Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship for Applicants Residing Abroad (Got a Conditional Acceptance 2020)

 Hello Guys, today I want to share how I got a conditional acceptance from Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation for October 2020 enrollment based on my experience. I will describe: how I got the first information about scholarship, how I fill out the application form, how I did an interview, how I got an acceptance.

 Let’s start. Firstly how I got the first information about scholarship. FYI, every day I usually type PhD scholarship on my Google to find scholarship chances. Apparently the history of my type was recorded by Google chrome. In one day when I opened Google chrome on my cell phone, the Google chrome showed me Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship for Applicants Residing Abroad. How lucky I am. I click the link http://www.rotary-yoneyama.or.jp/english/overseas and I had downloaded the guideline. After that, I have read carefully and was prepared all the requirements.

 Secondly how I fill out the application form. The application documents consist:

1.       Application form.

2.       Outline of Research Plan at Japanese University.

3.       Objective for Studying in Japan.

4.       Two Recommendation Letter (I got from the Head of Department and my colleague).

5.       Letter of Acceptance (LoA) (I got from my prospective supervisor at Osaka University).

6.       Document certifying Japanese language proficiency.

All the application documents was sent to email address (apply@rotary-yoneyama.or.jp). The deadline of the scholarship was December 15^th 2019 and I sent on December 3^rd 2019. OK, time to wait.

 Thirdly how I did the interview. On January 14^th 2020, I got an email from Rotary International District 2660 Yoneyama scholarship Committee. FYI, this District was in Osaka. Because my targeted university was Osaka University. So, it was depend on your targeted university. The email stated that they will be conducted an interview by Skype.

 Date: January 23rd, 2020 (Thursday)

Time: your convenient 20-30 minutes from 10:30-17:30 Japanese time (08:30-15:30 Indonesian time)

 They asked a convenient time for me. I was chose at 10.30-11.00 Japanese times in that day. Why I chose that time, because I want to do the interview with clear mind. J

 Tada…the interview times. The committees were two people. Before the interview, I have asked the committee about language that will be used. They told me that the interview will be conducted both English and Japanese. J

 I am surprised today (I know right now when I write this story) that one of the committee is Professor Emeritus at Osaka University. Hello Prof. ! and the other one is the committee chair. J

 In that interview, they asked (verified) about what I wrote on Application form. The last question was what did you known about Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation and Its activities.

Overall the interview was happened naturally and I enjoyed the interview. Thank you sensei and the chair. At the end, the committee told me that they would be decided the acceptance/ not by The Central Committee in Tokyo and the announcement will be sent by an email at around mid of February 2020.

 Finally how I got an acceptance. After I had the interview, every day I have checked my email. J Unfortunately, on February 15^th 2020 I have not got an email from the Committee. I surrender. I failed to get the scholarship. I must move on. But, fortunately I got an email on February 19^th 2020 from scholarship committee that I have accepted as a scholar. Yeay…J Even though the email have a notice. If I failed to pass an entrance examination at Osaka University, my scholarship acceptance will be canceled.

 A couple days ago I knew that I failed to pass the examination and automatically my scholarship will be canceled. L

 Thank you Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation for giving me the chance. Hopefully, I can get another chance in other district and at other university. Ganbatte!

PhD Osaka University (OU) Entrance Examination 2020 (ONLINE)

I want to share how I took the entrance examination of OU for October 2020 enrollment. FYI, my targeted course in Architectural Engineering. So, maybe each program will be different.

Firstly, I fulfill all the documents application. Before that, I read the guidelines for the International Student Application October 2020 enrollment carefully. The documents consist:

1.    Application form.

2.    Statement of Purpose contains research topics, research background, research methods, research aims, and the reason why study in Japan and why choose OU and targeted laboratory.

3.    Academic Transcript of Master Degree (legalize).

4.    Graduation Certificate of Master Degree (legalize).

5.    Receipt of Application Fee Payment (30.000 Japanese yen + 660 Japanese yen). Totally 30.660 Japanese yen.

6.    Original TOEIC certificate (Even for Architectural Engineering is not necessary, but I enclose it).

All documents sent by EMS post to my supervisor because it must be signed by him and dean. Please remember the deadline for the application! The document will not be accepted if it has passed the deadline. Because I am living in Indonesia, it will be taken in around 5-8 days. So, I send it 10 days before the deadline.

Also remember, in pandemic now maybe it will take more time than before pandemic. I was worried about my documents because in EMS the status was not changed. In Jakarta 3 days, in Tokyo 3 days, and finally delivered in Osaka on the 8th day.

I asked my supervisor about the status of my document. I feel relieved when I know that my application was delivered to the Admission Office. Thank you Sensei! 

Secondly, I got an email from the supervisor that my documents were accepted and I was given an examination schedule. All the schedules are accordingly to the guidelines. The supervisor only provides additional information about what time it is. Anyway, Indonesia and Japan have time differences.

One week before the examination schedule. I was scheduled by the supervisor through a zoom meeting application to check the internet connection and video quality. The supervisor also told me about the kind of test and the test procedures. At that time was the first time for me to meet my supervisor, his associate, and his assistant. I was glad to meet them.

Thirdly, I took an examination in two days. On the first day, I did a written test. The question is just 5. Although in 1 question has 3 questions (but, we can choose just 2 questions). Each question must be answered with a minimum of 100 words (in English). But there is one question that must be answered 200 words. The written test took 3 hours. Along with the test, the supervisor and his assistant watch me. FYI, during the test, there should be nothing on the table except writing tools.

Two days after I had written test, I have to present my master thesis and did the interview. The audiences are the dean and all faculty members (around 15 people included my supervisor). This oral test holds in just 20 minutes.

Finally, I had send an email to my supervisor after I have an oral test. I asked him about my status. Because I realized that my oral test was not quite good. A day after the oral test, my supervisor reply to my email. The email state that the result of the examination will be announced at the OU website on 28 August 2020. But, my supervisor told me that I was not successful to pass the examination. He also told me that I must find another way to pursue my Ph.D. study.

I am feeling blue because my scholarship (Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation) will be canceled when I failed on examination. I also cannot learn from the great sensei. FYI, I was correspondence with my supervisor for 2 years. During our correspondence, I realized that he is a very kind, patient, smart, and polite person. I heard that many professors in Japan are rarely replying in email. But this was not happen to my supervisor. He always replies to my email even though he was busy.

But, the show must go on. I must achieve my aim to pursue Ph.D. study in Japan. I will find another university. I believe that no bad destiny. Every bad situation was caused by me. So I must improve myself (academic, language, publication, etc).  Hopefully one day I can meet again with my supervisor. Thank you so much sensei for our great meeting and assistance.

I still take a deep breath now. Maybe in April 2021, I will enroll in another university. Ganbatte!!