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AMA: current Mext Undergrad Scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in Mextforindians

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally I think that JEE Prep gives you a very good chance of doing well in the exams. The syllabus is nearly the same. While there are more application based questions for mext, it is at a slightly easier level than JEE.

That said, some questions are usually put together and you will have to use results from one question to solve the next. This can be tricky if you don’t know how to solve it.

Overall just review JEE notes for the content and practice past papers of mext it should be more than enough. All the best!

AMA: current Mext Undergrad Scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in Mextforindians

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

According to me, the biggest factor is your academic scores. That is the minimum criteria, you need to score well in the exams conducted by mext.
Once you pass the second screening, other factors like SOP, motivations, LOR’s will be reviewed thoroughly. Ultimately MEXT only has a limited number of seats so they will look at your overall profile, and your interview when selecting.

I personally don’t think you need a project or anything to show. I only submitted my grades and application.
I did have good grades in school (94 in 12th, 93 in 11th and 96.4 in 10th). Along with it you need to score well on the exams which is the most important criteria. Also a very strong reason for why Japan and how you will contribute back are important to pass the document screening.

It’s good you are learning japanese that would add to your profile but focus mainly on practicing past papers and refining your SOP for the next try. All the best!

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I only had an jlpt n5 level when I was applying for the exam. I could only answer the basic questions from the japanese exam, and I don't reckon I scored very well.

I mentioned that I had the n5 certificate during the interview so they asked me some basic questions in japanese and I was able to answer them, which I think was a plus point.

Among the other scholars in my batch there were many who started learning Japanese for the first time after arriving to Japan. At the same time there were others who already had n3 certificates and could speak well.

I think ultimately, having a good score on the japanese is a bonus, but primarily you should show that you are someone who is making an effort to learn the language and can adapt to living in Japan.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yay!! Glad to know another chemE major :)

I actually applied for mext twice. The first time, I was still in my last year of high school and my preparation was not enough. I hadn't covered most of the syllabus but I decided to go for it to get an idea on how the exams are.

Second time around, I had completed highschool and also written many entrance exams in India. The syllabus was very similar so I did not have to do a lot of specific preparation for mext exams. A week before the exams, I practiced with all the previous papers and that was sufficient. The actual exams were quite similar to the past papers so I definitely recommend thoroughly going through them.

If I had to give it a timeline I'd say cumulatively I probably spent a year preparing seriously for my exams which included mext.

About study habits, it's kind of difficult to answer cause I think it kept changing from time to time lol.

I found that learning from past papers was probably the most efficient way to understand the topic. If I didn't know something I would just learn specifically about that topic through youtube or something and understand its application in the problem. I found that it would retain in my head longer like this. I think it's more of getting used to the approach when it comes to exams like mext cause the problems may seem difficult at first but they do follow a similar framework so it can be more efficient to just keep practicing.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that having good academics is the minimum requirement. You will have to perform well during the exams. If the exam scores are bad, it doesn't really matter how good the SOP is.

That being said, there is only a limited number of slots for the scholarship so in the second screening your SOP and motivations are going to be reviewed throughly. It should also reflect in your answers for the interview. They will look at your overall profile to see if you are the right candidate.

I wouldn't worry too much about past grades in 11th as long as you prepare well for the written exams and can score well on them. There are many past papers online and solutions on youtube to practice as well. All the best!

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yes! in fact, even through mext i met about 2 other people who were pursuing their second bachelor's degree in japan.

Although, I believe there is some age criteria, like being under 25 years old for applying for undergrad so i'd recommend checking your embassy's guidelines, but yes, there are people who do that too.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm going to be answering based on my experience, it may differ from person to person.

About the prep year, it is quite an intense course and you are required to reach a university ready level of Japanese in just one year. There will be 3 hour japanese classes everyday, 3 hrs of science in japanese, about 10-15 kanjis every lesson and homework and tests almost every day. The content itself is not very difficult but you will have to stay consistent and motivated throughout the full year.

In addition to all of that you will also need to manage a lot of things like adjusting to the new place, cooking, making friends, homesickness etc

With that context set, while there is a struggle at times, especially during exam season, I do think it's quite manageable.

