Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

[clipvain]

Hi All,

I had the interview today, and didn't feel like it went well
Seems like the embassy scheduled only 30mins per candidate and the one before me stretched it by about 10mins? So when I entered the room, the interviewers seemed like they were in a hurry to get things over and done with. And it didn't help at all that I was so so so nervous at the start that I had difficulty catching my breath at one point of time.

The questions were what I had anticipated and prepared for, but somehow I lost the power to think coherently. Felt like a disaster....
I eventually got out of the room in about 15mins.
My guess is that I probably blew my chance...

Anyway, will know about how it turns out sometime mid next week.
Good Luck to the rest who have not had their interviews yet!!

 

[jim84]

Hi All,
I had the interview today, and didn't feel like it went well
Seems like the embassy scheduled only 30mins per candidate and the one before me stretched it by about 10mins? So when I entered the room, the interviewers seemed like they were in a hurry to get things over and done with. And it didn't help at all that I was so so so nervous at the start that I had difficulty catching my breath at one point of time.
The questions were what I had anticipated and prepared for, but somehow I lost the power to think coherently. Felt like a disaster....
I eventually got out of the room in about 15mins.
My guess is that I probably blew my chance...
Anyway, will know about how it turns out sometime mid next week.
Good Luck to the rest who have not had their interviews yet!!

my interview lasted less than 15mins last year
i also thought i blew it

don't lose hope yet, just wait for the results

 

[clipvain]

my interview lasted less than 15mins last year
i also thought i blew it

don't lose hope yet, just wait for the results

ooilinfan: if that's the case, i certainly do feel better hearing it since you're already a scholarship recipient but i felt like i didnt manage to get all my points across to them

and yeah I'll just have to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst! thanks!

 

[menrui]

I remember last year, the Malaysian applicants had plenty of horror stories to tell... but most of them ended up with the scholarship.

 

[jim84]

I remember last year, the Malaysian applicants had plenty of horror stories to tell... but most of them ended up with the scholarship.

yea, we worried unnecessarily for months
though we were all busy on working or finishing up universities, it's hard to contain the excitement and worries on the possibility of going to Japan. It feels like our lives are on hold waiting for that decisive moment. And it is indeed, a life's turning point =) A darn good one.

 

[clipvain]

hee menrui & ooilingfan,
yeah i read through this entire thread few months back abt how u guys struggled and encouraged each other through that period... it was amazing, and the final relief when most of u guys got in!

the waiting time wont be that long for me. i should know by Wed, but i have a feeling that there should be some news by Mon... the embassy here is either too efficient or they dont really have alot of candidates to look at... Anyway, thanks alot for the advices up till now!

 

[jim84]

hee menrui & ooilingfan,
yeah i read through this entire thread few months back abt how u guys struggled and encouraged each other through that period... it was amazing, and the final relief when most of u guys got in!

the waiting time wont be that long for me. i should know by Wed, but i have a feeling that there should be some news by Mon... the embassy here is either too efficient or they dont really have alot of candidates to look at... Anyway, thanks alot for the advices up till now!

The longest waiting period is between October to February next year.
Well, if you pass the interview, you may learning some japanese and plan your things in advance. We dare not take any aggressive moves before the final confirmation last year and ended up scrambling things last minute (in 3 weeks). Including resignation from work, and a lot of stuff like rental contracts, financial commitments etc...

 

[clipvain]

Hmm actually im already in my 3rd year of Japanese class, so I will continue till the end of this year at least. As for my work commitments, i've been planning to move on by end of this year so i wont be so worried abt resignation.
Let's see how the results turn out.. I'm not feeling exactly confident about it anyway...

 

[talia1511]

Early bird

Hi all,
Been reading through your posts on applying for this year's monbusho round... sounds like a lot of hard work has gone into it - but good luck and my thoughts are with you all!!
I'm planning on applying for next year's round and as part of my preparations am looking at making contact with potential professors/supervisors sometime towards the end of this year.
Is anyone able to tell me whether there are certain universities which students are more likely to be granted scholarships at (ie. public over private)? This will at least narrow down my search for the perfect supervisor!
Thanks!
Talia

 

[ykk]

well, my exams are tomorrow morning and hopefully, if I pass the exams, the interview will be during the afternoon.
I'm sooo excited I can barely eat or sleep, I've ironed my shirt twice already, purchased all new clothes, got my nails done and tonight a long relaxing bath before trying to get some sleep.

