Toshiyuki Tanaka American Embassy Scholarship
This full merit- and need-based scholarship is awarded through the Pacific Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the generosity of Mr. Toshiyuki Tanaka. One scholarship will be offered.
Selection Details:
- A committee from AFS-USA and AFS-Japan will review applications and essays to select finalists.
- Finalists will be interviewed by phone (this is in addition to the in-home interview that must be completed as part of your AFS full application).
- Results will be announced in mid-October. Programs depart March 2013.
- More about the AFS Japan Year Program
How to Apply:
By 11:59 p.m. on September 25, 2012 you must:
- Start your application for a Japan year program (if you haven't already).
- Submit a FAST financial aid application. Click on the “FAST” button to the right to begin your FAST application ($38 fee payable by credit card.) If you do not have a credit card or cannot budget the fee, please see our fee waiver policy.
- Submit essays*. Email your essays to scholarships@afsusa.org, being sure to indicate the scholarship you are applying for in the body of your email. See essay questions below.
- Complete your AFS application**. Please review this application checklist to make sure your application is complete. Once you have uploaded all the required documents to your online application, you must click the "submit" button to officially submit your application.
Scholarship Essays:
By September 25, 2012, each applicant must submit responses to the following essay questions. Each essay must be labeled with the corresponding number (i.e. Essay #1, #2 and #3) and should not exceed one single-spaced, type-written page. Your final submission should be emailed to scholarships@afsusa.org as a single file (PDF or Microsoft Word) and can be up to, but not more than, three pages in length.
Essay #1
Discuss how you view the responsibility of an AFS student as an ambassador while abroad and upon return to the United States. Describe the aspects of your character that you believe will help you meet the cross-cultural challenges of an AFS program.
Essay #2
What are your motivations to study abroad and what do you hope to gain by participating in a Japanese high school for a year?
Essay #3
Describe any activities/clubs in which you have held a position of leadership or have demonstrated leadership skills. What characteristics of leadership did you exhibit, and what did you achieve or learn?
*Upon submission, all essay responses become the property of AFS-USA and may be reprinted at any time.
**Since I am applying for the Toshiyuki Tanaka American Embassy scholarship, do I need to pay the $900 program deposit?
No, a spot on the year high school program to Japan is held for the student that is offered this scholarship. To be considered for a scholarship, it is not necessary that you pay the program deposit. Choosing to pay or not pay your deposit will have no effect on how your scholarship application is reviewed. This option (i.e. not paying the deposit) works best for students that can only participate on an AFS program if offered a scholarship.
However, we do encourage students to consider paying the deposit to hold a spot on the year program to Japan in case they are not offered a scholarship. This scholarship is very competitive, and it is likely the program associated with it will fill before scholarship results are announced. Therefore, if you plan to participate on an AFS program regardless of winning a scholarship, the best way to ensure that you are held a spot for Japan, is to pay the $900 deposit. In this case, if you are not offered the Toshiyuki Tanaka American Embassy scholarship, you will still have a spot on the high school year program to Japan.
Please be aware that if you pay your deposit and are offered the Toshiyuki Tanaka American Embassy scholarship, your program deposit will be refunded. However, if you are not offered the scholarship, have paid the $900 deposit and decide not to go on program, you will not be issued a refund.
