FAQ
3. Application Process
Q. Will I have to travel to Japan to be interviewed?
A. No, there is no need to travel to Japan during the admissions process. The interviews will be conducted in the country in which you currently reside, in principle.
Q. Can I pay the application fee by credit card?
A. Yes, you can. Please follow instructions in the Application Guidelines (under “Application Fee”) for further instructions.
Q. My parents do not have a credit card. Can I send the application fee through a bank?
A. Yes, you can. Please follow the instructions in the Application Guidelines (under “Application Fee”).
Q. Will it be taken into consideration if I have AP?
A. All relevant academic qualifications will be considered during the screening process. However, having obtained AP credits will not mean that you will be given advanced placement and waived certain courses at the PEAK program.
Q. Do I have to provide proof of my academic performance in high school?
A. Yes, please send in proof of your academic performance in high school covering at least the last three years before graduation.
Q. How much does my academic performance at high school weigh during the first screening process?Are there any advantages if I have participated in extracurricular activities?
A. There are no preferences regarding any documents provided by the candidates. All documents are examined holistically. For more information about the admissions policy, please consult the Application Guidelines (under “Admissions Policy”).
Q: What kind of test scores does PEAK expect me to have?
A: PEAK pays attention to the whole application package as well as to the interview. But the following is a general guideline of minimum scores our successful applicants generally possess:
Minimum of 2000 in SAT I (General: critical reading, writing, and math).
Minimum of 30 in ACT composite scores.
Minimum of total of 37 for six IB Diploma courses (i.e. not including theory of knowledge and extended essay scores).
At least two As at GCE-A level and no subjects lower than B.
For Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-level, at least one A at Level H2 and no more than one subject below grade B.
Q. I have already begun studies at another university. When applying should I include test scores from my university studies?
A. We would like to see the results of your most recent academic performance, so all candidates who have already begun University studies should include any relevant records (grades, test scores, transcripts) from that period.
Q. How old can my English proficiency test scores be?
A. Tests you provide for admission should have been taken within the last two years of your application. This applies to TOEFL, IELTS as well as Cambridge ESOL exams.
Q: What are the kinds of questions asked at the time of the interview?
A: We interview our applicants for several reasons. One is to make sure the applicants understand what PEAK offers. We want to know why they want to come to PEAK and to the University of Tokyo. Another reason is to ensure the applicants possess interest in international affairs so that they may contribute to the University of Tokyo's effort to globalize its campus. Finally, we want to make sure the applicants have sufficient subject-related knowledge. Thus we will ask technical questions on the subjects they have studied in school and/or have studied for Official Test for Academic Ability (such as SAT, ACT, IB and A-level).
The following are some sample questions from the last year's interview.
[For students applying to Japan in East Asia.] Q: Describe an Asia-related issue that has recently interested you in the media. Why did this issue particularly interest you?
[For students applying to Environmental Sciences.] Q: Describe an environmental issue that is of particular relevance to your home city or country. What are your opinions on this issue?
[For those who have studied history in secondary school.] Q: Some people argue history repeats itself. Do you agree or disagree? Pick an example.
[For those who have studied chemistry in secondary school.] Q: From a chemical point of view, tell me as much as you can about water.
[For those who have studied physics in secondary school.] Q: The highest mountain on the earth is Mt. Everest (or Qomolangma, Zhumulangma) in the Himalayas and its height is about 9000 meters above sea level. Why cannot mountains become too high, say 100,000 meters above sea level?