Master’s Entrance Exam Results – Relieved, But Not Fully

There’s a moment when time seems to slow down — scrolling through a list of exam numbers one by one, heart pounding, not allowing yourself to breathe until you find yours.

That’s what I felt on the day the University of Tsukuba Master’s entrance exam results were released.

Two Months of Preparation, Now Just Waiting

After the exam, all that was left was waiting — and waiting turned out to be harder than the exam itself.

During that time, doubt crept in constantly. I wasn’t confident about my results, especially in two sections: mathematics and electromagnetism. Both felt extremely difficult, and I knew my preparation in those areas hadn’t been as thorough as it should have been. Two months of studying — and yet it still felt like it might not be enough.

If you’ve ever felt this way after an important exam, you’re not alone.

The Day Results Came Out

From that morning, my feelings were completely mixed — wanting to check immediately, but also wanting to put it off out of fear of disappointment.

When the results were finally uploaded, I started going through the exam numbers one by one. Those seconds felt endless. Heart pounding.

And then — I found it.

My exam number was on the “passed” list.

I sat still for a moment, making sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. Read it again. Twice. It was real.

The relief that came was immediate — mixed with a happiness that was hard to put into words. It almost didn’t feel real. I had been accepted to study in Japan.

Passed — But Not Fully at Peace

That happiness was real, but it wasn’t complete.

I had passed the Master’s entrance exam. But there was one big thing still unresolved: the NIMS-GRA result. That funding was critical — without it, I genuinely didn’t know if I could afford tuition on my own. So even with the good news, there was still a shadow of worry following me around.

Two feelings running in parallel: proud of how far I’d come, and anxious because the journey wasn’t over yet.

What This Moment Taught Me

Despite all the worry, I was proud of myself. I had prepared my English certificate, studied for two months straight, and the results proved it was worth it.

One thing this experience made clear to me:

Fear isn’t a sign that you’re going to fail. Fear is a sign that what you’re fighting for truly matters to you.

To anyone currently waiting for results or working toward something big — your effort will never betray you. The road may be long, but every small step brings you closer.

The story continues. After passing the entrance exam, the next challenge was waiting for the NIMS-GRA result — and then, actually going to Japan for the first time.