Waseda GSAPS

Blue Lion · 25 Jan 2024

Hello,

I am interested in Waseda's GSAPS Masters program. I have one Masters from a state university in America in East Asian Studies with a focus on Japanese culture and society. I had a 3.9 GPA and was also able to get a federally funded fellowship to continue studying Japanese while in grad school. My undergrad degree, also from the same university, was in History and Political science. I have a few years of Japanese language education including a program that was hosted through Kyoto University for a summer. I also taught English in Japan for about a year between graduating from college and getting into grad school.

I believe my research topic fits the program really well, I want to study the differences between Japanese higher education and American higher education and their respective abilities to be used as a soft power mechanism to attract migrants into Japan and America. Specifically I want to look at Japan's Top Global University project, which officially ended this year, and compare it to some of America's higher education projects.

There are a few things that I am worried about. For one, my undergrad GPA was pretty low, it was only a 2.8. My first Masters also didn't have a thesis track, but I did have to write an article that could be published in an academic journal. And finally I have never gotten around to getting a JLPT score after all the Japanese language education I have had.

Do you think I have a pretty decent chance of getting in?

mdchachi · 26 Jan 2024

I don't really know but it doesn't hurt to try. Just be prepared for rejection. I asked a Higher Power and here is the response:

Based on the information provided, you have a strong academic background and relevant experience that aligns well with the Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) program. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Academic Background: Your high GPA in your previous master's program and the federally funded fellowship demonstrate your academic excellence and commitment to the study of Japanese culture and society.

2. Relevance of Research Topic: Your research topic aligns well with the focus of the GSAPS program, which offers a fully bilingual education in Japanese and English[3]. Your proposed research on the differences between Japanese and American higher education and their use as soft power mechanisms is in line with the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

3. Concerns: While your undergraduate GPA is lower, the strength of your master's GPA and the publication of an academic article could help mitigate this. Not having a JLPT score may be a concern, but your immersive experience in Japan and the completion of a summer program at Kyoto University demonstrate a strong practical understanding of the language.

4. Application Process: The application requirements may include English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS) or Japanese Proficiency Test Scores (JLPT N1/EJU)[4]. It's important to address your concerns about the lack of a JLPT score in your application and highlight your practical language skills and experience.

In conclusion, while there are some potential concerns, your strong academic background, relevant research interests, and practical experience in Japan make you a competitive candidate for the GSAPS program. It's important to carefully address any potential weaknesses in your application and emphasize how your background and research interests align with the program's focus. Good luck with your application!

Citations:
[1] 早稲田大学大学院アジア太平洋研究科
[2] Admissions
[3] Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) – Mānoa International Exchange
[4] Waseda University's Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS), Japan MEXT Scholarship Program - International Office Universitas Indonesia
[5] MA Program | Postgraduate Schools | Waseda University | UNIV. IN JAPAN

Blue Lion · 30 Jan 2024

mdchachi said:
I don't really know but it doesn't hurt to try. Just be prepared for rejection. I asked a Higher Power and here is the response:

Based on the information provided, you have a strong academic background and relevant experience that aligns well with the Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) program. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Academic Background: Your high GPA in your previous master's program and the federally funded fellowship demonstrate your academic excellence and commitment to the study of Japanese culture and society.

2. Relevance of Research Topic: Your research topic aligns well with the focus of the GSAPS program, which offers a fully bilingual education in Japanese and English[3]. Your proposed research on the differences between Japanese and American higher education and their use as soft power mechanisms is in line with the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

3. Concerns: While your undergraduate GPA is lower, the strength of your master's GPA and the publication of an academic article could help mitigate this. Not having a JLPT score may be a concern, but your immersive experience in Japan and the completion of a summer program at Kyoto University demonstrate a strong practical understanding of the language.

4. Application Process: The application requirements may include English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS) or Japanese Proficiency Test Scores (JLPT N1/EJU)[4]. It's important to address your concerns about the lack of a JLPT score in your application and highlight your practical language skills and experience.

In conclusion, while there are some potential concerns, your strong academic background, relevant research interests, and practical experience in Japan make you a competitive candidate for the GSAPS program. It's important to carefully address any potential weaknesses in your application and emphasize how your background and research interests align with the program's focus. Good luck with your application!

Citations:
[1] 早稲田大学大学院アジア太平洋研究科
[2] Admissions
[3] Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) – Mānoa International Exchange
[4] Waseda University's Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS), Japan MEXT Scholarship Program - International Office Universitas Indonesia
[5] MA Program | Postgraduate Schools | Waseda University | UNIV. IN JAPAN

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it. I am not at all worried about an English proficiency test since I am a native speaker and all my education up to this point has been in English. Its just the finer details I am worried about.

Thanks again!

ashleyclausen · 28 May 2024

mdchachi said:
I don't really know but it doesn't hurt to try. Just be prepared for rejection. I asked a Higher Power and here is the response:

Based on the information provided, you have a strong academic background and relevant experience that aligns well with the Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) program. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Academic Background: Your high GPA in your previous master's program and the federally funded fellowship demonstrate your academic excellence and commitment to the study of Japanese culture and society.

2. Relevance of Research Topic: Your research topic aligns well with the focus of the GSAPS program, which offers a fully bilingual education in Japanese and English[3]. Your proposed research on the differences between Japanese and American higher education and their use as soft power mechanisms is in line with the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

3. Concerns: While your undergraduate GPA is lower, the strength of your master's GPA and the publication of an academic article could help mitigate this. Not having a JLPT score may be a concern, but your immersive experience in Japan and the completion of a summer program at Kyoto University demonstrate a strong practical understanding of the language.

4. Application Process: The application requirements may include English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS) or Japanese Proficiency Test Scores (JLPT N1/EJU)[4]. It's important to address your concerns about the lack of a JLPT score in your application and highlight your practical language skills and experience

Citations:
[1] 早稲田大学大学院アジア太平洋研究科
[2] Admissions
[3] Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) – Mānoa International Exchange
[4] Waseda University's Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS), Japan MEXT Scholarship Program - International Office Universitas Indonesia
[5] MA Program | Postgraduate Schools | Waseda University | UNIV. IN JAPAN

This is very valuable information. A close friend of mine applied but was rejected, even though she had a pretty good background and looked like a competitive candidate.

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