MEXT Scholarship (Graduate Students) 2017

[DezireeAngel]

The assistant of my future adviser emailed me just today that the result would be released by the end of July. Prior to the assistant's email,my sensei emailed me that results would be out by EARLY July. Now I'm lost. Hahaha. Anyway. Those who are waiting for OCTOBER 2016 MEXT result of recipients, let's update each other

 

[indojindesu]

It looks like everyone in the U.S. got their results. I got the bad news. This is the second time I didn't get accepted. This is so depressing. I invested so much time, effort, and even money in making my application much better this time. I even wrote my proposal all in Japanese. Oh well, I guess I won't be going for a M.D.

Sorry to hear about that, I know how it feels. Even I was rejected twice. Try not to give up and apply again! Try the university recommendation too! the blog which was mentioned in the 2nd reply to this thread (on the 1st page) will is an awesome source for the university recommendation path. sending good vibes! Good luck

 

[Tagy]

Hello all
i had passed the exam and i am preparing for the interview after 5 days from now,
please comment if you can help with interview questions, specially the japanese part

one more thing, is there any studied computer science field or informatic ?

 

[Tomas Beran]

Congrats to everyone who successfully passed and good luck to those who didn't but will try next year anyway.

As for me, I had the interview on 22nd of June and the results are still not out. I am kinda freaking out since they said they would try to decide in one week, but it has already been almost two. I have kind of given up on any hope, since my interview went pretty bad (in my opinion). I was preparing for Japanese, but it was almost completely in English. There were also 5 interviewers which made me pretty nervous since usually you have around 3 people who interview. I am not exactly sure if I answered their question enough because they all had the same face through the whole interview and that made me pretty anxious too and the interview lasted almost 30 minutes. One of the most tiring experiences I have ever been through. So I guess I am gonna try calling the embassy, because I am very impatient.

 

[indojindesu]

Congrats to everyone who successfully passed and good luck to those who didn't but will try next year anyway.

As for me, I had the interview on 22nd of June and the results are still not out. I am kinda freaking out since they said they would try to decide in one week, but it has already been almost two. I have kind of given up on any hope, since my interview went pretty bad (in my opinion). I was preparing for Japanese, but it was almost completely in English. There were also 5 interviewers which made me pretty nervous since usually you have around 3 people who interview. I am not exactly sure if I answered their question enough because they all had the same face through the whole interview and that made me pretty anxious too and the interview lasted almost 30 minutes. One of the most tiring experiences I have ever been through. So I guess I am gonna try calling the embassy, because I am very impatient.

Wow 30 mins? Sounds scary :O .. What sort of questions were you asked? Were they asking about your research proposal?

 

[zobel]

Hi guys, I did my interview today, and I'm a little pessimist! we were about 10 candidates. The panel was made of five people: four from my country and one Japanese man. Questions were :
- Introduce yourself
- explain your research proposal (and then they started destroying me and say a lot of bad things about my research). Since I stopped talking and started listening to them explaining me how my research is useless(lol), they started asking general questions:
- What do you know about Japan
- Are you afraid of earthquakes
- Do you plan to stay in Japan or come back after you studies and what do you plan to do next
The Japanese man didn't talk a lot, he just asked me two strategic questions to more understand my education background. During the whole interview, he was just paying attention to my behavior and my answers. And, yeah, they consider everything about you: the way you look, how you dress, your exams score, etc.

Goodluck!

 

[zobel]

*double post*

 

[zobel]

Hello all
i had passed the exam and i am preparing for the interview after 5 days from now,
please comment if you can help with interview questions, specially the japanese part

one more thing, is there any studied computer science field or informatic ?

My major is computer science. good to know you passed the exams.

 

[Monemary]

Hi guys, I did my interview today, and I'm a little pessimist! we were about 10 candidates. The panel was made of five people: four from my country and one Japanese man. Questions were :
- Introduce yourself
- explain your research proposal (and then they started destroying me and say a lot of bad things about my research). Since I stopped talking and started listening to them explaining me how my research is useless(lol), they started asking general questions:
- What do you know about Japan
- Are you afraid of earthquakes
- Do you plan to stay in Japan or come back after you studies and what do you plan to do next
The Japanese man didn't talk a lot, he just asked me two strategic questions to more understand my education background. During the whole interview, he was just paying attention to my behavior and my answers. And, yeah, they consider everything about you: the way you look, how you dress, your exams score, etc.

Goodluck!

I guess they just try to create the stress situation to see how you'll behave. It can mean nothing. If they thought your research was THAT useless, they wouldn't let you pass the primary screening. So don't worry.

 

[Tomas Beran]

Wow 30 mins? Sounds scary :O .. What sort of questions were you asked? Were they asking about your research proposal?

There were actually three Japanese people, I think they all work for the embassy, then one Czech proffesor and one Czech guy who got the scholarship few years ago. They were asking tons of questions, I can't even remember. Some of them were if I like Czech (or Japan more), then some general questions about my studies, about my past exchange program and what I did then, about my research proposal (and I think I made the Czech guy interested, since he was asking me a lot of additional question which were actually nicely selected, no offense sensed there) and then about other countries and my interest in them. And there were more, I just don't remember because I was too stressed. I had just one blank moment when I couldn't remember the word particle, only Japanese 助詞, but except for that I was talking the whole time, so I hope the length of the interview was positive, rather than negative.

 

[Tagy]

My major is computer science. good to know you passed the exams.

Very good, i am not afraid from the interview, i will pass it inshallah
but the problem will be in finding professor
did you contact any one ? or get replay from them

 

[kobayakawa]

Hello there
It is really the president of the University that recommends the student to mext. Anyway, whoaaaaaa! Huhuhahahuhuhaha (monkey-laugh). This has been really nerve-racking for me. But thank you thank youuuuu! Hoping for the best!

