Tokyo / Interview
The Tokyo interview
Interview by invitation, and it carries significant weight in the decision. Here is how it works and how to prepare.
Interview by invitation
By-invitation interview (second screening) for shortlisted PEAK applicants, held February-March on campus in Tokyo or occasionally online; typically ~20-30 min with a faculty panel
How to prepare for Tokyo
- Only students who pass the first-round document review are invited , the interview is not available on request, so your written essay and referee letters must do the initial heavy lifting.
- Expect a faculty panel with academic questions tied to your program track (East Asia Liberal Arts or Environment); be ready to discuss ideas from your essay and show genuine intellectual curiosity rather than rehearsed answers.
- UTokyo PEAK is conducted entirely in English and values independent thinking , demonstrate how you reason through problems, not just what conclusions you reach.
- If invited, logistics matter: the interview is typically held in Tokyo in late February, so plan travel early; confirm the format (in-person vs. online) promptly when you receive your invitation.
Practice before the real thing
Rehearse real admissions-interview questions and get an honest read on your answers, what an interviewer hears, where you sound generic, and what to sharpen. We coach you; we never script you.
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