JotCast | Applied Graduate Student Chat - April 11, 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

Hi Jessie, no we don't waitlist.

Brian

10:17

Hi Will!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

Hi Brian!

Vijay

10:18

Hi Will, thanks for holding this chat. I interviewed for the bioengineering PhD program and had interest from few faculty members but they don't have funding to support me. Since I'm international student, what are my options? Will I get the final decision before April 15th?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:19

Vijay, unfortunately, we still have decisions that are being made at this time and I can't guarantee that you'll receive a decision by April 15. I am sorry, as I know it can be frustrating and we appreciate your patience.

Lorenzo

10:19

Hi again Will, I am just curious if you had any statistics as to how many spots are left for the MCIT on-campus program / how many were accepted/rejected thus far?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:19

Lorenzo, I'm sorry, but we don't give out statistics for the current application cycle, especially as it's not complete.

Yusuf

10:20

Sorry to hear.. So application incomplete due to partial LOR - is confirmed rejection - even if LORs arrive before the decision dates given

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:21

Yusuf, according to our records, you received and viewed the Incomplete application email on April 1. It specifically states what must be done and a deadline, as well as the consequences if the deadline isn't met.

xiaolong

10:20

I log in my account, but did not see any decision letter.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:21

Xiaolong, that means there isn't a decision yet on your account. You'll receive an email notification when a decision has been made.

Lorenzo

10:21

Ok no worries! So if we're waiting to hear back, there is still a shot of being accepted in one of the next 3 dates?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:22

Lorenzo, there most certainly is!

Vijay

10:21

Thanks for answering my question Will. I'm curious to know if SEAS has any fellowships for international students. Since I'm not eligible to federal funding sources.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:22

Vijay, Penn Engineering does not, but we do maintain lists of potential sources here: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid.php
https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradstudfunding.php

Anirudh

10:23

Thanks for your answer. Is it possible to tell me the number of applications you received for Nanotechnology this year?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:23

Anirudh, I'm afraid it isn't. We don't release numbers for the current application cycle. But I can tell you we've received quite a few more applications for the program than we did last year.

Vijay

10:24

Thanks Will.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:24

You're welcome, Vijay.

Lorenzo

10:24

Thanks for your responses, wish me luck!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:24

Best of luck, Lorenzo!

Jessie

10:24

Hi Will, How does advising work for the MCIT program, are we assigned to a faculty advisor?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:25

Jessie, you'll be assigned a faculty academic advisor usually later in the summer. This is done by your program.

Brian

10:25

Hi Will! I understand that the departments are doing their best to have their results ready as soon as possible, but because the schools that have offered me admission follow the April 15 resolution from the Council of Graduate Schools, I believe that I should make my decision until the 15th. So my question is, assuming that I have been offered admission from Penn at a date later than the 15th, is there any way to withdraw my confirmation from another school? Were there any similar situations in the past?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:26

Brian, if you accept an offer with aid from another school and then decide to go to a different school (say UPenn), you'll need to request to be released from your offer by the initial school. UPenn would then need you to provide proof that you a) Didn't accept an offer from another school or b) Have been released from an offer that you DID accept from another school.

Jessie

10:25

Ok, thanks for the info.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:26

You're welcome, Jessie.

Helen

10:27

Are there still more offers to be sent for the CIS phd program? Or all are out and those who have not received a decision will see a reject soon?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:28

Helen, all applicants will receive a decision, so yes, there are more offers that will be going out.

Brian

10:30

So does the same hold for cases where I accept offers from other schools without any form of financial aid?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:31

Brian, no, but it's always nice to let a school know that you'll no longer be attending if you had already accepted an offer. Same as if you accepted a job offer and later decided to turn it down. We recommend not "ghosting," a school, or really, any one. :)

Jessie

10:34

Is there a new student orientation before classes start for engineering grad students?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:34

Jessie, yes, we have orientation on the Monday before classes start, August 26.

Yusuf

10:34

I have provided unofficial transcript. Official transcript can be sent to email address ?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:35

Yusuf, we only need the official if you are admitted. And if can only be sent to an email address if your institution is sending it. You, as the applicant, can't send us an electronic copy that would be considered "official."

Zeng

10:35

hi Will, I would like to know that the class-size for MCIT on-campus?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:36

Zeng, I don't know what this year's class size will be, but last years was 45

Zeng

10:37

Hi will, thanks for your previous information about the class-size

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:37

Zeng, you are welcome!

Brian

10:37

Thank you very much Will, that helped a lot!

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