That’s too bad, education around here is fortunately very cheap, but to study in Japan would be almost impossible without a scholarship, at least for me.

Good luck with your college!

BTW: Not Japanese, but still cute ^o^! Have a few stories with J-gals and lots of others with T-gals (new meme for Taiwan-gals) and will post them when the time is due =)

Anyway, your story sort of jumped out at me as I am probably going to be in a very similar position as you are in a year or 2 (or 3). I’m majoring in aerospace engineering and the best option I have for studying in Japan is also Tokyo University. However, my results when it comes to my major aren’t as colourful** (see note below) as yours.. And me, like you said, being from a first-world country and all.. However, I do have Japanese language skills and my major is in English to begin with so that’s not a problem at all. So I’m hoping I’ll be able to ‘dazzle’ with my languages and project work, as opposed to my exam results, when the time comes.

What I have found out at any rate is that it’s in any respect a whole lot easier to get into Japan when you already have a Bachelor’s degree. So I guess that’s my goal for now. Get that BSc first, then go for an MSc in Japan. Maybe see if I can go to a language school in Japan during a summer holiday or even as a minor.

**(I’m actually already a 3rd year student but my major is so difficult that I’m not very close to actually getting my BSc. Having said that, I’m still at the average! Can you believe that? My major is supposed to take 3 years for BSc and 2 for MSc but in practice it’s actually 5 for BSc and 3 for MSc on -average-. So it’s -not even strange- to come across a -10th year student- on occasion. That’s definitely not right in my opinion but I guess it can’t be helped.)

In my case, I went to Japan with another scholarship but technically it doesn’t count since I didn’t get any formal education.

Also, the Netherlands is a first-world country, but as I wrote above, I have the “privilege” of coming from a third-world country (Costa Rica) XD which is why MEXT scholarships cover 100% of your necessities (the CR government does not pay a dime for your scholarship) and in many cases you can even save some and visit your family, go on trips, etc.

If I get the scholarship then I’ll be grateful =) but for now time to fill up papers and think about my field of study!

Btw, were those girls japanese?

I’ll try to clear up some stuff: My country in Central America, Costa Rica, qualifies as a third-world country, so there are always three full scholarships to Japan given by the MEXT. However, internally, the staff at the Embassy (who decide who gets selected) don’t choose anyone based on social conditions, actually, those with a lower education than me are in disadvantage when it comes to languages and maybe other aspects of education. My education background is somewhat “prestigious” and so is my social background, but fortunately they don’t take these things into account and only your effort academically.

As you say, on my last trip to Japan, I also met people from South/Central America, Russian-speaking countries, Africa, India, lower Asia, etc., for a grand total of 60 different countries, but not many from “Western” first-world countries. I had the time of my life in Japan and if it were possible I would do anything to live that again (alcohol training is okay, no problem with tequila but the Russian’s loved vodka!)

I know that Todai is not just about Love Hina XD it was more of a joke, but to tell the truth as I said before, my interest is mostly getting the scholarship in a U near Tokyo, not particularly one. My choosing of Todai is more of a challenge, but in any case will try my best! Results should be in on June/July and will let you know :)