Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

[jim84]

japandream,
the time zone difference in the US its like +14hours. some times i stayed up till 4am just to exchange email.

Anyways, I think its better if i didnt reveal the university haha. but i will let you know that it is not one of the imperial universities. He says its one of the top10 univ in Japan. According to my research its not, and my other professor is from Osaka U(rank#3 i think).
He doesnt have a webpage, and he told me that he has alot of foreign students in his lab, so i should "fit in".
I am considering him... that is, after my first 2 options.
I dont need to contact him, he will contact me . This are my favorite 2 lines i say to him:
"Thank you, I will take it into consideration"
"The final decision of which univ i am place under is up to MEXT"

akward~~ maybe its a result of "rikei banare". science students are declining so the prof are forced to seek more students haha.

I have heard uni profs are quite positive with MEXT candidates as there are advantages of recruiting MEXT scholars.
reputation wise, more positive exposure to the government, a recognition of credibility, increase chances of securing grants, etc, including saving some money, as i think most private students will ask for some kind of sponsorship from the prof, hence eating into their grants (just like malaysian uni, where we always hunt for rich profs, and rich profs are rich cause the govt gave them more money to encourage postgraduate enrolment).
It's just like an incentive to them. However, there are also other reasons like getting foreign talents into their team, etc etc.

So, it's not a surprise some profs like to take in more MEXT candidates. Anyway, that's just a joint opinion of some seniors and mine. Not an absolute reference and correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[Nall-ohki]

Nall-ohki, congrats. We may be able to meet up depending on where you go.

That'd be nice - and here's to hoping we both get to go at all.

 

[Rizaric]

Yeah, no doubt. Actually... I applied last year for leaving in October, so it's coming up soon for me. I go to the embassy next week to get my visa and package of stuff.

Got lots to do to finish my masters here first though.

 

[abltmusician]

I have heard uni profs are quite positive with MEXT candidates as there are advantages of recruiting MEXT scholars.
reputation wise, more positive exposure to the government, a recognition of credibility, increase chances of securing grants, etc, including saving some money, as i think most private students will ask for some kind of sponsorship from the prof, hence eating into their grants (just like malaysian uni, where we always hunt for rich profs, and rich profs are rich cause the govt gave them more money to encourage postgraduate enrolment).
It's just like an incentive to them. However, there are also other reasons like getting foreign talents into their team, etc etc.
So, it's not a surprise some profs like to take in more MEXT candidates. Anyway, that's just a joint opinion of some seniors and mine. Not an absolute reference and correct me if i'm wrong.

ooilingfan,
Interesting points you pointed out! Do you think National Universities are likely to accept students rather than private universities? Because since MEXT is a Government funding, MEXT is more likely to send their scholars to a less expensive national school (I would think, but please correct me if I'm wrong).
Has anyone successfully got acceptances from private universities funded by MEXT???
menrui, good luck with your process! Hope everything works out with your situation!

 

[tomayto]

i agree with ooilingfan too, when i contacted the professor (before i know my interview result). one professor are willing to take me into his team with a condition that i got the scholarship. but unfortunately i didnt. haha. so i email him the possibilities of still joining his team if i am able to find funding for my studies. but he never reply he again.hahaha. so absolutely a MEXT scholar is of high regards of the professors.
if you check most of japanese universities website you will see a MEXT scholar information. so i didnt think there is an issues of national or private, cheap or expensive fees. i think it is the same. just the matter of the professor willingness to work with you i guess.
just my opinion. hehe

 

[Charles Barkley]

Plenty go to private. I am heading off to Waseda (private) in just over a week. I think far more public schools have an official partnership with MEXT, but there are privates that do as well...

 

[jim84]

Plenty go to private. I am heading off to Waseda (private) in just over a week. I think far more public schools have an official partnership with MEXT, but there are privates that do as well...

hi charles,
actually i'm curious and interested in your case.
you're actually joining the october intake with MEXT scholarship?
when did you start applying and how does your timeline work?

 

[kouki]

So, Malaysians, have you all submitted your LoA? How many of you all asked for delay?

I myself submitted one, then asked for a delay.

Good luck everyone!!!

 

[Charles Barkley]

oolingfan: I and a couple of others are special cases. This April, 12 scholarships became available for Americans who had been on the JET program, so I applied then, had my interview in April, found out I had the embassy nomination in early may, got the letter of acceptance from my school in June, got the defininite OK from MEXT in late July, then was placed at my first choice school in mid August.

For normal applicants, that process will be much more spread out.

