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Applied Graduate Student Chat - March 14, 2019
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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
9:59
Good day, all. My name is Will Fenton and I'm the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at Penn Engineering. I'm here to answer questions you may have about our Graduate Programs, life as a graduate student at Penn and living in Philadelphia.
10:00
Here are some links that you may find useful:

This Week in Penn Engineering (updated when they come out):
https://mailchi.mp/045482bef096/this-week-at-penn-engineering-april-25...
Application Link:
https://www.applyweb.com/upenng/index.ftl
How To Apply:
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/
Grad School FAQ Link:
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/faq/
Financial Aid Info:
http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/
Costs
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/paying-for-your-education/
Fellowship and Aid Information
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid.php
JP Eckert Fellowship for CIS-Related programs
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid-eckert.php
International Students & Scholars Services:
https://global.upenn.edu/isss/new
April 15 National Grad School Decision Agreement:
https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution
International Student Pre-Departure Checklist:
https://global.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Pre-Departure%20Checklist...
Where do you live
United States (66.7% | 16 votes)
 
China (8.3% | 2 votes)
 
India (4.2% | 1 vote)
 
Europe (4.2% | 1 vote)
 
Middle East (0% | 0 votes)
 
Another Region (16.7% | 4 votes)
 
Total Votes: 24
Jule
10:01
Hi Will,

on your website you published different dates for the admissions decisions. I applied to the EE Master program and I would like to know, on which of the two dates I can expect a response?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:01
Jule, your decision can be released on either of the two remaining dates, March 22 or April 5.
Guest
10:01
Hello Mr. Fenton, my name is Dennis. I applied to UPenn`s PhD program in bioengineering in December 2018.
10:02
I still haven`t received a response yet, can you please update me?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:02
Hi Guest, if you're asking about the decision, all PhD decisions are made on a rolling basis - you'll be notified when it is available. We do our best to get them out before April 15, the national deadline.
Nitesh
10:02
Good morning Will! I have a few questions regarding Robotics MSE. Is this the right place?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:02
Nitesh, this is the right place.
Bruno
10:02
Hi Will,
Nice to talk with you.
I am an international candidate and applied for MCIT on-campus. Is it possible to finance the course being an international student (Brazil)? Where can I find detail information about it?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:03
Bruno, it is possible to finance the program, but it is up to you to do that, as Penn Engineering does not offer financial aid to master's students. You can find some sources of aid here: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid.php
Jule
10:03
My problem ist that I recently got accepted at a different universities and I have to respond to my admissions offer within the next two weeks. However, UPenn is my top choice university and I would love to study in Philadelphia. Is there any possibility, to accelerate the decision process?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Jule, unless you were accepted into an international program, you should have to make a decision until April 15. https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution. You may want to bring this to the other school's attention.
Hersh
10:04
Hi Will. In the email that was received, it was noted that Masters programs with Feb 1/March 15 deadlines would get their decisions back on a variety of dates. I applied to the MCIT Online, which was due March 1st. Is there a range of dates for the decision as well, or is it April 15th?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Hersh, if you applied to the online program before the early deadline, you should get your decision on April 15.
Nitesh
10:05
1) How are the research opportunities as student of Robotics MSE? Among the students who want to pursue research, roughly what percentage of them end up finding an advisor?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:06
Nitesh, doing research is very self driven; there are opportunities, but you would work with your program coordinator and your academic advisor, as well as your potential professors, to find opportunities. You can read more about the work done at the GRASP lab on the program's website, here: https://www.grasp.upenn.edu/innovation
Deepti
10:06
Hi Will,
May
10:06
Hi Will,
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:06
Hi folks!
Robert
10:06
Hi Will, thanks so much for hosting.  I have read some of the previous chats and have seen that you get many questions about when decisions will be released.  I'm afraid that I have a similar question (though with perhaps a slight variation).  I've applied to the PhD in Computer Science.  I am wondering what is the latest date I might be notified of a decision.  Is it April 15?  Or is it another date?  Thanks so much.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:07
Robert, unfortunately there isn't a specific release date for any of our PhD programs, as you may have seen me write. We do our best to release the decisions before April 15, but ultimately it's up to the program and when they make them. All applicants will be notified when their decision is ready.
Deepti
10:07
Hi Will- I'd like to know more about the wait-list process for the IPD program. a) is there anything we can do to improve our chances? Send an extra portfolio piece, extra letter of recommendation etc. and b) What percentage of people on the wait-list typically get accepted?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:08
Deepti, a) There really isn't, unfortunately. It's more about how many specific spots the program has - once students accept/decline, more students on the wait list are notified of decisions. b) it's usually no more than 25% at the most.
AJ
10:08
Hi Will. Is the MSE in Data Science program geared towards students looking to do research or is it more of a practical/work based masters degree? Curious if a strong research background is required to be admitted to the program. Thank you!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:08
AJ, it's more of a practical/work based master's degree. A strong research background can definitely help. Ultimately though, it's going to be about what you want to do with having this pretty awesome master's degree!
Adan Aguirre
10:08
Hello Will, I applied for the MCIT as well. I would like to know if the people looking at our applications have access to the previous year’s application
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:09
Adan, I'm not sure what you mean. You're not compared to last year's applicants, but to the current potential cohort of applications.
Guest
10:09
Hi Will, decisions will be emailed or we can see them in upenn application portal?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:09
Guest, you'll receive an email notifying you that your decision is available. You'll actually view it on the portal.
Nitesh
10:09
As a follow up question on research, at what point do the students find advisors? Is it prudent for me to try and find an advisor even before joining? Or in my first semester? Or in the summer of first year?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:10
Nitesh, you are informed of your academic advisor either over the summer or when you are here for orientation - each program handles this separately, so I can't tell you specifically when you'll be assigned your academic advisor.
Yiming
10:10
I would like to know the admission rate about Scientific Computing program?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:10
Yiming, last year's acceptance rate was 34%.
Hersh
10:10
One more question Will - with the MCIT Online program, the websites notes that "All courses are fully online and there are no required real-time sessions." Does this mean we could sit in on the classes at Penn if we happened to be on campus?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:11
Hersh, no - all lectures are online; there are no classes that take place on campus.
Robert
10:11
Thanks so much, Will.  I appreciate your willingness to reiterate. :)
cool 1
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:11
Robert, not a problem. Trust me, I wish we could give you a definite date. We're working on it. Thanks for understanding.
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