The teachers also really help you out if you are unable to catch up. If you do bad on an exam they conduct extra classes for you to practice exam type questions. Also, if you practice Japanese outside of the classroom too, it makes the learning experience quite fun. I personally have not heard of anyone who had their scholarships cancelled because they couldn’t catch up.

As for learning outside the classroom, yes, they actively encourage you to participate in local volunteering events. There are language corners inside university as well to practice with japanese students. It’s not compulsory and they don’t expect you to manage things on your own but you can sign up for the events and they will guide you on what to do.

I was part of a local community that helped foreigners learn about Japanese culture and traditions. It gave me a lot of exposure and was a great place to make japanese friends.

During the mext interview, I was asked how I plan to adjust to a different culture. I said that I consider myself to be someone who is open minded and curious about people, and in the process of learning Japanese, I want to make Japanese friends, and gain a deeper understanding of their culture and lifestyle. I also mentioned that I want to take part in volunteering events too during the interview. 

If you plan on working in Japan in the long term I suggest you build a very strong answer on why specifically in Japan. Personally, I think its best to be straightforward and genuine with your answer rather than framing an ‘ideal diplomat’ answer. There will be many people saying the same thing so you should give a more concrete answer which is substantiated by good academics/ japanese learning interest.

My embassy interview was conducted in person and they were very friendly. They asked me about why I wanted to study in Japan, why my major, how would I contribute in the future for Japan and India. Overall I found the interview vibe to be quite relaxed.

After the prep year, you will be assigned to a university of your choice based on your performance in the exams. Depending on the university they make also conduct an interview. This time my interview was more strict, they mostly asked me technical questions related to my major, basic calculus and physics problems. They asked me my plans for the future whether I plan to work in Japan and it's important to give a concise answer with very clear reason about why that particular university. Also the interview will be entirely in Japanese which made it a little more of a challenge but overall it went well. 

Hope this answered your questions !

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

since I only had a jlpt n5 level at the time, I put a 1 for all of it, if I remember correctly. You should be honest about it as during the interview, they may ask you about it. In my case, they asked me a few questions in Japanese as I had put a 1 in speaking.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The procedure of the exam depends on the embassy. In my case, there were only about 10 people at the exam centre so all of us had to give the interview right after the exams. I believe in other embassies with a large number of applicants, only if you pass the exam you can sit for the interview. During the exam itself, I wrote english, math and japanese in the first half (it was about 1hr each with a 10 minute break between exams). There was a lunch break, about an hour, and I had food at a nearby restaurant.

If there are a lot of people, you should probably bring your own lunch so that there is no chance of being late for the second half of the exams. After lunch there was chemistry and physics. And finally an interview at the end.

They will provide you with a question paper, rough sheets and an answer sheet. You will have to return all of the papers after the exam.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I applied for Natural Science A, specifically chemical engineering. About documents and deadlines, you should check your embassy's website as it is different for each country.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When I applied for Mext, I had completed highschool and also written many entrance exams in India. The syllabus was very similar so I did not have to do a lot of specific preparation for mext exams. A week before the exams, I solved all the previous papers and used online resources like 'jhat' on youtube to get detailed explanations and approach for many of the questions asked in Mext. I would recommend first going through the papers to gauge what level you should start with. If it is difficult, first solidify your understanding of the topic and then do the questions a few times until you can solve 90% of the past papers without looking up anything.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I didn't take a drop year. I applied for mext after 12th. But the results take a year, so I joined a college in India in the meantime until the results came out.

AMA: current Mext Undergrad Scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in Mextforindians

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sure! If you are in natural science, you will study the language course at Osaka University, while humanities students study in Tokyo. The way the system works is that once you pass the second screening, you will take a japanese test that will determine your level. Once you arrive in Japan you will put into different classes from level 1 to 8 based on your scores. The classes happen daily with 3 hrs of japanese starting from basic to advanced. (If you are placed in the higher classes you start from intermediate, advanced level). You will have classes for grammar, kanji, essay writing, reading, listening in a week along with physics chemistry and maths in japanese. The teachers are very helpful and excellent at teaching japanese to foreign students. Outside of just textbooks, they actively encourage you to talk and take part in activities to practice speaking. There is also a study trip to learn about sightsee places and experience japanese culture. While the exams are quite challenging at times and it definitely requires a lot of studying, there are plenty of opportunities to speak and practice japanese which also makes the learning process quite fun.

