Grades

[dazedandconfused]

...

[Gekishinken]

So, clearly, they seem to be focusing in on applicants who have actually had some experience in being in Japan as well as a heavy focus on studies relating to Japan, which is to be expected. I truly believe that my husband's participation in the study abroad program for the better part of a year gave him a serious leg-up on the competition, because he's actually had experience LIVING in Japan and interacting DIRECTLY with the culture and people and actually had to USE the language and SURVIVE in Japan.

But, this is just my opinion.

Good luck.

I think you are correct to an extent with this part. I noticed that many (if not a large majority) of the people from Chicago who got in this year had some experience with Japan whether it was study abroad or studies at college or whatever.

[Shem]

As far as I can tell there's no strict prerequisites for JET, either in terms of living in Japan, having experience with Japanese, teaching experience or having good grades. They look at the entire package.

That said, any of those things can help. Any thing related to Japan, teaching, volunteering, cultural exchange or that shows a particular skill (academic or otherwise) shows that you'd be a better candidate than you'd otherwise be. No single thing seems to be a deal-breaker, but the more experience you have that is relevant to the programme the better!

In my case I had terrible results for most of my degree, including multiple fails. But I did have a strong final year (High Distinction average, whatever that is in GPA). I also ticked a lot of the other boxes- I've had previous experience teaching and living in Japan, subsequent tutoring experience, a background in linguistics and a few other things that must have interested them.

Personally my grades weren't even mentioned in the interview, nor did I mention them in my SoP beyond saying "I've had some personal struggles that have helped me grow as a person ...." You might be asked, especially if you have a stricter panel than I did, but if you have a lot to offer to the programme it isn't a deal breaker.

[rebeljonny]

I wouldn't worry about it. The JET application is going to place a lot of things above grades when it comes to deciding whether to accept an applicant. Focus on fostering an interest in both Japan as well as your native culture and of course get some teaching experience. You don't have to do anything official like TEFL, in fact, I'd probably advise against it as the scheme will not utilise a lot of the skills you would likely learn on such a course. Make yourself stand out with your SoP and you're most of the way there. Getting an interview is by far the hardest part after all!

[ljoekelsoey4]

i got accepted with a non-honours pass, so i wouldnt worry about it.

[ananimoose]

The only other thing is, I have 2 tattoos on my shouders, they are easily covered up, even by a short t-shirt but I know they are a little funny with tats, and that added with my grades maybe game over :/

Assuming you aren't going to wear a sleeveless shirt to a potential interview, I fail to see how this is a problem.

[thedocumentarian]

So, clearly, they seem to be focusing in on applicants who have actually had some experience in being in Japan as well as a heavy focus on studies relating to Japan, which is to be expected. I truly believe that my husband's participation in the study abroad program for the better part of a year gave him a serious leg-up on the competition, because he's actually had experience LIVING in Japan and interacting DIRECTLY with the culture and people and actually had to USE the language and SURVIVE in Japan.

But, this is just my opinion.

Good luck.

I think you are correct to an extent with this part. I noticed that many (if not a large majority) of the people from Chicago who got in this year had some experience with Japan whether it was study abroad or studies at college or whatever.

I am from Chicago and had none of the above. 0 Japanese, 0 Japanese studying, 0 Japan abroad experience.

Although there are a lot of ALTs who have study abroad experience, there is a tremendous amount of people who have been rejected from JET even though they studied in Japan and know 5,000 kanji.