As the stable branch of the Linux kernel now ships version 6.13 (my birthday in mm/dd), the list of accepted candidates for a master’s program at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) were announced and I am extremely lucky to be one of them.
My course (or department) has been quite selective — some years even more so than the one I applied to in the summer.
For the department I applied to in the summer, there were both math and specialized course exams. The specialized course exams weren’t too hard as long as you pay attention in class. If the lectures were a bit sloppy, you could make up for it with some extra self-study using well-known textbooks. The real challenge, though, was the math exams.
Japan and other Asian countries are known for their tough university entrance exams. UTokyo has one of the hardest, if not the hardest, math entrance exams for the undergrad programs, and this department’s exam was no different. To prepare properly, this textbook is a must-have. But since I started the preparation quite late and was in Paris at the time, I only used introductory textbooks. Inevitably, I couldn’t pass the paper exam round.
The department I applied to for the winter round (not all faculties offer it though) does not require a paper exam but an oral exam (basically an interview), whereas the one in summer still requires specialized course exams. Since I had already prepared a lot for the summer round and there were no math exams in the winter round, I could have applied to both. But I was worried that juggling both applications would take too much time, especially since I also had to work on my bachelor’s thesis during the same period. Meanwhile, I discovered that one of the laboratories for the winter round has some connections with my current lab, and its research topics interest me. My supervisor recommended me and I had the chance to visit the professor during an academic conference.
*Note that I need a recommendation letter for all applications regardless.
In the end, I decided not to risk applying to both at the same time. The oral exam went fine, as I was accepted. I was a bit too nervous but I managed to answer everything to the best of my knowledge.
Of course I’m more than happy with the result, but at the same time I can’t help but feel undeserving. Evidently I did work harder academically than average — but nothing extraordinary. All I can do now is give my best and strive to become someone worthy of respect.
Having the opportunity to work in some of the most advanced fields is an absolute privilege. I am deeply grateful for people who rooted for me, especially my supervisor, who wrote the recommendation letter.