Hello to everyone
My name is Milenko and I'm a painter/illustrator.
I'm writing in hope to get some advice on a matter that's troubling me. I don't know whether this is the right place to ask for such advice or not. I've been reading a lot of the topics from this forum, and I know that at least many of you have their own personal experience on the whole Monbusho scholarship process, so you might be able to help me.
But first, let me tell you my story
I have graduated from the Master's course at the Faculty of Applied Arts last year. My wish was to continue my studies in Japan, so naturally, I began looking for universities and preparing myself for the Monbukagakusho 2012 scholarship competition. The test went well, the interview was great, and soon enough I got an email from my Embassy telling me that I was nominated for the 2012 scholarship. I was overwhelmed! Of course, I have hoped for this, but seeing it actually happen was outstanding. I immediately began translating my documents, contacting universities, even hiring a photographer to make professional slides of my paintings etc. Since I do not speak Japanese, making proper contact was a 24 hour effort.. more difficult than I have imagined
So, eventually all of the universities responded, everything seemed to go just fine..until two weeks later.. I received a formal letter from the Embassy's Third Secretary informing me of sudden budget cuts. The Embassy was allegedly informed by the Ministry of the cuts, and they had to revoke my scholarship. I felt devastated, of course. All this hard work and hoping went to waste. But, I understood the difficult situation Japan is in, and have made my peace with it.
Well, the thing that's actually bothering me is this peace of information that I came to know about a few days ago. Another Mext scholarship nominee, a friend of mine (and a student of Japanese language) told me that one of the candidates applying from the lingustics group was initially placed as a reserve student. This same candidate was, according to the story, 'promised' the scholarship last year, but was (to her misfortune) placed in the reserve student category. Further, the candidate managed to put pressure on the Third Secretary through some connections, and was given the scholarship reccommendation instead of me. The embassy officials have revoked the arts scholarship for this year, and placed another linguistics student. To my knowledge, the practice was up until now, not to mix the linguistics and non-linguistics group. Each group had a certain pre-defined number of potential candidates, which were in certain proportion, according to the Ministry's reccommendation.
My question is, primarily, does this seem like a probable story? I know that there are still interviews being held in America, so it is somewhat unusual for the Ministry to send such information to the Embassy early on. I think that the budget cuts, if being made , are made in December or something like that?
On the other hand, it is difficult to beleive that an Embassy official would lie and forge a document. If I were to beleive this story, this would be true.
The whole thing was very unpleasant to me and has caused much stress. I have planned my whole year just to see this happen..
I hope I am not overreacting. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Do I complain, and who do I complain to? Scholarships shouldn't be considered personal property to promise and give away, but should be granted to a candidate who best meets the Ministry's criteria. If this is to be true, it is hurting Japan's good reputation in my country. Maybe someone should be notified of this?
Thank you for your patience.. I expect to at least calm down after hearing some objective thought and advice on this whole thing..
Cheers
My name is Milenko and I'm a painter/illustrator.
I'm writing in hope to get some advice on a matter that's troubling me. I don't know whether this is the right place to ask for such advice or not. I've been reading a lot of the topics from this forum, and I know that at least many of you have their own personal experience on the whole Monbusho scholarship process, so you might be able to help me.
But first, let me tell you my story
I have graduated from the Master's course at the Faculty of Applied Arts last year. My wish was to continue my studies in Japan, so naturally, I began looking for universities and preparing myself for the Monbukagakusho 2012 scholarship competition. The test went well, the interview was great, and soon enough I got an email from my Embassy telling me that I was nominated for the 2012 scholarship. I was overwhelmed! Of course, I have hoped for this, but seeing it actually happen was outstanding. I immediately began translating my documents, contacting universities, even hiring a photographer to make professional slides of my paintings etc. Since I do not speak Japanese, making proper contact was a 24 hour effort.. more difficult than I have imagined
So, eventually all of the universities responded, everything seemed to go just fine..until two weeks later.. I received a formal letter from the Embassy's Third Secretary informing me of sudden budget cuts. The Embassy was allegedly informed by the Ministry of the cuts, and they had to revoke my scholarship. I felt devastated, of course. All this hard work and hoping went to waste. But, I understood the difficult situation Japan is in, and have made my peace with it.
Well, the thing that's actually bothering me is this peace of information that I came to know about a few days ago. Another Mext scholarship nominee, a friend of mine (and a student of Japanese language) told me that one of the candidates applying from the lingustics group was initially placed as a reserve student. This same candidate was, according to the story, 'promised' the scholarship last year, but was (to her misfortune) placed in the reserve student category. Further, the candidate managed to put pressure on the Third Secretary through some connections, and was given the scholarship reccommendation instead of me. The embassy officials have revoked the arts scholarship for this year, and placed another linguistics student. To my knowledge, the practice was up until now, not to mix the linguistics and non-linguistics group. Each group had a certain pre-defined number of potential candidates, which were in certain proportion, according to the Ministry's reccommendation.
My question is, primarily, does this seem like a probable story? I know that there are still interviews being held in America, so it is somewhat unusual for the Ministry to send such information to the Embassy early on. I think that the budget cuts, if being made , are made in December or something like that?
On the other hand, it is difficult to beleive that an Embassy official would lie and forge a document. If I were to beleive this story, this would be true.
The whole thing was very unpleasant to me and has caused much stress. I have planned my whole year just to see this happen..
I hope I am not overreacting. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Do I complain, and who do I complain to? Scholarships shouldn't be considered personal property to promise and give away, but should be granted to a candidate who best meets the Ministry's criteria. If this is to be true, it is hurting Japan's good reputation in my country. Maybe someone should be notified of this?
Thank you for your patience.. I expect to at least calm down after hearing some objective thought and advice on this whole thing..
Cheers
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