Aspiring US JETs 2013

[Chrisd928]

I agree with Gekishinken. I do adore anime, but I also love a lot of other things about Japan and I have a lot of other hobbies. I try to keep it to being treated as a gateway into a new place. Anime references are great for jokes and friendly convos, but they have little or no place in professional or even most mature/adult conversations.

A JETs 2013 facebook group would be fun! Link it if you make one or I can make one, but we should definitely make one.

[MissLotticus]

A JETs 2013 facebook group would be fun! Link it if you make one or I can make one, but we should definitely make one.

I dont mind making one, but since you kinda started this thread you're welcome to create it if you like just send me a link and i'll come join!

[Chrisd928]

http://www.facebook.com/groups/348308405241652/ Group made! Come join ^_^

[MissLotticus]

http://www.facebook.com/groups/348308405241652/ Group made! Come join ^_^

Yay!

[lorenzo89xx]

http://www.facebook.com/groups/348308405241652/ Group made! Come join ^_^

Cool idea. I've joined the group.

[grayscale]

I think many people over think when it comes to the SoP. I'm not gonna post mine in case someone plagiarizes it but an outline of how I did it was this:

First Paragraph - A summary of what the rest of the essay is going to say, as well as my first experience with Japan.
Second Paragraph - Why I think I would be a good teacher and why I want to go to Japan.
Third Paragraph - Why I am applying to JET.
Final Paragraph - What I hope to add to and get from JET.

That probably sounds really brief and vague but hopefully it can help some of you who are struggling.

One thing I want to add as a note...it's debatable as to whether it is a good or bad thing, but if you love anime my personal opinion is that you should probably limit discussing it in your SoP.

My format was similar to Gekishinken's, and... while this might seem obvious, I feel like one important thing about the SoP is a chance to expound on any teaching/working with children/Japan experience you have (in paragraph two in Gekishinken's outline). They don't see much about jobs/teaching classes/study abroad on your app besides that you did it, so if, for example, you participated in English club while studying abroad in Japan and helped Japanese college students get better at English, that could give you a leg up over other people who studied abroad. Basically, don't be afraid to highlight the important things, even if you've already mentioned them in your application. ^_^;

I also chose to format my SoP with a more natural flow than a school paper, which I felt sounded more sincere and less formulaic. I treated it similarly to a cover letter in a job application, writing it as if I was telling them about myself and explaining my interest and what I had to give (albeit in formal writing) rather than banging out a persuasive essay... but that was my personal preference.

[Chrisd928]

Grayscale, I think that that is great advice. I am treating mine as more of a personal essay than a typical 5-paragraph style school essay. I think, because I am aiming for more personal, that it is even more important to have a great hook for your paper.

[teabot]

Grayscale, I think that that is great advice. I am treating mine as more of a personal essay than a typical 5-paragraph style school essay. I think, because I am aiming for more personal, that it is even more important to have a great hook for your paper.

i hope everyone realizes that 5-paragraph essays should have been left behind in high school by the time they're applying to this program!

[Chrisd928]

Grayscale, I think that that is great advice. I am treating mine as more of a personal essay than a typical 5-paragraph style school essay. I think, because I am aiming for more personal, that it is even more important to have a great hook for your paper.

i hope everyone realizes that 5-paragraph essays should have been left behind in high school by the time they're applying to this program!

Very true. The problem being that most people haven't mastered the 5-paragraph essay as a style to graduate and write better papers. Last semester in Advanced Writing, I was HORRIFIED by how terrible some people write at the college level. One must know the basics and understand the rules before moving on and breaking those rules.

[SincereDreamer]

Hello everyone!

I am planning on reapplying for JET this coming round! (So exciting!) I have asked to join the facebook group as well! Do you all have blogs as well? I'd like to follow them; tumblr, blogspot, whatever, I don't mind! When I wasn't granted an interview I was very distraught, but it's nice to know we all have jumped over a hurdle to move on! It would be great to read your experiences, too!

xo

[Chrisd928]

Hello everyone!

