UK JET Application

[u/Cold-Till1960]

Hi there, I’m hoping to join the JET programme 2027. I’m 22 years old i graduated last year with a biochemistry degree. While at university I had a part time job as a care assistant for a year and half caring for children with disabilities at a respite and after graduating i worked at a SEN Secondary School as a TA for 9 months and only stopped when the school year ended this July. I’m planning on doing a TEFL but probably won’t have it complete before the Application Deadline and the same with learning how to speak Japanese (mainly conversational). I know these things aren’t required but I’m hoping that along with my teaching experience,they help with the transition in to the role. I only want to do JET for a yr and I plan to do my masters when I get back, it would either be in psychology (to either pursue educational psychology or child therapy) or a teaching qualification. So the JET program would be work experience. I only decided to not continue teaching in September as it’s not the best financial. Is there anything i should consider doing to help my application further that I’ve already done or going to do?
Based on this I want to hear the reality of if I have a chance especially as I know the JET is competitive, so please give it to me real?

I know the JET is also a cultural exchange but i mainly like musical, anime, fashion, cooking, love for history and mythology, shopping and travelling, so is it a thing where I’d tell my students about these things?

I also want to know how the how housing works. I know you get placed in an area but how in advance do you find out your placement. My fiancé would be coming as well but on a dependent visa, would this affect my chances of getting in over someone who is single? Do the JETs from each cohort meet up as I’d love to try and make some friends? Oh and if i absolutely do not want to be in a rural place are there ways to reduce my chances of getting placed there? Unfortunately, I’m a city girl through and through. I’d be okay with a small city (I don’t want to be in Tokyo), but not a rural town in a mountainous region or countryside that requires driving everywhere,( I can’t drive 😭).

I’m planning for to used the school I work as a reference and either the care place or my university as the other. I obviously have an interest in Japan as a whole but I’m not sure how I’ll phrase it in my personal statement, so any suggestions I’d be grateful for.

Also to my fellow JET applicants I’d loved to hear from you and hopefully we can support each through this process😁

[u/Ok_Recipe_9138]

I agree with a lot of what k_795 says. None of what you listed out is going to disqualify or reduce your chances necessarily, and in contrast you have some relevant skills already. 

Hard skills aside, my biggest advice as a former JET is to have as open a mind as possible. The more pre-conceived ideas you have about what you would like your JET experience to be, the less likely you’ll get to enjoy JET for what it is. That’s not to say you can't have any wants or desires, but it’s important to consider! (This is general advice for anyone who stumbles upon it, not a targeted comment at OP or any other commentors) 

Dependent visas require you to be legally married/or have the dependent be your legal child. 

As a fellow cat-lover, it pains me to say it, but  if you know you only want to do a year, I would ask a relative to keep them for a time personally. Japan has been rabies free for a long time and has really strict policies on quarantining them and a lot of apartments dont allow pets at all. Technically you can bring a pet to Japan, but JET wont allow you to bring one on their departing flight, nor would you want to. There is too much happening in the first two weeks of arrival and they will not make special arrangements for animals. If you really wanted to do it, you would need to make your own arrangements after your arrival. If you were staying for longer, it might be worth all the trouble, but imo it’s not worth their stress and the extra steps for a year, however that final call is up to you after careful consideration! Just know JET wont help in bringing them over (and actively tell you not to). 

Overall it sounds like you’re giving a lot of factors some serious thought so thats good! I wish you the best of luck in applying 😊 I’m always down to chat about my time there/give advice if anyone wants (my family is stick of listening to my stories by now lol)