Hi Sheermule,
Could you tell us about your written exam and interview?
How difficult are they?
Thank you in advance!
MEXT Scholarship (Research/Graduate students) 2019
- Thread starter Itasimisete
- Start date
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- mext mext 2019 scholarship
Could you tell us about your written exam and interview?
How difficult are they?
Thank you in advance!
Sheermule
後輩
- 1 Nov 2017
- 13
- 3
This year there were only four applicants that made it to the test/interview stage including myself. All the other applicants were really cool and gifted and I wish them all the best! I was the only STEM applicant out of the four of us, while the other three were in fine art/art history.
The Japanese language test was...very difficult. I'm fairly certain I passed the elementary section, the intermediate section is a toss-up, and the advanced section I literally guessed on everything! Interestingly enough, the reading comprehension portion for the advanced section was easier than the reading portion for the intermediate section, but I ran out of time and ended up guessing on basically everything in the advanced section.
The English test was easy-peasy (if you're a native speaker), though you could tell the test was clearly not designed by a native speaker. There were some questions to test your grammar that included phrases that nobody would ever say or write. I think we all finished the English test before the limit.
We were told our tests would be graded during lunch and they would let us know by email whether or not we would get an interview. All of us ended up getting interviews (yay!), and I was up first.
The interview panel consisted of the MEXT Scholarship Coordinator, a Japanese man (I assume is high up in the consulate, but I wasn't told what his position is), and what I assume to be a science expert. I think I really lucked out this year because I think the interview was very fair. After talking with the other applicants, we agreed that the interview did not seem nearly as severe as other people had experienced. I did not have anyone try to discredit my research, or try to trip me up. The science expert posed the most difficult questions (although none of them pertained specifically to my research proposal). He clearly understood my research proposal and mentioned that it seemed like I wanted to run my own lab in Japan. He said that in this scholarship I would not necessarily be able to perform my research, but that I would most likely join a professor's lab and work on whatever he is working on. I answered saying that I understand that that's how it would most likely work, and that even if I would not be able to work on my proposal, the important thing is that I would be working with a professor that is an expert in the field, and that I would be able to learn all the skills, techniques, and etc. to perform my own research some day.
All of the other questions were some of the typical questions you would expect from this sort of interview. I think I was able all the questions well. I'm surprised that they didn't ask me to speak Japanese during the interview. Actually, none of the other applicants had to speak Japanese in their interviews. That really surprised me because in their fields, most classes are taught in Japanese. I'm lucky because there are STEM programs in English in Japan. They did ask me how I learned Japanese, and I think they were very impressed that I had reached the level that I had by studying on my own.
After the interview I was told that I would likely know the results of the interview in a few weeks. I guess starting last year the system changed a bit, and the consulate needs to hear back from DC and Tokyo before they tell us the results of the interview or something like that. I didn't fully understand, but the next day I received an email saying we could expect results by early July (so hopefully by the end of next week!).
Hope this helps, and good luck to everyone!
omegaluuul
後輩
- 16 Jun 2018
- 6
- 0
Hi TranSenz,
I wanted to thank you for all your guides regardint the MEXT scholarship, they've been a lifesaver. I recently found out about the scholarship before scrambling to apply this cycle, and all the posts on your website have been a fantastic source of information.
I wanted to ask you for some advice regarding my next steps in the MEXT application. I been lucky enough to recieve news this past week that I've been selected for the embassy recommendation.
From my end, it seems like all I have to do now is [1] get letters of acceptance (I've been able to get a yes from two universities of my choice so far) and [2] submit those to the Japanese consulate and pray for the best? Is there anything else you would caution me about at this point?
After that it sounds like I just wait for secondary confirmation and placement (by the way do you know when this usually occurs? I saw that it said after December, I just wanted to know the latest they could notify me).
Again, thank you so much for website, I definitely couldn't have gotten this far without your help.
Albertillo
Registered
- 13 Aug 2017
- 6
- 0
Hello everyone, how does the Embassy contact you for going to the test and interview (I'm from Spain)? by e-mail, phone, mail?
I contacted the Embassy last month asking for when would they contact the people who have to take the exam, and they told me that they would do that at the end of June or start of July, so I'm a little bit nervous about that.
I contacted the Embassy last month asking for when would they contact the people who have to take the exam, and they told me that they would do that at the end of June or start of July, so I'm a little bit nervous about that.
Montse2302
Registered
- 31 Oct 2017
- 8
- 1
Hi Albertillo, Its nice to hear from another Spanish Applicant. I have not heard from the embassy yet, I think this week is the one ( fingers crossed) Best of luck!!!!
