The Application
To get into the JET Programme there are three things you must do–

1. Be able to endure hassles with lots of strict paperwork and inordinate waiting times while you put any possible post-college plans on hold
2. Satisfy the official requirements
3. Survive their seemingly random selection generator

Note that the official qualifications in actuality only take up about a third of what it really takes to get in.

So now that my senior year of college had begun it was time to start the first part: the inordinately long and strict application/interview process. As I really had only one post-college plan, JET, I figured that I should probably put a decent amount of effort into my application. With this in mind, I actually started writing the required statement of purpose a good month or so before the application had even been put online. I do believe that I put more effort into those two pages of writing than I did most any other document during my college career.

Once the JET application was put online, I of course went about getting all of the required documents and such, of which I no longer really remember all of them. Suffice it to say, it was a hassle, but I ended up mailing everything out well before the deadline. Once that package went in the mail, I breathed a sigh of relief and continued on with my last year of college until I heard back from JET. This was in November of 2006.

A few months later, I did hear back from them. Of the people who survived the intial application, about half were invited up to Chicago (the closest consulate to me) for an interview. In preparation of this event I went out and bought my very first suit. I realize that many college senoirs go out and buy suits, but this was my very first one, and I also bought it specifically for this one interview.

February came and I went up to Chicago to have my interview. I left for my interview pretty early, as I of course wanted to get there early. I’m quite glad that I did, as once I arrived at the address of the consulate I was mighty surprised to find that it was actually for some big department store. After wandering around the department store quite confused, I finally came to the realization that there was an entrance for offices on the opposite side of the building that I had entered in. Whoo. After taking the elevator up, I found the consulate, checked in, and sat down.

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