You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Return toGrad Admissions
Admitted Graduate Student Chat - April 10, 2019
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:38
Jingyu, this is something you'd need to discuss with the department. We don't offer "provisional" admission, meaning that you're only admitted IF you also complete some other courses before we start classes. If you're admitted, then you're admitted based on what you've already accomplished, so congrats! You can reach out to the Program Coordinator, Alicia Pickul, at apickul@seas.upenn.edu for more info.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:33
Have you submitted your decision?
Yes (35.7% | 5 votes)
 
No (28.6% | 4 votes)
 
Yes, but waiting on other schools (7.1% | 1 vote)
 
No, waiting on other schools (28.6% | 4 votes)
 
Total Votes: 14
Guest
10:34
https://www.hr.upenn.edu/policies-and-procedures/policy-manual/benefit...  This is the link that says 2 credit exemption to employees
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:39
Guest, thanks - as I mentioned, this is only for full-time staff. It is not for students.
Ana
10:34
Hello Will, I got accepted for the PhD in CIS. I was curious about how many applied/got accepted for this year.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:39
Ana, congratulations! I can't release those numbers for this year, but I can tell you last year we had 755 apply and admitted 77. I can tell you we received even more applications this year.
Ranjani
10:34
Hi Will, is the PennKey required any time before the 1st of June? I am planning to accept the offer only when I have my funding in place. Would like to know if that's fine
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:40
Ranjani, no, it's not required before June 1.
Harshit
10:35
Hello Will, I wanted to know about transferring to PhD degree one year into the Masters degree.  What is the procedure for that?I have been admitted in Materials Science
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:41
Harshit, there is no "transfer," option to go from a master's program to the PhD program. You have to apply for the PhD program, just as you would if you were not currently enrolled. However, if you do this you do usually have an advantage, being that you are a current UPenn student and the faculty that you'd be working with as a PhD will often be the ones writing your recommendations and reviewing your application.
Miranda Stewart
10:35
Hi George! Yes, you will need to accept your offer of admission and set up your PennKey in order to apply for housing in Sansom. It is in your best interest to apply for housing as soon as possible but you do not need to rush your admission decision
Abhiraj
10:36
Is there a possibility for admissions into MSE CIS to be deferred? If so, what is the process for that like?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:42
Abhiraj, yes it is. First you need to accept the offer of admission, then you'll need to email us at admissions2@seas.upenn.edu with the specific reasons why you are requesting to defer. This is forwarded to the dept and you'll be notified if you are approved. You can request to defer up to 1 year at a time, for a total of 2 years.
Ranjani
10:39
Just to confirm, is the MSE program a thesis one?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:43
Ranjani, the MSE program has a thesis option, like all of our master's programs.
Shubham
10:41
Hi Will
I got admitted to Masters in Systems Engineering. Does UPenn maintains any data regarding the employment(average salaries etc.) of the students who have graduated in the last few years.

Thanks
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:43
Shubham, yes it does! You can find that information right here: https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/surveys.php#GradStudent
Guest
10:41
Hi, Will.... I have received admit from MSE Data Science. I had doubts regarding how we are supposed to take courses each semester. I am aware that 10 courses are required for the completion of the graduate program and taking 3 courses each semester is mandatory. But I would like to know when should I take the remaining 1 course? Will I be allowed to take it in any of the first three semesters thus completing my graduate program in 1.5 years or I have to take it in the 4th semester, which will make my graduate degree a 2-year program. In the latter case, is it also possible to take any additional courses?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:45
Hi Guest, you can take that "other course," whenever you choose, but we recommend students work with their Program Coordinator and faculty advisor when setting up your schedule - this way you can tailor it to your needs and opportunities, so if you want to add two outside courses, you can, or if you want to do 4 in a semester and graduate in 1.5 semesters, you can do that as well.
Guest
10:42
If I want to plan for a thesis, at what am I recommended to find an advisor (MSE Robotics)
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:46
Guest, you will be assigned an academic faculty advisor for your program, so you would first work with them. If they think someone else can be a better fit for your thesis based on your interests/research, they'll assist you with that search. The Program Coordinator for the program, Charity Payne, is also a great resource.
Dan
10:43
Hi Will, May I ask how many students applied and how many have been admitted into the SCMP program?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:47
Dan, we don't release numbers for current application cycles, but last year we had 73 students apply and 25 were admitted. We did receive more applications this year.
Guest
10:43
How does course allotment system work? Is it possible I end up not getting a course that I want to take? What is the exact criteria?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:48
Guest, this is handled through your program, as each handles it a little bit differently, especially in terms of when you take core courses vs electives. You'd need to reach out to your program for a more specific answer.
Ranjani
10:45
Will, what are the documents that I need to submit once I decide to enroll at UPenn? Can I have the list? Do these documents need to be submitted before 1st June as well?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:49
Ranjani, you'll receive an email from our office once you've accepted your offer of admission. This doesn't include documents for the 1-20/Visa, if you're an international student, as that is handled by our International Students and Scholars Services office.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:47
Have you received decisions from other schools?
Yes (46.2% | 6 votes)
 