I am planning on reapplying for JET this coming round! (So exciting!) I have asked to join the facebook group as well! Do you all have blogs as well? I'd like to follow them; tumblr, blogspot, whatever, I don't mind! When I wasn't granted an interview I was very distraught, but it's nice to know we all have jumped over a hurdle to move on! It would be great to read your experiences, too!

xo

Hello! I have a blog, it's in my sig and posted on the fb group. I'm glad you are back up and ready to go! Re-appliers unite!

[cupcake]

I'm a bit excited (and nervous)! I'm thinking about asking my past college for my transcript as well as the one I just graduated from but I'm scared I'm going to loose all my papers... You guys are a pleasure, with all your advice and encouragement. I also joined the facebook group.

Also joined a Buddhist temple in NYC, everyone was so nice and polite. I really need to work on my Japanese. I took two semesters of it but that seems to be too long ago.

[Chrisd928]

I'm a bit excited (and nervous)! I'm thinking about asking my past college for my transcript as well as the one I just graduated from but I'm scared I'm going to loose all my papers... You guys are a pleasure, with all your advice and encouragement. I also joined the facebook group.

Also joined a Buddhist temple in NYC, everyone was so nice and polite. I really need to work on my Japanese. I took two semesters of it but that seems to be too long ago.

I don't think that the transcripts have to be within a certain timeline, so if you aren't/won't be taking any classes, you should be able to order them now or soon. My suggestions is to do what I did: get a folder, write JET STUFF on it in HUGE LETTERS, place it somewhere secure (mine is in a fireproof safe with all my other OCD lists), check that it is still there obsessively, place all JET related items in said folder as you get them up until you mail them out, and then ignore the jokes at your expense when your family realizes that your OCD comments were evidently real and not just jokes. Or, that's just me >.> But that is exactly what I have done. But, as mentioned at the end of the list, I have OCD (my psych major friend happily diagnosed me, since I refuse to pay anyone to tell me things that I already know), so this may be a little excessive Normal people may just get a folder, write JET Stuff in normal sized letters, place there things in said folder, and place the folder somewhere safe, like a drawer or on a desk.

Also, just for the record, the facebook group is awesome ^_^ It was such a great idea; I wish I had thought of it, so that I could claim to be some great leader of 2013 JET applicants But, now I want to know who people are!!!! I'm so nosy I like knowing people ^^;

I wish that I had access to a temple, a language center, anything cool like that. I enjoy Rosetta Stone, but I really need a way to practice my n00bish Japanese >.>

Lastly, and mostly not JET related, I just bought Rune Factory: Frontier and it is consuming my life. I certainly don't mind playing TONS of video games, but I probably ought to do something else that actually makes me think (though it has me doing lots of math, stupid runeys). So, I would love some new ideas for blogging about in my JET blog, some essays (or drafts or lists or anything) to look over or just somebody to talk to ^_^ Also, I think that we should make more use of the fb chat thing with the group

[Chrisd928]

How do people feel about formality in their SoPs? I feel like a personal essay is a good thing, but it needs to be professional level. Blargh... I know I'm over thinking this, but there are just so many differing opinions and I know that in the end it will be a personal choice of what I like best... But still, I don't know what to think right now T_T

[cupcake]

Lastly, and mostly not JET related, I just bought Rune Factory: Frontier and it is consuming my life. I certainly don't mind playing TONS of video games, but I probably ought to do something else that actually makes me think (though it has me doing lots of math, stupid runeys). So, I would love some new ideas for blogging about in my JET blog, some essays (or drafts or lists or anything) to look over or just somebody to talk to ^_^ Also, I think that we should make more use of the fb chat thing with the group

Your posts always make me smile! I have decided to look and use the chat, maybe we will chat there. I think I'm already obsessing enough. And games are always fun. I've been playing Tales of Symphonia for a bit, though it's a fairly old. I think that if I stop being so nervous I will join you in the blogging area. I really do love reading and sharing blogs but let's see when I decide to jump on that.