Haha. Noted. I thought it was a leverage. Apparently, only university presidents can recommend students to MEXT.

 

[kobayakawa]

The assistant of my future adviser emailed me just today that the result would be released by the end of July. Prior to the assistant's email,my sensei emailed me that results would be out by EARLY July. Now I'm lost. Hahaha. Anyway. Those who are waiting for OCTOBER 2016 MEXT result of recipients, let's update each other

Ugh. Prolonged agony. Haha

Last year, Embassy results were released on the 5th of August. >_< I hope this year it's gonna be earlier and my name's gonna be on the list. Haha *fingers crossed*

 

[hxcpanda]

Received my embassy recommendation today! Does anyone know of any example formats to email professors about your proposal (especially in Japanese; I'm a little worried about formality and introductions)?

 

[DezireeAngel]

Ugh. Prolonged agony. Haha

Last year, Embassy results were released on the 5th of August. >_< I hope this year it's gonna be earlier and my name's gonna be on the list. Haha *fingers crossed*

Oh! Let's update each other then!
God bless!

 

[madphysicist]

Received my embassy recommendation today! Does anyone know of any example formats to email professors about your proposal (especially in Japanese; I'm a little worried about formality and introductions)?

I wrote a sample on my blog guide (linked on 1st page of the thread) but it was in English.

In terms of formality you obviously need to use keigo, though I imagine the professor will be forgiving if you slip up. There isn't much needed in terms of introduction or sign-off. Here's an example skeleton structure:


田中教授へ、 [note 拝啓 and 敬具 aren't used in emails!]

私は化学の学士課程に籍をおいているフランス人です。今年の九月に卒業するのですが、〇〇について修士課程をする予定です。

[body of email, explain the situation and write why you are contacting them and not someone else]

研究計画を添付致します。もしもっと詳しい情報が宜しかったら、喜んで差し上げます。

大変お手数をお掛け致しますが、どうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。

[your name]



I suggest you get a Japanese friend to check what you've written before sending.

 

[hxcpanda]

I wrote a sample on my blog guide (linked on 1st page of the thread) but it was in English.

In terms of formality you obviously need to use keigo, though I imagine the professor will be forgiving if you slip up. There isn't much needed in terms of introduction or sign-off. Here's an example skeleton structure:


田中教授へ、 [note 拝啓 and 敬具 aren't used in emails!]

私は化学の学士課程に籍をおいているフランス人です。今年の九月に卒業するのですが、〇〇について修士課程をする予定です。

[body of email, explain the situation and write why you are contacting them and not someone else]

研究計画を添付致します。もしもっと詳しい情報が宜しかったら、喜んで差し上げます。

大変お手数をお掛け致しますが、どうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。

[your name]



I suggest you get a Japanese friend to check what you've written before sending.

Thank you for this! Having a skeleton has made the process a whole lot easier! I'll ask somebody to check it and then hope for a good reply.

 

[glamette]

OMG I passed the first screening! Shocked! I wasn't very confident after my interview but I think I was just being pessimistic otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this far. If anyone is still interested in advice I think having solid plans for after you've completed whatever program you're applying for as far as furthering your career or setting up for further research and explaining how going to Japan and getting the scholarship is necessary for those plans is going to really help your case. Good luck everyone!

Side note: I thought the hard part was over but now I'm a bit worried about getting these LOAs.

 

[Nat2501]

It's only been a week now since my interview and I cannot stop thinking about it! So anxious about the results..... Good luck to everyone!

 

[bononogram]

OMG I passed the first screening! Shocked! I wasn't very confident after my interview but I think I was just being pessimistic otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this far. If anyone is still interested in advice I think having solid plans for after you've completed whatever program you're applying for as far as furthering your career or setting up for further research and explaining how going to Japan and getting the scholarship is necessary for those plans is going to really help your case. Good luck everyone!

Side note: I thought the hard part was over but now I'm a bit worried about getting these LOAs.

When was your interview [EDIT: I see from previous posts it was mid-June]? Congrats!

LOAs are a piece of cake - you've got this! Just start asap and be polite! Send loads of emails!

 

[glamette]

When was your interview [EDIT: I see from previous posts it was mid-June]? Congrats!

LOAs are a piece of cake - you've got this! Just start asap and be polite! Send loads of emails!

I hope so, it would be nice if the rest of this process was simple. Thanks for the tip, I'm sending e-mails today I was already in contact with professors from my three choices so I hope that helps to expedite the process.

 

[bononogram]

I hope so, it would be nice if the rest of this process was simple. Thanks for the tip, I'm sending e-mails today I was already in contact with professors from my three choices so I hope that helps to expedite the process.

You've got replies from three profs already? You're golden - don't worry!! Enjoy your successes so far.

 

[glamette]

You've got replies from three profs already? You're golden - don't worry!! Enjoy your successes so far.

Okayy! I'm thoroughly encouraged! I'll try to knock these LoAs out and then wait patiently.

 

[indojindesu]

OMG I passed the first screening! Shocked! I wasn't very confident after my interview but I think I was just being pessimistic otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this far. If anyone is still interested in advice I think having solid plans for after you've completed whatever program you're applying for as far as furthering your career or setting up for further research and explaining how going to Japan and getting the scholarship is necessary for those plans is going to really help your case. Good luck everyone!

Side note: I thought the hard part was over but now I'm a bit worried about getting these LOAs.

Congratulations!! And thanks for the advice! I'l be having my interview soon! and do keep us updated about the LOA stuff

 

[Tagy]

Congratz Every one
happy to see people passed the interview
mine will be the day after tomorrow, wish me all the best
will is be standing during the interview ? or they will bring me chair to sit ?