TiTech IGP Questions

So, just had my interview.
First I was asked to introduce myself and what I do. I talked about my specialization in CG and a little bit about my current undergraduate thesis. I had this all planned out pretty nicely but due to being really nervous I couldn't deliver it as good as I wanted to.

Then I was asked to introduce my research proposal, again I had this planned nicer ... :) I was asked a couple of questions about it in detail.

Then I was asked 4 questions of Computer Science. The first one was really easy, how the Illumination Model in Computer Graphics is handled. I did okay on this.
Then I was asked about the difference of deterministic/non deterministic automats and if there's a difference in language they accept. I wasn't sure about the language part, but I did okay on the other one.
The next question was about sampling theorem which I only explained why we need sampling and what it is.
The last question was about Fourier Transformation and Series. I explained the series but couldn't remember what the transformation did, which is a pity because I actually enjoyed this topic when we did it in math3 :'(

I'm really unsure about my total assessment so I guess now it's time to wait. Any idea when they're going to announce the (unofficial) result?
 
I dunno. As I partly screwed up my interview, I really wanna know the result sooner rather than later. Anyways, I think that you did pretty decent (more decent than me for sure). The automata question was easy enough. I dunno remember the Fourier transformation even though I have studied it, coz it was in my 2nd sem and I haven't needed it since then. Hope we both get accepted. :)

Do tell me though, would you go to TITech if they told you that you were in but without the scholarship? I'm weighing my options right now, since I applied to Universities other than TITech. Still no guarantee that I'd make any of them though.
 
Yes, id take up a student loan and my parents help me too, so yes id def go if they accept me. Automat questionwaa really easy, I remembered the answer to the language question a few mins after the interview. I think now it really depends on my proposal and if they understood my babbling about explaining it today. Im not sure which id choose between keio and titech, it depends on ur future plans
 
No, none of the ones I looked into had a CG lab. Or those who had, didn't have international courses or had entrance exams :o
 
So I just got an email from my potential supervisor saying my interview ranked high and that that is good news. He asks me to answer the questions that are on the mext form again so he can recommend me....

Now I wonder if I'll get actually recommended for mext or if this is just for uni intern evaluation...
Either way I'm speechless right now.

Maybe receivers of mext could give me more insight.
 
Great. That means you are pretty much sure to get a scholarship. I still haven't heard back from anyone from TITech. :(

Anyways, let's see what happens. Congrats by the way. :)
 
So I just got an email from my potential supervisor saying my interview ranked high and that that is good news. He asks me to answer the questions that are on the mext form again so he can recommend me....

Now I wonder if I'll get actually recommended for mext or if this is just for uni intern evaluation...
Either way I'm speechless right now.

Maybe receivers of mext could give me more insight.

Congrats. Seems like you are selected within the department (each dept has a number of allocated slots and profs would decide the nominees after the interview within the dept). After that it's just a formal procedure to nominate you to MEXT from the school (which will be made official in February). And then another procedural wait till the official result in July :-). No need to worry :-).
 
Hey thanks FullM3tal and thepie! I know I've said it before but you've been of great help to me.
I'm not convinced that I bagged any scholarship yet, but at the very least it looks like I can attend the program which was my goal in the first place. Getting MEXT would mean not starting life with debt :)

I'm a bit busy at the moment, but I'll definitely put my experience throughout the application period and my research proposal up on a blog for future prospective students.
 
Just a quick update:
I asked the prof about my chances and he said that the final result is not fixed yet, there are several meetings between the profs during February and the results are out in early March.
He said he cannot tell me exactly, but in his opinion my chances to be selected for MEXT are quote "extremly high".
He said if I pass the last examination I can join them even if I don't get selected for MEXT (I assume the last examination is this internal review the profs are doing - but I'm not sure, thepie did you have to go through a second interview or something?)

Also he asks me if I plan to enter a doctor course after my master, I could potentially receive a 5 year scholarship.
This is sort of a tough one... what if I cannot get accustomed to Japan during the master, or what if I want to quit after the master and find a job etc..
I assume I'd have to reapply for MEXT if I wanted to do a PhD right?
 
Just a quick update:
I asked the prof about my chances and he said that the final result is not fixed yet, there are several meetings between the profs during February and the results are out in early March.
He said he cannot tell me exactly, but in his opinion my chances to be selected for MEXT are quote "extremly high".
He said if I pass the last examination I can join them even if I don't get selected for MEXT (I assume the last examination is this internal review the profs are doing - but I'm not sure, thepie did you have to go through a second interview or something?)

Also he asks me if I plan to enter a doctor course after my master, I could potentially receive a 5 year scholarship.
This is sort of a tough one... what if I cannot get accustomed to Japan during the master, or what if I want to quit after the master and find a job etc..
I assume I'd have to reapply for MEXT if I wanted to do a PhD right?

