Yes, back to the original discussion. Mastering string theory is easier than understanding JET's selection process.

That was my view, but I didn't hold it against them.

I am not sure it's that hard.

If 800 applicants apply for 40 positions, and only 400 of those applicants are qualified, how many will get positions?

When you put it like that MMM, I bet it is really hard for them to make the decision of one person over another. Which is why my rock, paper, scissors method is obviously the only solution.

It's not as hard as you think. I have sat on many hiring committees, and the harder situation is: What do you do when you have one position, 25 applicants and none of them are qualified?

But you are right...rock paper scissors...pin the tail on the donkey...random darts...all those techniques are used.

Frankly, I just don't see the issue here.

It seems that if you throw in the towel after being refused by JET then you didn't deserve to get the position anyway. If not being accepted by JET suddenly kills your desire to go to Japan, well, it either wasn't a very strong desire, or you're just that lazy.

I have very little respect for people who give up on their dreams that easily.

Did someone say they were giving up on their dreams?

Not in so many words.

I'm just curious why it's necessary to spend time complaining about JET's process. Was there something SPECIFIC about JET that the op's friend just had to have?

The only complaint, really, was in the first post. And I think it goes back to my original response. It's not that he was "counting" on it...it was he "assumed" he got it because he knew he was qualified.

Oh. Right. White Boy Entitlement Syndrome is what it was called when I lived in Korea, but granted, it doesn't have to do with race as much as, world standing and socioeconomic background.

But yeah, I agree with you. Jobs are earned; not given. You have no "right" to a job, and no employer has any "obligation" to hire you, or even to explain themselves unless you really feel they gave you reason to believe you were actively discriminated against, and even there, Japan is... well... rather lax about that sort of thing.