JotCast | Admitted Graduate Student Chat - May 22, 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:32

I don't know where specifically NANO MSE graduates get jobs after the program, but I know that all of our programs have an over 90% job/education placement rate, so they are definitely successful!

Ayankas

10:29

Hi Will. Good to be talking to you as a admitted student now.
I had a query. If I finance my education through a education loan, do I state it as personal funds or other funds? Furthermore, is the Loan Sanction Letter enough evidence for financial documentation for I-20 purpose?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:35

Ayankas, good morning. That's a great question and one I'm, unfortunately, not qualified to answer, as we do not handle any of the financial information. We recommend you contact Student Financial Services for that, at http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/. You can also contact International Student Services regarding the I-20 information, https://global.upenn.edu/isss/new.

Guest

10:29

Hi Will, is there any city transportation pass/ticket for students? There cost and how to apply?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:35

Yes, you can find that info here: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/transportation/permits-passes/c...

Roy

10:32

Good Morning Will, do you know when I can expect to hear about class registration, academic advisor, etc? I am enrolled in the MSE in Data Science program

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:36

Dennis, you can contact Ammara Aftab, the Program Coordinator, at aammarah@seas.upenn.edu. She can assist you with that information.

Dennis

10:33

Thank you Will.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:36

You're welcome!

Yonatan

10:35

Hi Will. I wanted to know if on-campus housing is still available? If not, do you know where I can search for off-Campus housing? Thank you in advance!

Miranda Stewart

10:37

Hi Yonatan! We still have on-campus housing available for graduate students in Sansom Place. To apply, please visit https://MyHomeAtPenn.upenn.edu. Helpful information for new graduate students is available at http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/residential-services/applicatio...

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:37

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

Vraj

10:38

I am going to be in the Systems Engineering Program

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:39

Vraj, you'll need to email Christina Burton, the ESE Program Coordinator, at esegrad@seas.upenn.edu. She can assist you with potentially starting early.

Ayankas

10:41

Thank you, Will and good morning to you too. I'll direct my financial questions to SFS or ISSS.
I was also wondering, if students like myself who have received their decisions on May 15 and are starting with their I-20s now, face any issues with the visa allotment? Also, is there any advice from your behalf that could help speed up the process?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:44

Ayankas, to our knowledge, we have not had students that receive acceptances after May 1 have issues with the visa allotment. I do recognize that the political landscape in many countries, including the US, has changed in the last two years, but at least as of last year, there were not any issues that came up. Unfortunately, there is limited information that we have about the process, as each country handles it a little bit differently. Our International Services Office is very good with assisting with potential issues that appear.

Ayankas

10:43

Hi Miranda and good morning. Can you guide me regarding what forms of housing are still available at Sansom Place? Furthermore, for single occupants are there any housing options with kitchen provisions?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:45

Where would you live?

On campus (50% | 2 votes)

Off campus, but near UPenn (0% | 0 votes)

Off campus in West Philadelphia/University City (50% | 2 votes)

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

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

Total Votes: 4

Miranda Stewart

10:47

Hi Ayankas! Unfortunately I can't release information on our room type inventory, because it changes so quickly (especially at this time of year!). However, the housing application will ask you what room types you are interested in, and there is an additional question where you can say whether or not you are willing to accept any room type. If your requested room types are not available and you said "no" to any room type, I will reach out to you to discuss options.

10:50

All Single-1BR/LR/KIT apartments (single apartments), Double-2BR/KIT apartments (double apartments), and Grad Plus-1BR/LR/KIT apartments (housing for students who will have a spouse, partner, or significant other living with them) include a kitchen. The Single-1BR/Shared Bath unit (single room) does not include a kitchen, but students who live in this room type can sign up to participate in the Sansom Community Kitchen Co-op program -- more information on that at http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/residential-services/applicatio...

Vikram

10:50

Could you please share some details regarding off-campus housing provided by Penn?

Ayankas

10:50

Thank you, Will. I hope things over here run smoothly so I can get my F-1 visa at the earliest.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:51

Ayankas, we do as well. Best of luck!

Miranda Stewart

10:50

Hi Vikram! If you are interested in off-campus housing, please check out the rental listings on the Off-Campus Services webpage: https://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/offcampusservices/

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:51

Have you been to UPenn or Philadelphia?

Yes, I live here (0% | 0 votes)

Yes, both (0% | 0 votes)

Philadelphia, but not UPenn (0% | 0 votes)

The US, but not Philadelphia (33.3% | 1 vote)

I've never been to the US (66.7% | 2 votes)

Total Votes: 3

Ayankas

10:53

Thank you, Miranda. The Community Kitchen Co-op is a great option for single occupants. I will apply for the room types that best fit my need and budget. If that fails I'll look forward to your communication regarding other available options.

Miranda Stewart

10:56

That sounds great, Ayankas! I'll keep an eye out for your application.

Guest

10:56

The masters programs have a semester course curriculum of 3 classes per semester following a 3-3-3-1 structure. If I was looking to follow that structure, in my final semester, can I take 2 additional courses (even if they are audited instead of for credit)?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:57

Guest, yes, it is possible that you can take additional courses that semester. It is often up to the professor leading the course if you can audit it instead of taking it for credit.

Ayankas

10:59

I had another query regarding off-campus housing. UPenn Off-Campus Services require me to login using PennKey. Since it is a redirected page, is it safe to do so? Further, they ask for another account creation that's based on the Penn e-mail id. Are these services Penn provided or a collaboration between Penn and another service provider?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:00

Ayankas, that is because these services are only provided to members of the Penn community, so you have to verify your "membership," using your login/email.

Femi

10:59

Good morning! I have a question specific to the School of Design's Integrated Product Design Certificate, fully realize it may be too nuanced for this forum - if so, my apologies! If I start in the Fall, should I apply to the certificate program now as a "current student" or should I wait until later later in the year?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:00

Femi, if you will be a Penn student in the fall, you should be able to apply as a current student.

Ayankas

10:59

Thanks Miranda. I hope to things work out for the best.

Miranda Stewart

11:02

Hi Ayankas! I'm going to recommend that you reach out to the Off-Campus Services team directly at ocliving@upenn.edu so that they can assist you with that question!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:03

Thank you for all of your questions, everyone. See you next week!

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