The program I am entering starts its academic schedule earlier than most schools in Japan, so I will be heading over in early september. It looks like I will have a couple of weeks to get set up, register for classes, etc, before classes start.

 

[jim84]

oolingfan: I and a couple of others are special cases. This April, 12 scholarships became available for Americans who had been on the JET program, so I applied then, had my interview in April, found out I had the embassy nomination in early may, got the letter of acceptance from my school in June, got the defininite OK from MEXT in late July, then was placed at my first choice school in mid August.

For normal applicants, that process will be much more spread out.

The program I am entering starts its academic schedule earlier than most schools in Japan, so I will be heading over in early september. It looks like I will have a couple of weeks to get set up, register for classes, etc, before classes start.

i see. So you're not in the same case as us. Congrats then.
Hope to see you in japan next april. =)

 

[abltmusician]

Congratulations Charles Barkley on your acceptance!

What's the JET program about? Is it for graduate students?

 

[Rizaric]

Hey Charles, I'm guessing by your nickname that you ball? We should get together and shoot hoops sometime.

 

[Charles Barkley]

If you're in Tokyo, I would be down for that. I will probably try to find a group to play with, hopefully a club at Waseda or something. Good way to meet people, get exercise and have some fun.

 

[Charles Barkley]

ALBT:

The JET program is a large program sponsored by the Japanese government that sends young people from different countries to Japan to be assistant English teachers in public schools.

 

[Rizaric]

I will be.. and I agree with that. Maybe join a mens league team or something like that.

 

[menrui]

^Wow, I wish I could join you guys, but I wont be in Tokyo.
Funny story, I stayed in tokyo for a month last year. I played basketball with some local foreigners my 4th day there, someone stepped on my foot and I sprain my ankle. I could walk again after like 2 day, but I could only walk my whole time there. what a way to start right?

 

[AbdouKun]

Alooohaaa Minna-san
I have a question...!
if one gets a LOA from different Univs, How the hell should one pick up the right one (or is it the embassy or MEXT) and how Should one appologise to the others (than the one selected), and are they not gonna be pissed of because of all the trouble caused?

 

[jim84]

Alooohaaa Minna-san
I have a question...!
if one gets a LOA from different Univs, How the hell should one pick up the right one (or is it the embassy or MEXT) and how Should one appologise to the others (than the one selected), and are they not gonna be pissed of because of all the trouble caused?

The 'picking' part will be according to the 3 choices that you've listed. But there might be some problem if you wish to change the sequence.

As for rejecting the other 2, well, perhaps should do it as politely as possible. Or you should tell them when you're doing that.
My 2nd Uni asked me upfront whether i'm still applying to any. I said yes and they stopped replying me... =p
anyway, i'm putting all my eggs in one basket....kinda reaalllly risky here

 

[AbdouKun]

Well, I witnessed the same thing happening to me, as I was asked if I was applying to other univs, and the answer was yes (but I insisted that their Univ was a priority) but that was the last thing ever heard from them.

Anyway, I believe nothing is easy and the point of this is to filter the students who have strong motivation and good sense of communication from others.

 

[menrui]

^hehe did you guys read about my similar problem? Maybe we're talking about the same university.

Anyways, as for writing a rejection letter, here are some things I would suggest:
Don't say that "you" chose a diff univ. Simply say that MEXT choose it with out giving detail as to how. Dont say which university you are entering. Last, apologize and kiss their asses(compliment them).

 

[Charles Barkley]

Got my eticket from the travel agent, so I am officially out of here on September 1st.

 

[Rizaric]

Wow... thats soon... good luck and see you there!

 

[kimberleylhj]

Got my 2nd LOA today! Will be submitting them to the embassy tomorrow and that's it. Pure waiting until next year. Shall concentrate on my job for now... don't know if I can. Haha.. My mind is filled with me flying off to Japan next April. Really hope to see you all there!! And would really like to thank everybody here for the great input. Wouldn't be able to get this far without the great help from all.....

 

[Vyen]

Kimberley,
Congrats~~
I am still waiting for the LOA and hope that we can go to Japan together next year....

 

[jim84]

Got my 2nd LOA today! Will be submitting them to the embassy tomorrow and that's it. Pure waiting until next year. Shall concentrate on my job for now... don't know if I can. Haha.. My mind is filled with me flying off to Japan next April. Really hope to see you all there!! And would really like to thank everybody here for the great input. Wouldn't be able to get this far without the great help from all.....

haha, good point.
It's so hard to stop thinking bout japan. Hence keep logging in here even at work.
Can't concentrate at all. I wonder what disaster it'll be when i get rejected next Feb.
Positive!positive!