Am I being too ambitious? - My current state of life (Feb/20/2007 )
I will be finishing my research year in few months time. Before that, I had applied to few research institutes in Germany. I was being rejected. I don't like rejection. Making me feel disappointed. I am 23 this year and hope to go for PhD in other countries around October this year.
I believe that I do stand out from most people given the location that I am right now and the experiences I got. I was an exchange student from Malaysia to Australia. I was a research scholar in Australian National University for summer. I got scholarship to do my research year. During most summer break, I volunteered myself to help my lecturers to do some research. I am only 23. Isnt it enough? 
I really wish to continue my PhD as soon as possible. From the rejection, I guess I have to take another year of application. Perhaps to the States or European countries. It means I will be only starting my PhD when I am 24. Sorry for the rambling and complaints. Just seeking opinions, do you guys think I am being ambitious? 
For me there is nothing wrong with being too ambitious its really good and motivating, and if this will help you i started my phd when i was 30 years old with 2 kids.
Dont ever give up hope , try other countries and i am sure will get a response , by the way why dont you try in japan?
Dont ever give up hope , try other countries and i am sure will get a response , by the way why dont you try in japan?
Wow.. that's super quick. I am still single.
Well, i guess it is harder to secure a place in Japan. I mean financial aid (the most important issue for me). I have been checking out Japanese universities. The one that I want to enter is Kyoto University. And I don't know where to start. I mean the application etc. Do you mind PM me some information about how you get there and how to secure financial aid?
Thanks for replying.
Timjim, go to the japanese embassy in your country and ask for monbusho scholarship. that is how me and most of poeple are living in japan. dont think of anything else but kyoto. dont ever come to hokkaido you will freeze...
if you start from master's then Japan is ok, but in my opinion dont try japan . if u want to start from phd directly. you will fall in deep shit. u need to do a lots of jobs at a same time...........learning language, set up with new place and life, set up with cold wind, set up with japanese lab mates and laboratory and also reaserach work. it is really difficult to manage all the things within 3 years
better u try to study in a ENGLISH speaking country
if you start from master's then Japan is ok, but in my opinion dont try japan . if u want to start from phd directly. you will fall in deep shit. u need to do a lots of jobs at a same time...........learning language, set up with new place and life, set up with cold wind, set up with japanese lab mates and laboratory and also reaserach work. it is really difficult to manage all the things within 3 years
better u try to study in a ENGLISH speaking country
Hi Kathy, thanks for your suggestion. But I have to take Masters as I stated earlier on. Though I know some basic japanese to survive, but I dont think it is sufficient to hold an argument in Japanese. Where are you based on? Kyoto is hard to get in, that's what i heard from others.
. if u want to start from phd directly. you will fall in deep shit. u need to do a lots of jobs at a same time...........learning language, set up with new place and life, set up with cold wind, set up with japanese lab mates and laboratory and also reaserach work. it is really difficult to manage all the things within 3 years better u try to study in a ENGLISH speaking country
Well, first of all.. I am an Asian. So I guess I can easily adapted to the environment. Oh, perhaps you are right about dealing with other japanese lab mates. Different culture after all. Isnt it the same if I go to ENGLISH speaking countries? No offence, but sometimes I do feel there are some racial discrimination even at some ENGLISH speaking countries.
And by the way, where do you suggest? European countries or the States?Thanks alot guys.
you are so right! but well anyway, here in japan it depends on you only. if you like to make freinds with japanese you will never feel alone here (our house is full of poeple everyday 
and we keep our door open so that me and my neighbour can chat between cooking). yes of course i have a cute kid and that makes things easier 
but when i was single i also had no problem in having friends here. now i even have language exchange friends and we have so much fun! i never wanted to go to english speaking countries, to me it was very boring to hear english all the time. but it can be hard also. you have to be prepared that japanese really love to stick together and treat you as intruder sometimes. somehow i managed to stick into them by the way you can also apply to masters program in japanese embassy, not only phD. I agree with you. Everything is dependent on oneself. Whether you want to shut yourself out or mix around and have an open heart accepting the cultures. You have a cute kid? How old is she (I am assuming it is a girl). Well, with a child, i am sure it is easier to mix around. I am actually very very interested in going to English speaking countries. Don't really mind any European countries. I just want to experience more Western cultures and of course research facilities are much better over there.
By the way, for the Monbusho scholarship, the embassy here mentioned that only can apply for Masters even though you have a bachelor of Science with Honours.
By the way, for the Monbusho scholarship, the embassy here mentioned that only can apply for Masters even though you have a bachelor of Science with Honours.
Do you mean only masters and not phD?
that is strange. if you want to go to the west, why not europe? i think maybe england is very expensive and scholarship is hard to get but very nice and close to other nice countries, france, italy. you can travel by train all around.. maybe states is relatively easy to get the scholarship. all of my freinds got scholarships in states after masters with no problem, however europe is more difficult i guess. but it is worth trying. I once got scholarship to irland in very good university. you have to write directly to the professor. but at that time i already had monbusho and wanted to go to japan . cant really understand what was wrong with me at that time no i have a boy..
but he is the cutest ever. 
it can be eaisier with a kid and harder too. like i cant go to all the parties and gatherings that my friends go to. but i can go to playgrounds and meet all the wonderful mothers there! 