Share some popcorn!Anddddd... it begins...
Good luck getting positive First Screening results guys and gals! (And yeah, First Screening = Tests, Interviews and Medical Checks).
*huddles in a corner with his popcorn anxiously*
... Unless you mean English as a subject (as opposed to language of instruction). That I am unsure.@GAugust
The lab I am applying to operates in English. As for courses, I am assuming yes since there are currently other international students there with little or no Japanese.
I agree about learning Japanese, but many national universities (and private ones) that offer strong science/engineering programs have the English option for research and course-work. It really comes down to the advisor, most of the time. Additionally, many universities are pushing to provide more classes in English and make it an official academic language (i.e., bi-lingual institutions). As an example, Tokyo Tech (my university) will be offering all graduate courses in English by 2020 (starting next year), rather than just as an option. This means that Japanese students must improve their English to study at the graduate level.All Japanese universities use Japanese language in everything, those who use English are just an exclusion. Often, they are special programs.
You all must be prepared to learn Japanese very hard xD. I think this is good, because you are going to Japan and it is a very unique experience... so learning the language is a great addition to us.
I can not imagine being there for 3 or more years without the ability to speak Japanese.
Mastering Japanese language is one of my main goals besides the research itself as stated above. I encourage you all on it too xD.
I hope we meet there if we get accepted, who knows!
Well, that is already known I guess. Japan doesn't really like foreigners and they only offer this chance for study purposes.
However, if I can get a job before my scholarship ends, and manage to get the employer to sponsor a visa for me and all that stuff.. Am I required to return to my country? i.e, return and be the bridge? will MEXT contact me and do whatever legal means to prevent me from that? Please explain.
I couldn't disagree more! Japan (as a system, not as individual people) doesn't like change. And it would require significant changes to incorporate non-Japanese speaking foreigners into the employment system in a meaningful way.
I've got at LEAST two weeks til I hear anything - and for some reason my optimising has completely vanished.
May I have some popcorn?
Me again!
I did some research online gathering questions people get asked during the interview. This is everything I could find from other people's experiences. I have compiled them here. Hopefully someone will find them useful!
- Tell us about your research proposal.
- Why Japan?
- How will your research benefit Japan and the United States?
- Why should we pick you?
- Tell us about your undergraduate thesis.
- Why should we give the scholarship to you to do art instead of a scientist or engineer? Why is art important?
- Are you sure you can do all of this work?
- Why did you choose this school? Why did you choose this program? Why these professors?
- What is your Japanese level?
- What's your impression of Japan? What interests you about Japan?
- Share a personal experience in Japan. What's the best thing that happened in Japan? What was the worst?
- Are you afraid of Earthquakes?
- Is your family/boyfriend okay with you leaving the United States?
- When you return home to the United States, how will you act as a bridge between the two countries?
- Tell us about your hobbies.
- What will you do with your studies if you don't get this scholarship?
- Are you applying for anything else?
Hello. I have been reading this forum for quite sometime and it helps me a lot. Thank you everyone.
I will be having an interview this coming Friday, so I have some questions regarding the interview.
1. should I bring my portfolio to the interview? (my works are mostly short films in the form of video, I don't know if it's ok or I should to open it with phone or something during the interview)
2. would it be better to say a simple Japanese greeting line? If so what do I need to say in Japanese.
3. On the embassy website, "it says dress politely". Do I need to wear suit and tie? Or I can wear normal shirt.
Thank you guys.
1. I brought my portfolio (painting/animation) and never got to use it. They didn't give me any opportunity to present it. But I'd bring it anyway! There might be an opening for you to present it to the panel.
2. I also prepared a Japanese greeting. I never got to use it. They didn't ask -- most of my questions were about my research proposal, rather than about my abilities.
3. I would wear a suit and tie.
Good luck!
Hello. I have been reading this forum for quite sometime and it helps me a lot. Thank you everyone.
I will be having an interview this coming Friday, so I have some questions regarding the interview.
1. should I bring my portfolio to the interview? (my works are mostly short films in the form of video, I don't know if it's ok or I should to open it with phone or something during the interview)
2. would it be better to say a simple Japanese greeting line? If so what do I need to say in Japanese.
3. On the embassy website, "it says dress politely". Do I need to wear suit and tie? Or I can wear normal shirt.
Thank you guys.
Hello. I have been reading this forum for quite sometime and it helps me a lot. Thank you everyone.
I will be having an interview this coming Friday, so I have some questions regarding the interview.
1. should I bring my portfolio to the interview? (my works are mostly short films in the form of video, I don't know if it's ok or I should to open it with phone or something during the interview)
2. would it be better to say a simple Japanese greeting line? If so what do I need to say in Japanese.
3. On the embassy website, "it says dress politely". Do I need to wear suit and tie? Or I can wear normal shirt.
Thank you guys.
I just heard back from the Houston Consulate and I didn't make it passed the interview.Oh well.
Good luck to everyone else! Thanks again to everyone on the forum for all of your help in the process!
Edit --
And for what it's worth, for future candidates and the curious, the likely reasons I wasn't chosen:
- I had only one school in my preferred school selection. (Keio University.)
- I don't speak Japanese (a repeated issue they brought up in my interview), despite applying for an English-speaking program.
- My Japanese exam was nearly-blank -- I just didn't know enough to do much more than the very basics.
I just heard back from the Houston Consulate and I didn't make it passed the interview.Oh well.
Good luck to everyone else! Thanks again to everyone on the forum for all of your help in the process!
Edit --
And for what it's worth, for future candidates and the curious, the likely reasons I wasn't chosen:
- I had only one school in my preferred school selection. (Keio University.)
- I don't speak Japanese (a repeated issue they brought up in my interview), despite applying for an English-speaking program.
- My Japanese exam was nearly-blank -- I just didn't know enough to do much more than the very basics.
Condolences.. dont give up though! You can try the university recommendation this year!!I just heard back from the Houston Consulate and I didn't make it passed the interview.Oh well.
Good luck to everyone else! Thanks again to everyone on the forum for all of your help in the process!
Edit --
And for what it's worth, for future candidates and the curious, the likely reasons I wasn't chosen:
- I had only one school in my preferred school selection. (Keio University.)
- I don't speak Japanese (a repeated issue they brought up in my interview), despite applying for an English-speaking program.
- My Japanese exam was nearly-blank -- I just didn't know enough to do much more than the very basics.
I just heard back from the Houston Consulate and I didn't make it passed the interview.Oh well.
Good luck to everyone else! Thanks again to everyone on the forum for all of your help in the process!
Edit --
And for what it's worth, for future candidates and the curious, the likely reasons I wasn't chosen:
- I had only one school in my preferred school selection. (Keio University.)
- I don't speak Japanese (a repeated issue they brought up in my interview), despite applying for an English-speaking program.
- My Japanese exam was nearly-blank -- I just didn't know enough to do much more than the very basics.