Albertillo
Registered
- 13 Aug 2017
- 6
- 0
I see!, then we can only wait for now... I wish you the best of luck too! I hope we can get the scholarship
Sheermule
後輩
- 1 Nov 2017
- 13
- 3
My embassy contacted me via email. Good luck!
Albertillo
Registered
- 13 Aug 2017
- 6
- 0
Thank you very much!
Albertillo
Registered
- 13 Aug 2017
- 6
- 0
I've received just now the e-mail for going to the test!
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Itasimisete
Kouhai
- 26 Nov 2017
- 39
- 17
- Thread starter
- #85
Has any other country in Europe heard anything as of yet?
Have you received the letter already? I called the embassy today and they said the results of the first screening were send by post. They also seemed surprised that I did not receive anything yet. I hope I get a letter tomorrow
Itasimisete
Kouhai
- 26 Nov 2017
- 39
- 17
- Thread starter
- #87
I haven't had anything yet, but postal services in Holland do not deliver on Monday so it will be coming in tomorrow then I assume.
True, but it sounded like they already send it some time ago
Itasimisete
Kouhai
- 26 Nov 2017
- 39
- 17
- Thread starter
- #89
This is all so stressful, let's hope for the best!
Aye, I will let you know if I receive something tomorrow.
Montse2302
Registered
- 31 Oct 2017
- 8
- 1
Congrats, I didn't make it unfortunately :emoji_cold_sweat: but I won't stop, I´ll be in japan next year some way or another to study in such a great country!!!!. Good luck in the next steps...
I got the letter. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. Hope you get invited. Good luck!
Albertillo
Registered
- 13 Aug 2017
- 6
- 0
I see... I'm so sorry, I wish you best of luck for next year! And thank you
I will do my best!
Itasimisete
Kouhai
- 26 Nov 2017
- 39
- 17
- Thread starter
- #95
I got rejected as well.
Domino369
Registered
- 22 Mar 2018
- 4
- 1
I got my rejection letter. Thinking back on it, I could see some issues.
I'm not used to academia anymore and felt that I came off more as a businessman rather than someone who wanted to learn. I also had issues with the panel interview, it's not a format I'm used to. Then I could see some disconnect about -why- I needed to study in Japan. Coming up with that just didn't click right with what I was trying to preface.
Ah well, I might try again next year. It's a lot of effort and I do travel frequently to Japan as it is, 2-4 times a year. Maybe it would be better to keep doing what I'm doing? Some food for thought on my side.
Congrats to everyone who makes it through.
I'm not used to academia anymore and felt that I came off more as a businessman rather than someone who wanted to learn. I also had issues with the panel interview, it's not a format I'm used to. Then I could see some disconnect about -why- I needed to study in Japan. Coming up with that just didn't click right with what I was trying to preface.
Ah well, I might try again next year. It's a lot of effort and I do travel frequently to Japan as it is, 2-4 times a year. Maybe it would be better to keep doing what I'm doing? Some food for thought on my side.
Congrats to everyone who makes it through.
Itasimisete
Kouhai
- 26 Nov 2017
- 39
- 17
- Thread starter
- #97
I was actually very confident about my proposal and reasoning. It's quite hard to know the exact reason of the rejection as it wasn't stated in the rejection letter (might be different in other countries, I'm not sure). I do wonder if it would be useful at all to apply again or when rejected, you just won't get through.
I must say, the more days that pass the more gutted I become. I really wonder how many people applied. I am also disappointed that the embassy informed applicants with a two sentence copy paste. I would have appreciated a bit of feedback since the application took a lot of time and money (healthcheck).
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RBZ
後輩
- 22 Oct 2017
- 6
- 0
I'm sorry to hear you guys didn't pass the first screening. I believe I read somewhere that they never give feedback on why they reject someone. It looks like their budget is a bit tight this year and perhaps that's why there appear to be many rejections. In Belgium it's been almost 2 weeks since the interview and I have yet to hear back from them. Hoping for some good news
Itasimisete
Kouhai
- 26 Nov 2017
- 39
- 17
- Thread starter
- #100
Personally, I am still very upset over it and I am not really sure how to proceed from here. I've done some research around and I found a post from someone who went on the MEXT (Dutch national) 7 years ago and she was talking about 2 positions on the course we applied for. Although it seems like winning the lottery has a higher chance, I am very curious to whether this is true. As there is a different application for Japanese Studies students, I wonder what the deciding factor has been and how I can maybe re-apply next year. I haven't seen anybody who actually re-applied the following year after being rejected so I am not sure if it is worth it at all (once rejected > always rejected?).
At least you got to the interview part RBZ, good luck to you and hopefully someone will get lucky from our Benelux hopefulls.
At least you got to the interview part RBZ, good luck to you and hopefully someone will get lucky from our Benelux hopefulls.
