JotCast | Applied Graduate Student Chat Jan 17 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:55

Sasmita, yes, it is possible. This can be done once you've started the program and you would work with your program advisor.

Sasmita Rout

10:55

Hi Will! I applied to the MS Biotechnology program. I would like to know if it is possible to switch within the different concentrations given within the program

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:55

Guest, the only time Graduate Admissions would override a department admission decision would be if there were serious problems with the application and/or the applicants record.

Guest

10:54

Sorry I am asking again, If a professor is really interested in working with me, does he/she make decisions about admissions or can graduate admissions override his/her choice?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:54

Woramanot, we don't have a specific date, but we usually release decisions 6-8 weeks after the deadline.

Woramanot Yomjinda

10:54

Hi Will, I have applied for Computer and Information Science PhD. May I ask around which time will I hear back?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:54

Emmanuel, yes, virtual interviews are a definite possibility.

Emmanuel A

10:54

Should I be invited to interview for admission, are there options for virtual interviews? I anticipate being in a military operations area with few options for travel.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:54

Philippe, I'm sorry that we are so far behind - to your question, yes, advanced PhD students can get a chance to run their own project, but this varies quite a bit per program, per advisor and per lab.

Philippe Wyder

10:53

Hi Stuart, somehow this chat doesn't work properly for me, I don't see my questions pop up. So, I am just trying again:
During my previous research, I led small teams of (up to 8) undergraduate and graduate students. Do students at Penn get the opportunity to run their own research teams? (or is it unheard of)

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:53

Shreyas, last year we had 1333 applications and admitted 10%.

Shreyas

10:52

What is the statistics of applicant pool for MS in CIS program in previous fall.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:52

Pooneh, no, I don't think it does. It shows you are focused and have a specific idea as to what you want to do - for grad school, this is key.

Izzy

10:52

Do you think it negatively impacts applicants if they only singled out one person of interest?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:52

Guest, we had 755 applications for the CIS PhD program last year and we admitted 10%.

Guest

10:51

Hello Will, could you give us some statistics (e.g. acceptance rate) regarding the CIS PhD program for the last few years?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:51

Praful, interviews are not mandatory and they do not interview all applicants.

Praful Shashi Kumar

10:51

There is no information about interviews for PhD applicants in the ESE website FAQs. Are interviews mandatory before being accepted?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:51

Xin, no, that should be fine. That's just the date we were able to review all of your materials. Due to the influx of applications on the deadline, the "complete date," can be a few days behind, as we have a LOT of applications to check.

Xin

10:50

Hi, Will. I submitted all the materials 12/15 which is the deadline for PhD of chemical engineering . However, on the checklist, it shows that the date completed is 12/17 is that gonna effect my admission result?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:50

Andy, please see the response to Petty.

Andy

10:50

Hi Will, can you tell me about the acceptance rates for the PhD program in Mechanical Engineering for last year?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:50

Lucky, yes, funding decisions are made at the time of the admission decision.

Lucky

10:49

For PhD programs, will financial aid decisions typically be made at the same time as the admission decisions?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

Zoe, I've answered your question a little further down.

10:49

Danny, please see the respond to Petty

Danny

10:49

Good morning, Will. Could you please give us past stats of Mechanical PhD admits?

Kyrie

10:49

Hi , I have applied MSE department, when can I know the admission result?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:49

All, if you have applied to a master's program, you can find the decision release dates here: https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/

10:48

Petty, We had 267 applicants and admitted 11%

petty

10:47

Could I know the admissions statistics for the Mechanical Engineering PhD program of last year?
Thank you so much in advance!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:47

Shib, we'll let you know if we don't have your scores.

Shib Sankar Dasgupta

10:47

Hey will, I have applied to the Computer and Information Science program. I notice that my GRE status is mentioned as needed. I have rechecked the ETS website again and found that it has been sent to the correct corresponding code.Please let me know if I require to do anything else.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:47

Shantanu, no - we had a delay in releasing our CIS MSE early round decisions due to the amount of applications. This delay was for all CIS MSE early round applicants.

Shantanu

10:46

Hi Will. I applied to MSE early decision program and received a mail that my decision will be released next week and requires more evaluation. Does that mean my chances of getting selected is less?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:46

Guest, You can find the potential rent prices for on-campus housing here: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/residential-services/applicatio.... I'm not sure about how it compare's to PhD student stipends, as the stipends differ based on dept. You don't get a stipend just for "housing," you get one for living in the city and funding your studies and research.

Guest

10:45

What is the rent like for on-campus housing? How does it compare with the stipend for a PhD student?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:44

Praful, the ESE dept does conduct PhD applicant interviews - they contact applicants directly.

Praful Shashi Kumar

10:44

Does ESE department conduct interviews for PhD applicants? There is nothing mentioned about it in the FAQs.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:44

Philippe, EE had 612 applications last year and they admitted about 54%.

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