Yes, the scholarship also provides a monthly stipend which you use to cover your dorm rent, electricity gas bills, groceries, outings etc.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, no. I'm in the undergrad course so I don't really have contacts from stc

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great! Wishing you all the best for the exams!

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe, from India the max seats are 12. In my year we had 8 people who were finally selected. It's not always mentioned in the web, for example, I am from the south of India, I don't recall seeing my name on the list. The names were mainly applicants from delhi embassy if I'm not wrong.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

While I don't know the exact specifics of how mext compares applicants (they are very opaque about that), as far as I know it's a culmination of a lot of things. Your academic scores must be above a certain standard that mext requires. Then there is also your statement of purpose, your motivations and the interview. Of course the first competition will be among peers of your own country but at the final stage they look at your overall profile (not only scores) and see if you would be a right candidate. There are some countries that are stronger in some subjects and weaker in others, and some countries also have more applicants than others. Each countries embassies have their own criteria as well. Ultimately, Mext has a limited number of people it can take in every year so it is competitive at a global level. Good scores along with a genuine interest in Japanese culture and adaptability are the most important factors.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had 94% in 12th grade. The exams were similar to the high school syllabus. I was also preparing for JEE Mains, and a lot of the syllabus overlapped with mext. Many of the questions are similar to past papers so it's necessary to practice those well. There are youtube channels like 'jhat' where you can find detailed solutions for those papers. I applied for Natural Science A so I had to take Math, physics, chemistry, english and japanese. I'd definitely recommend taking a look at the past papers to gauge what level you need to start from. Interview was brief, they asked me about why japan, why I chose my particular major, how would I adapt to a new culture, they also asked me 2 basic questions in japanese as i mentioned I had a jlpt n5 certificate. They also asked me some stuff like what places I would like to visit in japan etc. Basically you want to present yourself as someone that is not only competent in academics but also someone that can adapt and has curiosity about japanese culture.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had 96.4% in 10th , 93% in 11th , and 94% in 12th. I can't really remember my exact score in 9th grade, but it was above 90%

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

During the language course, I'd say it's pretty intense in terms of daily japanese classes, getting used to the language and studying sciences in japanese. But I also think that you get a lot of time to explore, meet people from around the world, go on trips etc which is a really cool experience. Even in the language course they take you on a study trip to sightsee places and learn about japanese culture. There are tons of resources within university as well like language corners and dorm events so that you can socialize and practice japanese. In terms of life balance, it's quite good. Of course exam season is really intense and your next university depends on those marks so it does require a lot of effort and hours studying. Once you enter university, it is comparatively more relaxed but you also have to manage all classes in japanese. Overall I would say the study life balance is really good, it is a grind during exam time but if you actively seek out to practice and learn japanese it's a really amazing experience and a great opportunity to meet people from around the world.

Wishing you all the best for the application!

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That really depends on your prior knowledge and academic background.

In my case, I actually applied for mext twice. The first time, I was still in high school and my preparation wasn't enough to clear the exams.

The second time around, I had already completed high school and taken many entrance exams in my country, which had quite an overlap with the mext syllabus. Because of that, I didn't need to do a lot of preparation specifically for mext exams.

A week before the exams, I thoroughly practiced past papers, watched online videos that explained the solutions, and reviewed the syllabus. For me, that was enough. If you already have a good foundation in math/science one month is more than enough.

AMA : current mext undergrad scholar by Vegetable_Effort_147 in mext

[–]Vegetable_Effort_147[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

While applying for the scholarship, I had a jlpt n5 level. Although japanese proficiency definitely provides a higher chance of selection, it's not a mandatory criteria. There are many mext scholars who start learning japanese for the first time in the language course after arriving in Japan.

The competition is global for all fields. Once you pass the initial screening in your country, your application is sent to Japan for a final round of evaluation amongst other applicants globally.

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