MEXT Japanese Studies 2017/2018

Hey, congratulations on passing the second screening guys, I'm surprised people get to know their written exam score. Here nobody was told what their score was and I still have no idea haha!

@kamalu, How did you feel your written exam go? do you have any JLPT certifications? In my case I have no idea how my written exam went, other than the fact that I understood most of the questions until the end, but had a good grasp of the reading and kanji part. However, my interview went really well and was really positive. I also heard from some people that the interview weighs more than the written exam, but I'm not exactly sure if this is true or not...

For the visa, I know that the embassy takes care of your visa, this was explained to me by my embassy. However, I'm not sure when you can pick it up etc... I think waiting for your embassy might be the best thing right now.

Let's hope on some quick responses!
 
Have no idea concerning the visa neither... I hope you will find your answers (and congratulations for passing the 2nd screening).

Concerning what was the most important in our application, my embasssy clearly told me it was the score at the written test. The interview should be important as well, but the most important seems to be the results at the written exam. According to my embassy: written exam > interview > grades at school (if they're hesitating between some applicants who got the same results at the embassy's exams.
 
@Jpstudies
I felt that my written exam went pretty well overall, though the third section was definitely a challenge for me. As far as test scores go, I was told that they weren't allowed to disclose what we got on the tests. It was surprising to hear that people were informed on how they scored. I also got the N2 this past December, though it's definitely not necessary as I know another person who received the scholarship with no certifications at all.

I did some lurking on other threads and yeah it does seem like the embassy will take care of the student visa (possibly next month). Hoping to hear back from them soon, haha!
 
the day after the written exam, my teacher told me the results. last year he did the same. in 2015 when i first applied for MEXT scholarship, our teacher showed us an email ( i think from embassy) with our results. in my country only 3 people applied and took the test. 2 people passed the first screening and only i passed the second screening.
 
Seems like a lot of people got around the N2 level when they passed. I'm going to take the N2 test this summer, but I'm not sure what I scored on the test. Would be nice to get some results from the embassy like other countries, but I guess some countries are more open with their candidates than others.

Also, my university has some connections to the embassy but they aren't in contact with them regarding my application. I really need to find some sort of distraction because waiting and seeing other people getting accepted / rejected is making me go crazy haha!

I guess all we can do is speculate and talk about potential universities, if we get accepted and perhaps, if we all make it, celebrate in Japan....
 
It appears that some people here have personal acquaintances and upperclassmen who have gotten this scholarship. Unfortunately I don't have anyone like that who I can ask for details ;7; I'm curious if anyone here has heard of previous applicants getting placed somewhere other than the schools they requested.
 
If it can help anyone with speculating about universities they might be placed: in 2015 a friend of mine got the mext scholarship(he got 145 points on the written exam) and was placed at Saga university in Kyushu . previous years people from my uni were in Hiroshima and Hokkaido (their test scores were around 160).
 
If we will study together in Japan, guys, it'll be great. You all so friendly here. I am a little bit nervous because it will be my first overseas travel experience and knowing that some of you may be with me in Japan makes me feel better.
Thank you;)!!!
 
Concerning the placement in the unis, most of past applicants in my country didn't get the unis they wanted (but it's due to the fact that they all chose very famous and high-ranked unis such as Keio, or Todai.) The only person who got one of her choices was the major of the prom (and she got Keio, her 2nd choice).

The majority of the people from my uni were sent to Toyama (1h south from Tokyo), Ibaraki or Utsunomiya (Northeast).

Edit: Concerning the score at the written test I now remember that someone told me last year that the teachers received the results of both the written test and the interview. A teacher told them how they were ranked compared to the other students but this teacher wasn't from my uni. It seems that it depends on the teachers some choose to tell the other students the results and some doesn't. Too bad mine didn't want to haha.
 
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I am way excited too! If I made a facebook group for everyone that is going to Japan to study with the scholarship, would you guys want to join? For anyone that is close to each other they can hang out!

If we will study together in Japan, guys, it'll be great. You all so friendly here. I am a little bit nervous because it will be my first overseas travel experience and knowing that some of you may be with me in Japan makes me feel better.
Thank you;)!!!
 
I talked to several upperclassmen at my school who got the scholarship, but either of them actually knew their test scores, but they did both get into the university they wanted. I'm just wondering how you get rejected in the second screening. Seeing how the embassy selects you for the second screening based on good test results right? Anyways, there must be budget reasons, or too many people applying for the same university. Does anyone actually know the main reasons why people get rejected in the second screening?

@Daryk Childs sounds good, even though I have not gotten any answer just yet, I'm hoping that I get accepted. A facebook group does sound like a fun way to meet new people if I also get in... Just send me a message if you want
 
Okay! I made a Facebook group to anyone who got the scholarship (or didn't it's fine). Just click join, the group is called MEXT (Japanese Studies) Recipients 2017-2018.
 
