Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

[wenling]

Wow, genetic engineering!

That must be one tough field. I remember on my interview day, there was also a candidate majoring in genetic engineering. He was from UM. I hope he fare well too.

I think all of us when through the similar situation while looking for Professors! It was one crazy experience but its a great learning process.

Let's all hope for the best!

 

[ochasuru]

thanks wenling, arshana and kishimen...
i can only wish y'all get to go to the place you're aiming to go.
the lady told me that she will distribute the letters to all the candidates
who are going there somewhere in March (for those who chose April intake).
meaning to say, we'll get the notification letter by 'tis week.
looking forward to meet all of you and depart from 'ere together.

 

[dblbstrd]

Arshana, I would LOVE to go to Hokkaido ! Where I have lived here in the US is not cold enough for me. On the valley floors it rains all winter, and we hardly ever get any snow.
I didn't even look at Hokkaido Daigaku though, because there was one very specific research group I found that interested me, so that was the only place I asked for an acceptance letter.
Maybe I can go to Sapporo next winter during the break or something!


By the way, I have received confirmation, information and instructions for getting ready to go in April! I don't know if all embassies/consulates handle this in the same way, but I hope this information is of any use to anyone who hasn't received info yet:
I have been asked to contact some company in Tokyo to reserve my own plane ticket, and to get a hold of my school regarding living arrangements and other arrival considerations (I haven't heard anything from them about this, but if it is as my professor described when I spoke with him last summer, there should be no problem).
I was also not given any info on Japanese language classes, but my university has Japanese language courses for MEXT students so there would be no need to go to Tokyo or Osaka gaidai first anyway.

 

[wenling]

Congratulations dblbstrd!

Thanks for sharing the information with us.
I didn't know we need to reserve our flight ticket by ourselves.
Looks like there would be lots of D.I.Y arrangement that we will be facing on our own...

Safe journey to Japan, dblbstrd!

 

[kishimen]

Many thx to wenling and ochasuru for the encouragement!

And congrats to dblbstrd!

I have a friend who went to Hokkaido during the Winter Festival and the pics she took there were fantastic, so arshana, I think the freezing cold would be worth it!

 

[arshana]

Thanks guys for the encouragement. I did Google up Hokkaido and it did look pretty. Hope I don't freeze there.

But do we have enough time for the preparation? It's already mid-Feb and if we're supposed to be there by Apr... It's a bit too rushed for me. I don't even have a single winter apparel. Oh wait, I don't even know if I got the scholarship yet. Right.

 

[dblbstrd]

Thanks wenling!

Like I said, I don't know if this is how it will work for everybody...


Everyone else keep hanging in there and it'll all get sorted out soon!
Yeah it's not much time to get ready, but it'll hopefully work out.

 

[bachir]

welcome to the club kishimen !

Well, I guess I'm in one of the worst situations in the sense that I did not manage to get an acceptance letter at all. Maybe because my major (translation) is an unconventional one for studies in japan. So I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.....

I must aknowledge that this is what scared me to death. Because that is exactly my case. That makes two of us, then.
Phewww...thanks god i'm not the only one

 

[kishimen]

Wenling and arshana:

I have only 1 advice....

CALL the the embassy
I just pulled up all my courage and called and I got it!!!!
So did my friend, she's going to TUFS and I'm going to Osaka U!
But mine's in Oct, yep I applied for the later one...

 

[bachir]

So that means...i AM the only one in this tortuous situation

 

[kishimen]

Don't worry bachir, remember I made it even though I didn't get the acceptance letter. Hang on there and good luck!

 

[bachir]

yeah thanks a lot but....it's just that i didn't get any acceptance letter too .that's why !

 

[arshana]

Wenling and arshana:
I have only 1 advice....
CALL the the embassy
I just pulled up all my courage and called and I got it!!!!
So did my friend, she's going to TUFS and I'm going to Osaka U!
But mine's in Oct, yep I applied for the later one...

But I'm scared. I'll just wait for the letter. Congrats to you though!

 

[kishimen]

thx and best of luck to you! d(^_^)b

 

[wenling]

Congratulations kishimen! and thanks for your advice!

I muster up my courage and I finally call up the embassy... I GOT IT!
I will be spending the first 6 month in Kyoto University and the rest of the years in Doshisha University!

I will be going for the April intake!

 

[ochasuru]

kishimen and wenling,
congrates~~
at last huh?
feel happy for both of you.
yay!!!

 

[kishimen]

Thanks ochasuru, wenling! And congrats, wenling! Kyoto is a great place
Who knows? Maybe I can meet you guys in Japan seeing that I am only leaving in Oct

 

[wenling]

Thanks a lot ochasuru and kishimen!

It was one long wait but it was really worthwhile.
We really should meet up in Japan... sort of like a gathering!
The embassy lady did mention that there would be like an orientation held in the embassy somewhere in March before we depart. Make sure all of you guys and girls turn up for the orientation!

By the way, arshana, the Notice of Acceptance would be mail out these few days so you might be receiving it soon. Don't worry too much! You will definitely make it through too!

 

[ochasuru]

yeah sansei sansei (agree agree)...
we should really meet up.
so keep in touch lah!

 

[arshana]

Thanks a lot ochasuru and kishimen!
It was one long wait but it was really worthwhile.
We really should meet up in Japan... sort of like a gathering!
The embassy lady did mention that there would be like an orientation held in the embassy somewhere in March before we depart. Make sure all of you guys and girls turn up for the orientation!
By the way, arshana, the Notice of Acceptance would be mail out these few days so you might be receiving it soon. Don't worry too much! You will definitely make it through too!

Congrats and thanks. I heard about the orientation though. I'm praying hard that I will be able to make it and meet you guys there.

The Oct intake will have the same orientation as well as with Apr intake?

 

[Davey]

Wow, a lot of happy people here... compaired to the whaling section haha.

I wish all of you guys and girl the best and that it will be a great life experience! KANPAI!!!!

 

[arshana]

Uh-oh. Panic attack! Is hostel/ accommodation covered by the scholarship? Is there a separate thread for this?

 

[Nall-ohki]

Congratulations to all!

I got selected as an alternate, and it doesn't look good for me, but I'm going to try next year, and hopefully join your ranks!

 

[ochasuru]

hey thanks Nall-ohki,
wishing you all the best.
just try your best and remember, when there's a will there's a way.

 

[wenling]

Yeah, don't worry too much Nall-ohki!

There's always a silver lining among the clouds and you never know that you might be selected as well.
Ganbatte!

arshana, I am not sure whether they will be conducting the orientation together for both April and October intake but there is a high possible chance that they would. Keep us posted here if you receive the date and time.

In regards to accommodation, I think the monthly allowances given to all grantees should be enough to cover it. Further information may be contained in the coming letter that the embassy is issuing us later this week.