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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
9:52
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.
9:53
Here are some links that you may find useful:
9:54
Where do you live?
United States (34.8% | 23 votes)
 
China (25.8% | 17 votes)
 
India (12.1% | 8 votes)
 
Europe (4.5% | 3 votes)
 
Middle East (7.6% | 5 votes)
 
Another Region (15.2% | 10 votes)
 
Total Votes: 66
Andy
9:56
Are there many spots for international students in the bioeng masters program? Also if I am switching over from a biology major, does it significantly lower my chances of admission? Thank you!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
9:58
Hi Andy; we don't have a certain number of slots for international vs domestic - we take the best applicants. As for switching over, I can't say because that's just one aspect of your application - class grades, school reputation and strength, overall gpa and major gpa, etc are all aspects of your application that are considered.
Guest
9:58
Hi Will, can you please describe how graduate admissions work for bioengineering? I recently contacted a professor and we had a very positive evaluation of me but I have not heard from them since. When will the decisions go out? What date is the interview weekend? And what is the timeline  on decisions? Does the panel have professors only?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
9:58
Guest, are you applying for a PhD or master's program?
Echo
9:58
Same question for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Thanks!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
9:58
Hi Echo, are you applying to PhD or master's?
Guest
9:58
I am applying for a PhD program Will
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:02
Guest and Echo, we do not have specific release dates for PhD decisions - they are made on a rolling basis after the application deadline. As for the BE interview weekend, they have four that will be coming up, beginning in February. They will contact individuals about being invited to campus. As for the CBE program, they do not hold interview weekends, but they do have an open-house for admitted students that will be in March.
Echo
10:02
Hi Mr. Fenton. Same spot question for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, thanks!
I'm applying for master's :)
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:02
Echo, for your question, master's applicants do not usually do an interview, and the decisions will be released on April 5th.
pankaj Kumar
10:02
Hi Will, I have applied to the MSE PhD program. I was wondering if you could let me know when can I expect to hear the results? Also, please let me know the acceptance rate?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Pankaj, We do not have specific release dates for the PhD decisions. They should all be released prior to April 15. Last year's acceptance rate was 13%.
Andy
10:04
I see. Do you know how many int. students vs domestic students were admitted last year?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Andy, we don't release those specific numbers.
Shamak
10:04
For CS PhD admissions, are interviews expected before admission? Or can one be admitted without an interview?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Shamak, you can be admitted without an interview.
Ruihan
10:04
Good morning Will! Sorry I have 3 questions about the chemical engineering MSE program.
1. Has the committee started to review the materials yet? (Or the committee will not review the materials until Feb.1?)
2. If I want to update my CV after submission, may I send it by email? Could you give me an email address?
3. When will we be notified of the result? Thank you!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Ruihan, no, reviews will not start until after the Feb 1 deadline.
10:05
Ruihan, 2) You can send an updated CV to admissions2@seas.upenn.edu. However, we won't accept changes after the Feb 1 deadline. And you will be notified on April 5.
yunchu
10:05
Hi Will, could you talk a little bit about Phd program process for CIS? Is there any interview recently？
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:06
Yunchu, they will contact you individually if you are chosen for an interview; however, they don't interview all admitted applicants. They have a committee that reviews applicants as well as individual professors that would potentially  serve as advisors will also review applications. And they look at the entire application - everything is considered.
Jesse Kemmerling
10:07
Hi Will, what is the current semiconductor and nanotechnology research in the electrical engineering department?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:07
Hi Jesse, I'm sorry but that question is a bit beyond my expertise. I suggest you contact the department, emailing them at esegrad@seas.upenn.edu. I'm sorry I can't be of more assistance.
Hardik
10:07
Hi Dr. Fenton - I recently submitted my application to the data science program. Are applications reviewed as they come in or all applications will be reviewed after the March 15 deadline? As such, is there any chance results will be available before May?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:08
Hardik, applications may be given a brief review, but overall they are reviewed after the March 15 deadline. While we are working to see if we'll be able to release decisions prior to May 15, at this point you should count on receiving a decision on May 15 and not before. If an update will be made, you will be notified.
iambishwa
10:08
Hi
Felipe Borja
10:08
Hello Will,
Gary
10:08
Hi Will,
iambishwa
10:08
Hi, I have applied to CS Ph.D. program for Fall '19.
Felipe Borja
10:09
Hello Will. I would also like to know the timeline on decisions for the PhD program.
Abhay Sibal
10:09
Hi Mr. Fenton
yunchu
10:09
hi Will, same question for CIS, I am applying CIS phd. Is there any interview recently?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:09
Hi folks! Thanks for joining the chat.
10:10
To everyone asking about PhD Decisions - there are no set release dates for the program decisions; they are made and released on a rolling basis. We do our best to release decisions 6-8 weeks after the application deadline, and have them all released if possible before April 15.
Dahan
10:10
Good morning Mr. Fenton, may I ask a question regarding the transcript? I applied for the PhD program in mechanical engineering. My degree was still in progress when I submitted the application so the transcript I uploaded did not cover all the courses I have taken. Now my degree has been awarded and I have a complete transcript, can I update it for the application?
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