I asked the embassy the reason of my rejection last year and they clearly told me it was for budget purpose. All the people selected do have the level requested to attend classes in Japan, but since their budget is cut they need to select the best of us and the higher your score at the exam is, the better it is, that's what they told me. I'm so nervous, regarding everyone getting its answer, I guess mine should be known by this week, being rejected at this stage for the second time would be so depressing. Yet I know that all the odds aren't in my favor and that's driving me insane.

Anyway, great idea Daryk. I won't join if I don't get the scholarship tho. Even if you guys communicate via this group it'd be cool to continue to spread some news here just so the next applicants are able to know the whole procedure :)
 
I won't get my results until August, but I'd still like to join the fb group. I couldn't find it on facebook :(
 
@Oaneyl ahh that sounds like a rough experience, knowing you got the skill but getting rejected at the end is always a shock. I'm sure you can get it this year!!

By the way, I got an e-mail from the Japanese University I applied for saying they want me to sign up for their housing but the result is still "not decided" but they wouldn't ask me about signing up for their housing if I didn't pass I think... havn't heard anything from my embassy though.
 
Congratulations ! I don't want to give you false hope, but I've never heard cases were people contacted by the uni were rejected afterwards... Which uni is it ?
 
What university did you get a mail from? And which choice was it?
I really do think that they have selected you for the second screening.
But if they already decide the uni by now why wait until August. :(
 
@Oaneyl I was contacted by Sophia University, which is my first choice so I'm really hoping that I got in.. I heard from someone that said she heard that sometimes they just send out these messages because the dormitories get full pretty quick. But who really knows what it means haha

@alchie It's not 100%, since the e-mail also states it's still "pending" and being processed so I have no idea what it means. Guess I can just hope..

Did you guys try contacting your own embassy? I'm thinking of doing that and asking them what's going on, but I can only speculate at this point.
 
I already heard cases for people being contacted by their uni before knowing if they got in or not, and nobody got rejected on the end but yeah, if it's just a matter of organization just in case you get in to keep a dormitory for you... we can't do nothing but wait eh.

I won't contact my embassy because they told us the results would be sent in late June, so I'm just waiting. Last year we got the result on the 20th of June, maybe I'll get them tomorrow then...
 
I contacted the embassy in April and they told me that I would get my results in August, so there's nothing I can do about.
 
My colleague just told me that she sent an email to the embassy and the said that they don't have the final results nor do they know when they will be received.
 
I think the final results are at the end of July by the latest, but I believe most of the embassy's now know if people passed or failed the second screening. Since everyone in this thread who posted about passing is saying they passed "the screening but not the placement" type of thing. I guess the wait and uncertainty is difficult to cope with haha! I feel the same.
 
I just got the results from my embassy and I GOT IN I can't believe it !! In the mail, they told me that the ministry will now deal with the unis I applied for to see if they can send me in, otherwise I'll be placed in another one. But there's nothing conditional in the mail, they say:

"The final decision taken by MEXT will be irrevocable. You will know the university you will be placed in at the latest in early august. By this time, we will ask you several documents you will have to send us as soon as possible. We will explain to you how to get the visa and further information concerning your stay in Japan. Please know that a withdrawal is not desirable. However, if such a situation would be unavoidable, please send us a handwritten, dated and signed letter as soon as possible. A meeting where former MEXT scholarship's applicants will be invited will take place on July so they can convey information related to your stay in Japan."

As you can see, it seems to be quite official, I guess that if in France we got something quite official, that means that for the other people who got in all over the world, your chances to get rejected after the 2nd screening are extremly low.

Just so you know, it seems that all the french applicants who passed the 1st screening (5 people) got in, I'll be sure on july during the meeting.

Good luck to the other who are still waiting !
 
This is GREAT!! I don't even know you very well but I am so happy to hear that you got in, especially after not getting in last year! Congratulations! I'm so excited for you

I just got the results from my embassy and I GOT IN I can't believe it !! In the mail, they told me that the ministry will now deal with the unis I applied for to see if they can send me in, otherwise I'll be placed in another one. But there's nothing conditional in the mail, they say:

"The final decision taken by MEXT will be irrevocable. You will know the university you will be placed in at the latest in early august. By this time, we will ask you several documents you will have to send us as soon as possible. We will explain to you how to get the visa and further information concerning your stay in Japan. Please know that a withdrawal is not desirable. However, if such a situation would be unavoidable, please send us a handwritten, dated and signed letter as soon as possible. A meeting where former MEXT scholarship's applicants will be invited will take place on July so they can convey information related to your stay in Japan."

As you can see, it seems to be quite official, I guess that if in France we got something quite official, that means that for the other people who got in all over the world, your chances to get rejected after the 2nd screening are extremly low.

Just so you know, it seems that all the french applicants who passed the 1st screening (5 people) got in, I'll be sure on july during the meeting.

Good luck to the other who are still waiting !
 
OMG I'm really happy for you!!!! It seems that most of the people on this forum got in. Do you have any idea if there are
applicants from France who didn't get in? I think that the situation is better from last year, that they have awarded more scholarships this year.
It makes me feel impatient. I am the last person to get my results on this forum. Another month to wait. :(
 
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