[jasonbvr]

The truth is that the selection process of JET's is a complete mystery to me, those rejected and those chosen as well. I have a theory though. My theory is that five or six Japanese gather in a boardroom. Each one selects their favorite candidate. Then they janken (rock, paper, scissors), and the winner of janken has their favorite chosen. One of the current ALT's in my city was turned down by JET twice. His major in was Japanese studies and has a rather high level of Japanese. That being said, I also knew one of the former JET's who was at the 1st or 2nd proficiency level on the JLPT. He also studied in Japan during university which visiting Japan before entering the JET program supposedly also harms your potential for being selected.

Every other ALT hiring company and many city boards of education are always going to choose the person with Japanese ability over the one without. However the JET program seems to choose at random. Good luck and if they don't take you, somebody will.