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Admitted Graduate Student Chat - March 6, 2019 - Today's chat will start at 11AM EST. We apologize for any inconveniece.
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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:03
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.
11:04
Here are some links that you may find useful:

This Week in Penn Engineering (updated when they come out):
https://mailchi.mp/96281e08bbf5/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 (12.5% | 1 vote)
 
China (25% | 2 votes)
 
India (50% | 4 votes)
 
Europe (12.5% | 1 vote)
 
Middle East (0% | 0 votes)
 
Another Region (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 8
Aayush Dua
11:04
Hi Sir,
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:05
Hi Aayush. What question(s) do you have for me?
Yike
11:05
Hi Will, I am curious about the master orientation, it seems like it will take a whole week, does this mean that we have to show up all the time? Or we just need to pick one day to join? Thank you
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:06
Hi Yike, it is not a whole week - it's actually just a couple of hours the day before school starts. If you're an international student, you do have a separate orientation you're supposed to complete the week before school starts, but that's it.
11:07
Folks, we're also joined by Miranda Stewart, who works in the Housing Department, focusing on Grad Students. Feel free to submit questions for her as well.
Miranda Stewart
11:07
Hi all! 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 for graduate students!
charles
11:07
I was admitted to ESE Phd program this year. Since currently i am pursuing MS degree and took many CS courses, therefore I may wonder whether I could transfer these CS courses for credits.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:07
Charles, it's possible to transfer the courses, but that's a question for the department. You can email them at esegrad@seas.upenn.edu. The credit transfer decision is made per individual.
Aayush Dua
11:08
Could you tell what will be the batch size for fall 2019 mse data science?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:08
Aayush, I don't know if we have a determined size yet, as the deadline is next Friday, so we're still collecting applications.
Rafael
11:08
Hello Will. I've been accepted to the CIS doctoral program and I wanted to know if you have any information regarding the visit/openhouse (that I was told it would be around March 22nd) like schedule, where to stay, reimbursement, if any, etc.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:09
Rafael, I don't, specifically, as all of this information should be coming from the department, if you are invited for the open house. You can email Britton Carnaveli, the Program Coordinator, at brittonc@seas.upenn.edu.
Yike
11:09
How long is the international student orientation?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:10
Yike, I don't specifically know, but you can contact the office at isss@pobox.upenn.edu. You can also find information here: https://global.upenn.edu/isss/prepare
Yike
11:11
Oh, thank you. Another question is when will we start our visa process?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:13
Yike, I believe you'll be contacted by ISSS to start the process, but you can also find information here: https://global.upenn.edu/isss/new. I strongly recommend you explore the ISSS website, as they have a lot of helpful information.
cool 1
Aayush Dua
11:13
Since i am international student. Could you tell shed light on i20 and visa?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:13
Hi Aayush, as I just recommended to Yike, i recommend you explore the ISSS website, as they will have a lot of useful information for the process: https://global.upenn.edu/isss/new.
Have you submitted your decision?
Yes (57.1% | 4 votes)
 
No (28.6% | 2 votes)
 
Yes, but waiting on other schools (14.3% | 1 vote)
 
No, waiting on other schools (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 7
PC
11:15
Hi Will, I have some questions regarding registration of courses.
1. Can I register for courses prior to coming to campus?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:16
Hi PC, yes, I believe you can - you'll need to work with your program to make sure you are set up to register. This also doesn't open for new students until in the spring or early summer.
PC
11:16
2. Is course registration on a first come first server basis? If they class limit is full, you can't take the course ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:17
PC, it is on a first comer/first served basis, but there are exceptions made, for example - if you're in the program you'll most likely get in even if it's "full", whereas if you're not you won't.
Aayush Dua
11:17
Sir how old is the mse data science program? And do you have any placement statistics for this program?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:17
Aayush, this past fall was the first full cohort that started, so we actually don't have any placement statistics, because we haven't graduated anyone from the program yet.
Prerit
11:17
Hi Will, I have accepted the offer. I mailed the ISSS for the PIN to enter for accessing iPenn account. I got a reply that I am still not registered in the system. So, will I get a mail from ISSS to access iPenn account, because only then I will be able to create I-20 request.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:18
Prerit, it can usually take at least 24 hours from when you submit your decision form to be registered in the system. When did you submit your decision form?
PC
11:18
3. Is defering of admission to one year possible in case of a binding job offer ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:19
PC, yes, it is possible to request to defer for a year. If you'd like to do so, you need to first submit your decision form, then email us at gradstudies@seas.upenn.edu, requesting to defer for a year and including your reason for requesting the deferral. Please be as specific as possible.
Guest
11:19
Hi Will, do you know if the CIS PhD program has any sort of review or orientation before the semester officially starts in the fall?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:20
Guest, I believe they do, but this is handled specifically by the program, so I can't say when it will be.
Anyone have any housing-related questions?
Prerit
11:21
I submitted my decision form on 12th Feb'19. I am registered into the campus express and have also got 9-digit no.  and Penn Key through which I successfully created the account. However, in order to access iPenn account, it also requires a PIN which I haven't received yet. After mailing ISSS, I got a reply that I am not registered on the system yet. So, will a separate registration be done for iPenn account?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:22
Prerit, I'll look into this for you. Can you please send us an email with what you just stated to gradstudies@seas.upenn.edu? I should be able to get back to you today.
Yu
11:23
Hi Will and Miranda, good morning. I’d like to know if Samson Place is the only on-compus housing choice for grad students. Many thanks
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