I've been through this already, it is so nerve wracking that I hope all this effort pays off.
This year has been so great for me, I have my own appartment, good job, lovely boyfriend, my life is on wheels but it would be sooo great to grow as a professional, to live a life-changing experience with this scholarship.

I'll let you guys know tomorrow how did it go!!!

 

[ekoy]

well, my exams are tomorrow morning and hopefully, if I pass the exams, the interview will be during the afternoon.
I'm sooo excited I can barely eat or sleep, I've ironed my shirt twice already, purchased all new clothes, got my nails done and tonight a long relaxing bath before trying to get some sleep.

I've been through this already, it is so nerve wracking that I hope all this effort pays off.
This year has been so great for me, I have my own appartment, good job, lovely boyfriend, my life is on wheels but it would be sooo great to grow as a professional, to live a life-changing experience with this scholarship.

I'll let you guys know tomorrow how did it go!!!

Best of luck ykk!!! Remember to remain calm during the interview! Once again, good luck!

 

[clockworkorange]

hee menrui & ooilingfan,
yeah i read through this entire thread few months back abt how u guys struggled and encouraged each other through that period... it was amazing, and the final relief when most of u guys got in!

Yeah, i think it's important to have some one to whine to. it helped that these were ppl who understood.

And i understand how ur feeling clipvain because i didn't think my interview went all that well last year either. I've probably told anyone willing to listen how i think i got thrashed in the interview.

At one point, one of the panel asked me to apply for another scholarship. He said, "I'm not saying you won't get this scholarship but here's another scholarship you can apply for." And he gave me a pencil and paper and told me to write down the scholarship website.

I really didn't know how to feel after that interview.

anyway, try not to think about it. go enjoy urself and hope for the best.

I'm going to Tokyo in October and hopefully I'll see you there!!

ykk, all the best for ur interview too!!

congrats to ekoy and kellylen and the rest who made it!!

finally, to tomayto, i'm really sorry you didn't make it but ur going to taiwan anyway rite?

 

[akaitsume1]

Good luck ykk! My fingers are crossed for you!

Talia: I don't think there will be too much fuss over the type of school, since they've awarded scholarships for both public and private schools. Still, if you've narrowed it down to a public and a private as your #1 and #2, I'd recommend the public university. The guidelines do warn that budget cuts may affect whether or not they will pay for a private university. It's one of my own concerns. >_>

 

[ykk]

Yesterday was the big day--- yay!!!
The english exam was quite easy,though the japanese was super difficult!

The interview was kind of strange, they made awful questions about my grades (I think they believed it was very low...)
They also asked about my plans when I come back, if I was going to keep my current job.
About my research project, they said that it was the kind of research that should be carried out by a company, that Universities don't invest money and resources in investigating what I wanted to investigate... that question was very odd because I've searched and picked very carefully the universities and I know that they are interested in my theme. Anyway, I told them that.

Thank you all for your good vibrations! I'll let you know if I hear good news!

 

[clipvain]

Hi All,
It's official. I'm out. =(
All the best to the rest of you guys who are still pursuing your dreams!

 

[ekoy]

Hi All,
It's official. I'm out. =(
All the best to the rest of you guys who are still pursuing your dreams!

I'm sorry to hear that clipvain. Worry not, there are bigger fishes out there in the vast ocean! Put ur chin up, and aim higher!

 

[akaitsume1]

Hi All,
It's official. I'm out. =(
All the best to the rest of you guys who are still pursuing your dreams!

I'm sorry, clipvain. Are you thinking of applying to some of the other scholarships, like the JASSO ones? There's always a way!

 

[clipvain]

Hi ekoy & akaitsume1,
Yeah I'm starting exploring others options now and thinking if I should try again next year or what...
anyway, thanks for the encouragement =)
it's been great knowing u guys, and my best wishes go to you!!

 

[mozart]

hi, would like to ask anyone here will be staying in Shugakuin International student house in kyoto ?

TQ

 

[mozart]

University Recommendation can be both an easier or more difficult pathway.
If you have attended Japanese Universities before, or joined some short courses, student exchange programs whereby you have professors in Japan who know you very well, then you can opt for University Recommendation. It is more direct, and almost guaranteed if your supervisor backs you up.
The process is the same except it skips the embassy recommendation part (written exam and interview) and goes straight to the university acceptance. Some Uni may require an interview. If you have no previous ties with any university or supervisors in Japan prior to your application, University Recommendation is not the right way to apply.

