Questions About MEXT College of Technology Scholarship

[mikeplusplus]

As I understand it, now is too late to start the application process for the MEXT scholarship, so I am currently enrolled in a university in my home country. However, I am still interested in the MEXT scholarship and am considering applying for it, but I have some questions first before I start.

1: If I were to begin the application process in late August of this year, would it be even remotely possible to still receive the scholarship? If not, what is the earliest possible time that I would be able to apply for the MEXT scholarship?
2: What sort of reputation do the Colleges of Technology (kōtō-senmon-gakkō) have, particularly in the field of Computer Networking?
3: Is it possible to transfer college credits from an American University to a Japanese College of Technology?
4: According to this document about the scholarship, the scholarship is good for three years at the College of Technology, while Wikipedia says that the Colleges of Technology are 5-year programs resulting in an associate's degree. With MEXT's 3-year scholarship, would I still get an associate's degree?
5: For anyone who has gone through this program or knows someone who has completed this program, what do you think about the program? How easy was it to find a job after graduation?
6: The document linked above also mentions that after completing an advanced course, one can get a bachelor's degree in engineering. How long do these advanced courses take, and how much more competitive would a bachelor's degree be as opposed to an associate's degree?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[K Sarah]

1. Completely impossible. Earliest would be spring next year.
2. If I were to be a bit harsh (which I am inclined to be), College of technology/Specialized training college (usually lumped together) are by some Japanese considered to be equal to a third-rate university (when and if two similar fields of study are offered at both College of technology/Specialized training college and university; such as architecture, civil engineering, computer sciences).
3. Impossible.
4. I wouldn't trust Wikipedia. Follow the MEXT Guidelines.
5. Depends entirely of what kind of education you've received, which college or university you've graduated from, personal and communicative skills. If you were to study medicine at (for example) Kyoto Univ. or Osaka Univ. you would probably have an easier time getting a job after you have graduated than if you were to study Computer Networking at a College of technology. I doubt you will be able to find anyone here who has studied Computer Networking at a College of technology in particular who could help you.
6. A lot more competitive. How long would depend almost entirely on you (as well as on on how long MEXT would want to support you). Also, it should be noted that you cannot get a B.A/B.S. unless you clear certain prerequisites; such as a high GPA and proficiency in Japanese.
(7.) There exists a perfectly good and active MEXT Scholarship thread (in which you've already posted the same questions before), I advise you to use it.