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Admitted Graduate Student Chat - 8AM-12PM, June 1, 2019
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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:02
Good day! My name is Will Fenton, and I'm the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at Penn Engineering.
What questions do you have for me today?
8:03
Where do you live?
United States (0% | 0 votes)
 
China (0% | 0 votes)
 
India (0% | 0 votes)
 
Europe (0% | 0 votes)
 
Middle East (0% | 0 votes)
 
Another Region (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 0
Nike
8:04
Hi Will, I want to know why the course structure of MSE in SE changed this year, and is there any new courses compare to last year?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:06
Hi Nike. We haven't been informed of any new changes for the 2020-21 academic year at this time. As for why there were changes made last year, to my knowledge the changes were done to better meet the requests of students in the program and matching the expertise of recent additions to the faculty.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:07
Here are some links that you may find useful:
JASON
8:08
Hi, Will, I would like to know if there is anyway to put off the deadline for acceptance of admission from Penn. I have been admitted to MSE department with conditional admission.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:09
Hi Jason. I'm sorry, but I'm a bit confused
we don't normally offer conditional admission. If you've been admitted, then all you should need to do is submit your decision form to accept the offer of admissoin.
JASON
8:09
And also, 'd like to know if there is a still possibility to have a non-conditional admission.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:11
Yes, to my knowledge our acceptances are non-conditional
Joe
8:11
Hi Will, last time you said that many students choose to do internship or research for 1 semester and makes MSE 4 semesters in total, but you also said coop for one semester is not allowed. So I'm bit confused about that.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:13
Hi Joe - the "traditional" definition of a coop is when a program arranges for the student to take a semester long job/research position, where the entire thing is done for credit (they are also often paid). Penn Engineering doesn't do that. However, if you choose to apply for a CPT/OPT for one semester, you can take one course and then find a job/internship/research position that is related to your field/major.
8:14
So they're a bit different; does that make sense?
JASON
8:13
I have been admitted with a condition that I have to fund my study with fellowship. However, the application for the fellowship will be announced on July. That is why I would like to put off the deadline of admission acceptance.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:15
Jason, I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with your individual case. If you have a separate agreement with a program, then you'd have to go with what they told you. Can you email us at gradstudies@seas.upenn.edu and I can look into this further?
JASON
8:16
Also, I have other schools accepting me with full fundings. That's why I cannot accept the offer from Penn at this moment, the outcome of application for fellowship is not decided yet.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:17
I understand that. However, the national deadline to accept a fully-funded PhD position is usually April 15. You can read about that here: https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution. Have you accepted one of those positions? If not, have they given you a later deadline to accept?
JASON
8:17
Oh, okay.. Thanks you, I will email you.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:19
If you're a PhD, and I expect that you are, as we don't fund master's students, then our June 1 deadline also requires you to submit an email, stating you haven't accepted a PhD position elsewhere, or if you have, that you have since been released from that position and provide us with a statement from the other school attesting to the release.
JASON
8:19
Thank you for the kind reply, Will.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:19
You're welcome, Jason.
Joe
8:19
Thanks will. Is that mean in one semester I can only enroll one course and also take CPT for Internship ?  What if the internship location is not in Philadelphia ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:21
Joe, CPT is limited to one semester.
cool 1
8:24
Let me elaborate - the course that your registered for CAN be just the CPT. So you could do one outside of Philadelphia. Most students, however, will do one course the semester they do CPT and the CPT as well. You can find the specific requirements here in the handbook: https://grad.seas.upenn.edu/curricular-practical-training/
Joe
8:26
Is taking 3 course for 3 semesters and only 1 course for 1 semester allowed for full-time student?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:27
Joe, no, full-time students must take a minimum of 3 courses a semester. The only exception would be a semester in which you register and are approved for CPT.
Joe
8:33
Thanks Will, But Can I take a gap for one semester between two semesters ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:33
Joe, you are able to request an academic leave; that's a different process.
JASON
8:33
Hi, will. I haven't checked my email, but Alyse Edwards reply me with saying that I can't put off the deadline for acceptance, and there is your email address, so I guess that I can't put off the deadline, right..?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:35
Jason, let me go through my email, as I was out most of yesterday and am still catching up. However, as I mentioned, the acceptance letter that you were issued by our Office is not conditional.
Joe
8:38
Hi Will, so the minimum gap period is one year , which cannot do for one semester ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:39
Joe, no, you are able to do a minimum of one semester.
8:40
Have you submitted your decision
Yes (50% | 1 vote)
 
No (50% | 1 vote)
 
Yes, but waiting on other schools (0% | 0 votes)
 
No, waiting on other schools (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 2
Joe
8:40
So what are the conditions and procedures for an academic leave ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
8:42
Joe, you can find the specifics at the bottom of this page in the handbook: https://grad.seas.upenn.edu/student-handbook/academic-options/
8:43
Ultimately, the approval is based on a per-student basis, and must be approved by the department.
JASON
8:43
Oh.. okay, I just sent email to you with my letter I received.
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