Not necessary must be attended the university before, if your research plan is excellent, even thou you have not attended before, they will buy you as well. Of course, univ recommendation is more diff, because everything are "Professor" based, you need to go tru test frm your Prof (lab U wan to join), they might have a cross-border telefon interview v you. If they think you are qualify, they submit your name on behalf of the graduate school to the a committee of the univ, headed by the President of the Univ, they will discuss & choose. Whole process is rather tough, as all are under academicians based tested on ur scientific knowledge, integrative ability etc. I wld say that wrking experience ind lab is very imprtnt as well.
Just for ur reference, this year, kyoto univ got almost 40 applicants from all graduate schools, only 10 were selected 2b nominated 2 MEXT.
Cant say that becoz univ recomendation got prof back up & u r almost guaranteed, thats a very wrong information, coz this some-sort like saying ther is a "bias" in the Monbusho selection system for tis category, so now I'll be telling you the true fact:
mainly is bcoz the Ministry hav fixed the number of candidates to be nominated to each Univ, the univ cannot submit applicants exceed the no. fixed by MEXT, for example, tis year MEXT only alloted 10 scholarships for kyoto univ for tis category, so want or not, they have to nominates 10 candidates, hence, all the 10 candidates being nominated "theoretically" will be able to get.
since you r msian, maybe another word u ll b more familiar with, this is what we call as "quota".
Same thing will happened to embassy recommendation, quotas ll b alloted to each country. China is the one that have the largest quota, coz their population is large, the no.of applicantion aso a lot. However, they ll ensure a good distribution 2wards all countries. For Msia, every year, quota is about 30-40 candidates if not mistaken, roughly arond that range.

 

[nyfa]

Hi guys,

I just got my result today and I passed my test and interview . The final result will be released on December though, so still a long way to go and I don't know how big my chance to get this scholarship.

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I just want to ask about the university that we're going to get if we obtain this scholarship. I already got 3 verbal consents from three professors. So, I should submit three LoAs to my embassy. My question is, which university that I would get eventually? Is it MEXT that going to choose one for me?

Thanks for your answer

 

[mozart]

Hi guys,
I just got my result today and I passed my test and interview . The final result will be released on December though, so still a long way to go and I don't know how big my chance to get this scholarship.
I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I just want to ask about the university that we're going to get if we obtain this scholarship. I already got 3 verbal consents from three professors. So, I should submit three LoAs to my embassy. My question is, which university that I would get eventually? Is it MEXT that going to choose one for me?
Thanks for your answer

congrats for passing ur test & interview. basically we do not knw what exactly is/are the factor(s) that determine which university that you might enter, but of course, ur first choice always comes first, nothing is definite. since you already have 3 consents from those professors, it shows that you already have a host lab, that's excellent, coz normally if the profesor (ur choice) agree to take you, MEXT wont assigned those u have not chosen. as for which univ, I dont think it matters much (as most jap univ are averagely good), as long as u were given the research or the field that u're interested in, thats more importnt, dont u think so?
anyway, its still rather early for ur post, as basically ur scholarship is NOT CONFIRM yet, its just tentatively accepted. if U refer to my abov post, the embassy have the fix number to be nominated to MEXT (quotas alloted by MEXT to each country), so if u'r within the list, so THEORETICALLY u shld b able to get, but, nothing is definite, if ur embassy is those stubborn ppl, insist to nominate more than the quotas, then the MEXT ll hv to reject some.

 

[Rica]

Here's a curly question for someone who has already received the scholarship:

Are Monbukagakusho scholarship stipend payments considered taxable income in Japan?

(I only wonder suddenly cos I did my tax return today)

 

[jim84]

Here's a curly question for someone who has already received the scholarship:
Are Monbukagakusho scholarship stipend payments considered taxable income in Japan?
(I only wonder suddenly cos I did my tax return today)

nope. You receive the scholarship stipend in full.

 

[ellefruit]

you guys are so clued up!!

hi~ i'm new. but i confess i have tapped into your vast pool of knowledge for my own devices in the past - awesome forum. keep it up.

mozart:

nothing is definite, if ur embassy is those stubborn ppl, insist to nominate more than the quotas, then the MEXT ll hv to reject some.

made me want to cry. a lot. i managed to get the nomination and official acceptance @ Tokyo so they better not turn me away now!! I don't have a contingency~~ T_T

i just came on here to see if anyone else is having issues with the cost of getting that Certificate of Health done.. it's costing me more than £300 >< i'm a postgrad? i have no money~

and to anyone that was unsuccessful this year: great effort, and don't be disheartened. this was my second attempt

mwah xx