if you put it on the undergraduate then it's going to be actual Japanese for Japanese people. If you're okay with that, then fine. As for folklorists, I highly doubt you'll get it no matter where you put it. I'm not sure whether it would decrease your chances if you put it first, but it's likely. Hmm, that's a hard one. The thing about picking something not on the list is you have to make sure that there are enough schools that teach it that they think they can place you. How do you feel about literature? Again, it would probably be a lot of Japanese literature, so it might be hard.

Otherwise, you might consider the Japan studies scholarship. It is only a year during your university education, so basically a study abroad I think. I think not all countries offer it, so maybe yours doesn't. However, if you really want to do the undergraduate scholarship, go for it. Here's an idea. When you're looking at universities you'd like to go to, whether it's now or once you're actually there, try to find one that has a folklore club. I'm not sure whether you can find one that has both a folklore club and the academics that you want and is in a place you'd like to live and everything, but it's worth a try! Some universities list their clubs on their websites. Otherwise, you might have to do some deeper research. If everything else fails, you can always study folklore when you have free time(probably mostly during summer and winter breaks).

 

[MIDOxRI]

Oh it would probably not have occurred to me to try looking for clubs like that O: That's actually a really good idea O: And there are probably lots of books about it too <3 In Japan <3 Tho I'm aiming for the undergraduate program, and according to the things-with-information we do not choose the university we enroll in~ If we pass all those procedures and exams and stuff.

Actually there IS a program where you go study in Japan for a year in Asian Studies~ In Israel~ I read about it on the site of the uni~ I don't know if all of the universities have those tho~

It says "Photograph (6ﾂ×4 cm, taken within the past six months, upper body, full-faced, uncapped. Write your name and nationality on its back)." Does it mean I have to take a normal ID photo that is big, or an upper-body photo? Like, till waist or so o_o Those are rather large photos...

 

[hjordis]

I heard once you're there at some point they have you fill out a form like the direct placement form, then see which ones would accept you starting from your first choice, or something like that. Though in the end you don't get to completely choose. You could always try to start a club, though I don't know what the process is or if there would be problems because you're a foreigner or if nobody's interested.

It should be normal passport sized? In most countries it is. I don't know, we don't use cm here, so mine are whatever the passport size is here. But mine aren't to my waist, just my shoulders. I think what they use it for besides identifying you is your school ID or something.

 

[AVDV]

MIDOxRI, you just need to take a picture of you from your shoulders to your head, just like a standard ID picture. (Idk how ID pictures are in your country though). Here I just needed to go to the mall to take those. =)

Ganbare! \o

 

[sjacob1990]

Can anyone tell me what the interview is like and what it is about? Also I am not familiar with what they mean by study/research program. In the initial application for MEXT, I simply wrote an idea relating to the subject that I had for many years. Surprisingly they have asked me to appear for the english examination ( and japanese) followed by an interview a week from now. I need to start filling my application, I received it only yesterday, could anyone give me some tips to fill up the form especially the study program part.
Also I would like to know, what next? Do i need to contact a professor to secure an admission.
Another doubt I have is regarding the course, i applied for master's but many post suggest that we get in as research students and then move towards the graduate course, I didn quite get that.

 

[AVDV]

According to a friend who is in Japan right now, the interview is just for making sure you won't give up later or if you won't give up in the middle of the time you are studying in Japan. Technically common and expected questions, how strong you are and your plans for now and the future =) Nothing to worry about \o

 

[sjacob1990]

I screwed the interview (Interview conducted by our Education ministry), only respite I have is other's too suffered the same. I don't know if they would cancel the whole earthquake engineering course itself, lets see. But I think the embassy interview went well, the japanese loved me or may be they behave the same towards everyone. I dont know

 

[ashiya]

According to a friend who is in Japan right now, the interview is just for making sure you won't give up later or if you won't give up in the middle of the time you are studying in Japan. Technically common and expected questions, how strong you are and your plans for now and the future =) Nothing to worry about \o

hi,
so does that mean that as long as you give them the feeling that you have a goal that you will work towards to, and that youre determined, the interview is actually passed?
thank you!

 

[sjacob1990]

As long as you convince them that you are more inclined to get this scholarship compared to the rest, it should work because most people attend the interviews with the thought that this is just another scholarship, at least in INDIA. You should tell them how determined you are to get this scholarship. And don't worry, they are nice people.

Also AVDV thanks for the reply, it all worked out at the end. I am waiting for the Final selection that comes out around Feb.

P.S.- I cleared the Primary screening and received the provisional selection just a week back.

 

[ashiya]

oh, ok, thanks!
im really worried since im not a straight A's student haha.
but i really wanna go there and study.
and singapore being really competitive makes me even more worried.

but, congratulations to you!
hope i can be like you and go to japan in 2013!

 

[sjacob1990]

Hey,

Most Indians have only heard of NUS, that is why its quite competitive there because NUS also accepts GATE (our graduate entrance exam) scores. Not only that, there are many undergrad scholarship as well but I have had my eyes on Japan for the last 6yrs and fortunately for me there are not many opting for it, primarily because everyone's aim is NUS (they are all close minded).

 

[ashiya]

ooh..i guess. loads of people come to singapore to study. haha.
but people intending to go to japan to study is lesser. erm. way less.
and out of the little ppl in singapore intending to go there, ppl who intend to study language and literature are even lesser.
so maybe there's some hope for me. haha.
at least that's what i hope.