No (0% | 0 votes)
 
I've received some decisions, but not all (53.8% | 7 votes)
 
I've been waitlisted (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 13
Shangru Li
10:49
Hi Will, I am an undergraduate student in China, and I had a one-year exchange experience at a university in South Korea. Since I am not in Korea, I asked a previous roommate to print my transcript at the printer of the university. However, staff in the Korean university refused to put my transcript in a sealed envelope of the university, because I was an exchange student, and they have never done so for an exchange student.

  The transcript has the stamp of the university, which looks the same as what I have uploaded onto the application system. There is a Korean version and an English version. The credits were translated onto the transcript of our university in China, A+ was translated as 98, A was translated as 92, and B+ was translated as 87. Would that be okay if I send Korean university transcript without a sealed envelope? Or are there other viable solutions?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:50
Shangru Li, if the courses and credits were translated and show up on your Chinese University transcript, then we don't need a separate one from the school you attended in Korea.
Guest
10:50
Hi Will, I am aware of the fact that students in a master’s program don’t get scholarships but does Upenn help them to get loans sanctioned? I am an international student, and I am facing difficulties in getting the loan approved for my complete graduate program as the amount is huge and I don’t have any collateral. It will be really helpful if I can get any support from Upenn.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:52
Guest, I'm sorry, but Penn does not assist with "loan sanctioning," for incoming students. You can contact the Student Financial Services office and they may be able to assist you, or at least provide you more detailed information, http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/paying/paying-grad.htm
Guest
10:50
Hi, may I ask the admission statistics for the ESE PhD program?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:53
Guest, we don't provide current application term statistics, but I can tell you that last year we had 307 applications and admitted 49.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:53
Where would you plan to live?
On campus (22.2% | 2 votes)
 
Off campus, but near UPenn (22.2% | 2 votes)
 
Off campus in West Philadelphia/University City (0% | 0 votes)
 
Off campus in Center City (Downtown) (11.1% | 1 vote)
 
I have no idea, help! (44.4% | 4 votes)
 
Total Votes: 9
10:54
Have you been to UPenn or Philadelphia?
Yes, I live here (11.1% | 1 vote)
 
Yes, both (11.1% | 1 vote)
 
Philadelphia, but not UPenn (0% | 0 votes)
 
The US, but not Philadelphia (22.2% | 2 votes)
 
I've never been to the US (55.6% | 5 votes)
 
Total Votes: 9
Neha
10:54
Do you know how I would go about getting a certificate while completing my master's? Who would I talk to and is it possible completing that in the 2 years?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:54
Neha, we don't usually offer "certificates," for the majority of our programs.
Neha
10:56
You said previously that it was possible to get one through other schools. I was wondering what that process would be.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:57
Neha, you would need to research and apply through those other schools. I'm sorry, but as they have their own processes/procedures, I'm not very familiar with those outside of the Engineering school. A good place to start would be here: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/graduate/mla/certificates
cool 1
Connecting…