JotCast | Enrolled Graduate Student Chat - June 19, 2019 | 6/19/2019

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Enrolled Graduate Student Chat - June 19, 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:00

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.

Miranda Stewart

10:01

Hi everyone! My name is Miranda Stewart, and I'm the Graduate Assignments Coordinator in the Housing Assignments Office. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about on-campus housing!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:02

What questions do you have for us today?

10:03

Where do you live?

United States (0% | 0 votes)

China (50% | 2 votes)

India (50% | 2 votes)

Europe (0% | 0 votes)

Middle East (0% | 0 votes)

Another Region? (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 4

H

10:03

Hi Will, can we register for Fall 2019 courses already?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:04

Hi H. Registration is handled through your program, as each program handles it a little differently, so you'll need to contact them. What program will you be starting?

H

10:05

I'll be starting a PhD in Computer and Information Science

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:05

H, you'll want to contact your Program Coordinator, Britton Carnevali, at brittonc@seas.upenn.edu.

H

10:08

I see. Thanks!

cool

1

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:08

You're welcome, H.

Morgan

10:08

Good morning, dear officer. I am a coming student major in Systems Engineering. I have a small question about the course registration. In the checklist, it is said that if we want to register a course outside of ESE, we have to do some extra work before registering. For example, if I want to register for a CIS course, I have to add my name to the CIS waitlist. However, in our 2019 curriculum requirement, in the Data Science area in Category A, there are two courses offered by CIS, CIS 519 Applied Machine Learning and CIS 520 Machine Learning. So I am wondering whether I have to add my name to the CIS waitlist before registering the course CIS 519 or CIS 520.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:09

Hi Morgan, this would be a question for your Program Coordinator, as they handle all course registration questions. That is Christina Burton, and you can email her at esegrad@seas.upenn.edu.

Morgan

10:10

Thanks a lot!

cool

1

RHX

10:10

Hi，as a biotech master student，I want to transfer to DATS program， I already know that some core course of DATS should be take in the first semester. Who should I contact to ask for permission to apply for DATS core courses.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:11

RHX, I'm sorry, but you can't apply to transfer to a different program until you've completed at least one semester in your original program, while maintaining at least a 3.0 gpa. You'll need to contact your Program Coordinator about this course issue; that is Courtney Johnson, and the email is biotech@seas.upenn.edu.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:12

Have you received decisions from other schools?

Yes (100% | 3 votes)

No (0% | 0 votes)

I've received some decisions, but not all (0% | 0 votes)

I've been waitlisted (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 3

BioE PhD student

10:12

Hi Will, when do we start registering for classes for the fall semester? (Bioengineering, PhD)

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:13

Hi BioE PhD student - you'll need to contact your program coordinator, Kathy Venit, at kvenit@seas.upenn.edu. She is the Program Coordinator and handles course questions.

RHX

10:13

thanks a lot

cool

1

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:13

You're welcome!

RHX

10:15

Another question is that can we apply for some on-campus part-time job ,like taught assistant. If we can, who should I get in touch with?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

RHX, there are limited Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant positions open - you should first contact your program coordinator about positions within the department. You can also take a look at the Campus Employment listings, here: http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/seo/

RHX

10:22

Thank you. In addition, I want to know when should we start to find a mentor or join a lab, to work for our degree thesis? Since it will take about two semesters , could we start to match with professor more earlier?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:24

RHX, this is all handled by your program, so you should reach out to Courtney. It may be more difficult for you, as you say you want to transfer to the DATS program, but you must start in the Biotech program. Also, applying to transfer is not an automatic acceptance, especially as the Data Science program is our most selective program.

RHX

10:26

thank you a lot! I will send him a email.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:26

Yes, please message Ms. Johnson.

10:27

Here are some links that you may find useful:

Grad School FAQ Link:
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/faq/
Student Financial Services:
http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/
Costs
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/paying-for-your-education/
Potential Fellowship and Financial Aid Information
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid.php
https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradstudfunding.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...
University Clery Report Information:
https://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/clery/annual-security-fire-safety-r...

Career Services Survey for Engineering Grads:
https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/surveys.php#GradStudent
Student Health Services:
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/compliance.php
Campus Housing Info:
http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/residential-services/applicatio...
Cost of Living (one resource)
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/philadelphia
Campus Maps
https://www.facilities.upenn.edu/maps
Facebook (Penn Engineering):
https://www.facebook.com/PennEngineering?fref=ts
Blog:
https://medium.com/penn-engineering
Penn Engineering Master's alumni blogs:
https://news.seas.upenn.edu/category/blog-post/?tag=alumni

10:28

Penn Engineering Alumni Magazine:
https://news.seas.upenn.edu/penn-engineering-magazine/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PennEngGradAdm
Instagram:
https://t.co/svtRQcrnM5
New Graduate Student Resources:
www.gsc.upenn.edu/thrive
New Graduate Student Orientation:
https://gsc.upenn.edu/resources/new-students/new-student-orientation
International Student Orientation
http://global.upenn.edu/isss/orientation
Discounted SEPTA Passes
http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/transportation/permits-passes/c...
2019-20 Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2192398867643008
2019-20 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12139062/

10:29

Where do you plan to live?

On campus (40% | 2 votes)

Off campus, but near UPenn (60% | 3 votes)

Off campus in West Philadelphia/University City (0% | 0 votes)

Off campus in Center City/Downtown (0% | 0 votes)

I have no idea, help! (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 5

Han Li

10:37

Hi！I have been admitted to Master program of

I have obtained my bachelor's degree and graduation certificate. Do I need to evaluate my final transcript and my diploma by evaluation agencies like WES before I begin my study in your university?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:38

Hi Han Li. No, we don't need the documents evaluated. However they do need to be translated into English if they are not in English.

Guest

10:39

Hello Will

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:39

Hi Guest

Guest

10:40

I would like to know if the university provides medical insurance? If so, whom should I be contacting regarding the same and what is the course of action that I should take up.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:41

Guest, Penn provides health insurance for PhD students as part of their overall award package. It is required for all students and you can find more information about purchasing it here: https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/compliance.php

Han Li

10:41

Thanks a lot!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:41

You're welcome, Han Li

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