No, I didn't have any additional interview, so I believe that you already got admitted.
And my prof also asked if I wanted to continue to PhD. Anyway, you'll have to apply for an extension after your Master, but the process is much easier and is based on your grade (and grade only). You can quit if you'd like. Just tell your professor that you have not decided to proceed to a doctoral degree yet. I think they are fine with that, and it won't affect your chance of getting MEXT.

Just some small updates, I've done with my first semester here. Mostly you write reports for the courses instead of taking exams, and they are not difficult. But in the focus is still academic research so you will probably learn more by attending seminars with the lab, assumed that you have enough Japanese. And there are not many choices for English lectures in my department (CS). What's yours?
 
Hey,
do you happen to blog or anything? I'd be really interested in hearing more about your semester and some things you figured out and all that.
What's your Japanese level? Mine is really low, I'm mostly having trouble with listening. I hope I can study some more before going to Japan.
I haven't checked the curriculum in detail yet, but I'll try to do as many computer graphics/algorithm classes as possible. I'll take a better look once I'm less stressed with uni stuff over here.
Could you elaborate a bit on the report writing thing? Maybe tying it to one class you took, that'd be really cool.
My department is also CS.
 
No, I've been super busy with my Japanese intensive course - three hours a day from 9AM really tied me down...
I took the level 2 of the intensive course, and before entry my level was like the end of Minna no nihongo 1 - but I could barely speak. The level 2 of the course was really intensive, and fast - we got to about pre-intermediate after this one. Afterwards I'll probably take regular courses for intermediate level. If you have time you definitely should invest in the language, as it'll help you to manage here much easier, and more importantly, really have fun. I was very frustrated at the beginning since I was literally deaf and mute, but now I have no serious problems in everyday life.

About the courses, they are rather introductory. For example I took this Complex Networks course, and we learned a lot of CONCEPTS about network structure and mathematics, but we just use some pre-made available software to analyze some networks and write the analysis in a report. Most of the master's degree coursework here in Japan is like that - or even worse in Todai where you write one report for the whole semester. This is very different from my undergrad university where Master's courses was damn difficult and there was hell of programming assignments. And believe me, in real life listening is so much more difficult and different from the books, so just try as hard as you could - you'll get better when you use it every day here. You can check the course here: Complex Networks - TOKYO TECH OCW

Anyway, students here still write good papers. I had this argument of my friends about the structure of the course here, but I guess it's the matter of philosophy. Here in Japan people expect you to learn what you need to know about your research in your lab, and you'll obtain what you need along the way (whether it's algorithm or math or whatever - you learn it as you need). Furthermore, the courses are not designed to make you thoroughly understanding the field, but rather to introduce you to main topics in the field so that you may wanna check them out later if they are related to your topic.
 
Hey frna. I got selected for Keio University and the University wants to recommend me for the scholarship too. So I think I'll be going to Keio University. :)
 
Hey, congrats that is awesome news. I wish you the best. Hopefully we can have some food in Tokyo some day!
 
So it's well into march now and I haven't heard back yet. I'm a bit worried now...
What would you guys do? Should I wait longer or should I send an email to my professor?
 
Well, I haven't heard back from TITech either, but since I'm not as optimistic as you, I'm not overly bothered. Though it is strange that neither Todai nor TITech have declared the results till now. Is it the norm?

Anyways, I already have my destination decided. Best of luck mate. You are definitely gonna get into TITech. :)
 
Hey, thanks for your reply! It relieves me that I'm not the only one who hasnt heard back yet. I think I'll wait some more before bugging my potential advisor again.
 
On a total side note, hope you get to TiTech. Im doing my PhD in a rather wide field but I specialise in software engineering and electrical engineering. My actual department is Telecommunications Engineering just due to the research branch my study has taken so far. Can grab a at some point =].
 
So I mailed my professor to ask whats up and he apologized and said he thought this already reached me. Apparently I've been accepted to the program and recommended to MEXT! Omg im so excited right now. :) :)
 
Congrats! Really happy for you. If I get the scholarship, I'll be in the Yagami campus of Keio University, which is in Yokohama. Hope we get to meet in Tokyo someday! :)
 
Yea, that'd be nice.
TiTech has a campus in Yokohama as well so I might be in town sometimes :) Either way, Yokohama wouldnt be that far from the dorm I was looking at.
Would be nice to meet up and stuff :)
 
Congrats!
So is your lab in Ookayama or Suzukake-dai? I love Ookayama but the price here is more expensive than in Suzukake-dai area.
Btw, Yamagi campus of Keio is really close to Ookayama, takes only 20 minutes by train. It's a very modern and beautiful campus (I'm kinda jealous)
 
hey, thanks!
lab is in ookayama from what I understood.
while at it, may I ask some more questions?

do you live in a dorm? if so, which and you're only going to be there for a year, right?
after I receive the Letter of Acceptance, should I already look into getting a visa? From what I understood a Japanese guarantor has to request visa documents and mail them to me first, right? I guess this happens in Summer when its known if MEXT will give me a scholarship or not, or am I wrong?

Hows research coming along? :)
 
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