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Post by momo black on Sept 26, 2016 13:37:51 GMT 9
I was thinking of posting this in the Post-Graduate thread but it seemed specific enough to warrant its own discussion -- ぜひ correct me if I'm wrong.
I am considering applying to MEXT for their scholarship for graduate school in Japan. The only problem is that their instructions for applying all assume you are applying as an undergraduate student at a Japanese university, or as a BA-holding person in your home country.
My consulate back home says I could apply through them since my parents' home is still counted as my "permanent address" in the US, but then I would have to fly back to the US just to do an interview, and that's not really financially feasible for me.
Does anyone have any pointers/knowledge/info/experience about this?
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Post by CaptainSeery on Sept 26, 2016 16:55:45 GMT 9
Sorry, I don't have any personal experience with this.
But I would imagine that if you have to interview at your consulate, there's not really any way out of that. It's the same for JET - you have to interview in your country of citizen, no matter what. The only suggestion I would have is to contact the people who you would be applying to, which sounds like it would be your consulate, but it sounds like you already did ask them. So there's probably no way around it.
Maybe wait a year and save up?
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Post by momo black on Sept 27, 2016 11:49:00 GMT 9
Yeah, that might be my only option...
I know people who get recommended from Japanese universities don't need to interview in their home country though. I wonder if the university I studied abroad at would be able to recommend me if I contacted them about it?
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Post by CaptainSeery on Sept 27, 2016 14:20:05 GMT 9
There's no harm in trying, right?
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Post by Researcher Irish on Oct 6, 2016 21:22:41 GMT 9
I flew back for the interview.
I failed.
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Post by Sparkles on Oct 21, 2016 14:09:55 GMT 9
My hulemdo (from the same uni as me) was an ALT in the middle-of-nowhere Hokkaido and when their 3rd year on JET was drawing to a close (hulemdo didn't recontract), hulemdo applied for the graduate MEXT scholarship through the consulate we'd both come through as JETs, actually. The consulate people remembered hulemdo (in a good way) from their original JET interview and hulemdo's MEXT interview ended successfully. (hulemdo also consulted with one of our profs from uni who is apparently somewhat familiar with the process.) Apparently though you have to find a uni in Japan to accept you after your interview in your home country, because if a uni doesn't accept you you lose the money (which makes sense). So maybe if a uni was already on board with accepting you that's why you don't need the interview??
Sorry this probably wasn't very helpful; my only MEXT scholarship experience was in undergrad. -_-;;
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sven
Founding Father of the CIRHP 
Posts: 472
CIR Experience: Former CIR
Location: Niigata
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Post by sven on Oct 22, 2016 6:37:14 GMT 9
I work at a consulate with our MEXT coordinator sitting right next to me, so I'd be happy to pass along any questions you have. From talking to him, we do get applications from current JETs pretty regularly, so people often attempt what you're going for.
You would need to fly back to interview though, that much is certain.
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Post by momo black on Nov 1, 2016 10:34:29 GMT 9
I work at a consulate with our MEXT coordinator sitting right next to me, so I'd be happy to pass along any questions you have. From talking to him, we do get applications from current JETs pretty regularly, so people often attempt what you're going for. You would need to fly back to interview though, that much is certain. Thank you! I'll save up money for a flight for the time being. Probably won't apply for another year or two though... |
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Post by momo black on Apr 2, 2019 13:39:36 GMT 9
HEY IT'S ME AGAIN
Does anyone know when the applications are released for the research student (i.e. master's) position?
Right now the only stuff I can find on the site still gives the deadline for 2018... I assume it's probably around the same deadline each year, but it would be reassuring to see the updated files/info...
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Post by zztop on Apr 2, 2019 15:07:41 GMT 9
Not sure, though I think it might be different depending on the consulate/embassy you apply through?
Sorry for the lack of help but I'm in the same boat, just gonna post my own MEXT scholarship existential crisis here hue
Hoping to apply to start grad school in Japan fall 2020 after my JET contract's up but I'm lowkey freaking out cause the actual MEXT timeline is a quite a bit different from what I saw when I first researched. I just realized fairly recently how soon I'll have to get my tihs together and I'm not sure it's feasible for me to apply anymore.
If I understand right, to apply for fall semester 2020 start I'd have to apply this summer right? It would be pretty MULIYALI for me to go back home to the states in June... It would be worth it if I got the scholarship ofc but no guarantees even if I flew in :/ ofc I would combine it with visiting family but I just saw my family over Xmas and won't have THAT much nenkyu/money left after golden week, doushiyouuu
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Post by momo black on Apr 3, 2019 11:35:04 GMT 9
zztop My understanding is yes, you would have to fly back for an interview in June if you wanted to begin in fall 2020. The application seems to be due around beginning of June regardless of where you live, and interviews seem to be held mid to late June. If you could get your application together by then, you could probably take unpaid holiday if necessary/if your budget allowed it in order to go do the interview, but I absolutely get what you mean about worrying seeing as there's no guarantees it would work out ... I wanted to save money for a year, but I also want to start in 2020, so I'll have to apply this year and then save money after... or if I don't get in I can just save up again but what a waste of 100,000 yen that would be orzhonestly though, if I don't get the scholarship, I'll probably just save up and then apply in the US
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Post by zztop on Apr 3, 2019 11:50:59 GMT 9
momo black So happy I saw your post yesterday to get me in gear to apply, got really off track with other stuff lately. I do actually have enough nenkyu and savings left even after golden week travel it's still girigiri feasible for me to go thankfully, but yeah I dread explaining this to my office and it's pretty bad timing, but mou SHIKATA NAI. I thought about it a lot last night and I pretty much cemented my decision I'm going to apply. Going with MEXT is just too good of an opportunity not to apply. Trying to use this week as crunch time researching professors/schools/programs my MEXT senpai introduced me to this website which is quite helpful for that
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Post by momo black on Apr 3, 2019 11:52:22 GMT 9
I've been JIKKURI thinking about it since 2016, so I'm very lucky to already have a professor in mind. Godspeed to you!!
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Post by zztop on May 14, 2019 14:41:30 GMT 9
INSERT EXISTENTIAL DREAD ABOUT MEXT STUFF HERE hue
Reeeeeeeally worried about everything getting in on time. I'm actually enlisting the help of my old boss I'm meeting up with this weekend to physically bring at least some of the documents back to NY with him and then have my mom pick them up and send together from there ^^;; yeah, it's getting a bit messy
Also worried about the letter of recommendation since it says it has to be from academic adviser or dean of university. No connection with dean and my academic adviser was a really nice guy but actually already refused me for a rec letter for JET way back when cause "I dun kno u lyke that" ^^;;;; so I've sent out an email giving a whole layout of my academic professional background etc to make it easier for him, but idk what he's gonna end up doing this time. ><
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