JotCast | Admitted Graduate Student Chat - May 8, 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:22

You're welcome!

Miranda Stewart

10:21

Hi Keyi! You can expect to receive your on-campus housing assignment in 1-2 weeks.

Lairai

10:22

Okay, thanks a lot!

Meghana

10:24

Where can I apply for the on campus housing?

Are the applications still open for on campus housing or am I too late?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:24

Meghana, you can do so at the housing website: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/residential-services/applicatio...

Miranda Stewart

10:25

Hi Meghana! There is still plenty of time to apply for on-campus housing. The application website is https://myhomeatpenn.upenn.edu.

Will

10:25

To confirm-is there no way to fund a Masters tuition at SEAS, outside of an external fellowship? Graduate RAships and TAships are only hourly and thus cannot fund tuition?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:25

Will, yes, this is correct.

I am sorry if someone told you something different, but we do not provide funding for Master's students.

Will

10:27

Are there statistics available on the number of students who continue to a PhD at Penn from their same department’s Masters program?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:28

Will, I'm sorry, but we don't have those numbers at this time.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:30

Have you received decisions from other schools?

Yes (80% | 4 votes)

No (0% | 0 votes)

I've received some decisions, but not all (20% | 1 vote)

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

Total Votes: 5

Will

10:30

If I am interested in continuing into a PhD from my Master's program, is there a wise way to begin that conversation? I understand that I would have to submit a separate PhD application, perhaps after the 1st year?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:32

Will, we usually recommend you first begin this conversation with your academic advisor, once they are assigned. In addition, you can also start having conversations with faculty that you have identified as wanting to work with for a potential PhD. They can all assist you in applying for a PhD, writing recommendations, discussing potential research/thesis topics, etc.

Nick

10:34

How does the process for funding a Masters tuition at SEAS with an external fellowship work?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:35

Nick, I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand the question. You'd use external funds to pay the tuition bills when you receive them from the billing dept. If an outside org/fund will be paying the school directly, you'd need to work with the Billing Office and the external org to set up that payment agreement. Does this make sense?

Will

10:35

Thank you. Is there any way to get in touch with current students from the program I was admitted to? I would really appreciate the added perspective in making my decision.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:36

Will, yes. You can email the Program Coordinator for your program and they can put you in touch with current students in the program. What program were admitted to?

Will

10:40

Masters in Systems Engineering. I spoke to Christina Burton, the Graduate Program Coordinator when I visited Penn some weeks ago and she told me in person that she could not put me in contact with current students.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:41

Will, that's quite interesting. Ok, can you email us at gradstudies@seas.upenn.edu and I'll see who you can contact. Sorry about that.

Lairai

10:41

Are there extracurricular activities for graduate students at Penn?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:41

Lairai, yes, ALL extracurricular activities are open equally to undergrads and grad students, in addition to their being organizations that are comprised of just graduate students, like the School's Graduate Student Council.

Lairai

10:43

That's great, thank you!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:43

You're welcome.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:45

Where would you want to live?

On Campus (25% | 1 vote)

Off campus, but near UPenn (75% | 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: 4

Will

10:50

Thank you for being very helpful and clear with your answers, Will.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:50

You're welcome, Will. Best of luck with your decision. I understand this is not always an easy one to make.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:52

We are almost out of questions folks, so please submit your final ones.

Have you been to UPenn or Philadelphia?

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

Yes, both (66.7% | 2 votes)

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

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

I've never been to the US (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 3

Nipun

10:53

Hi Will!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:53

Hi Nipun!

Nipun

10:54

I just wanted to know if it's possible for an international student to complete the engineering program in 3 semesters with a 3-4-3 approach.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:54

It is definitely possible.

Nipun

10:56

Thanks! And since I'm an international student, would I have to take at least 12 course units if I want to complete the program in 4 semesters?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:57

Most international students will usually apply for OPT in their last semester, so they only take one course, and use the other time to do research and/or look for a job or other educational opportunities.

Nipun

10:58

Thank you, Will! :)

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:58

You're welcome, Nipun.

Matt

10:59

Hi Will! Similar to Nipun's question, I imagine most students take 3 classes per semester. But is it also common that students take 4 classes per semester? Or is that a stretch to do that for two semesters because of the coursework?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:00

Matt, it really depends on the program. I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but this would be a great question for the Program Coordinator for your program.

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