JotCast | Applied Graduate Student Chat - Feb 21, 2019

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:00

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.

10:01

Master's decisions for all Feb 1 deadlines will be sent out on April 5. PhD Decisions are still being made at this time and ALL applicants will receive a decision.

Applicant

10:01

Hi Will, how long does it take for UPenn to offer acceptances after the interview weekends? Thank you!

Guest

10:01

Hello. A professor notified me my application is not in the system. Please asvise

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:02

Hi Applicant - these decisions are made on a rolling basis, so unfortunately I can't say.

Hi Guest, please tell me what program you had intended to apply to and the name that should be on the application

Guest

10:02

Hi Will,

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:02

Hi Guest

Guest

10:02

MEAM

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:03

Thank's guest. Is that phd or master's?

Guest

10:03

Allison Wong

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:03

Thank's Allison

NewApplicant

10:03

Hi Will, what do the faculty usually evaluate at interview weekends? I realize this is a broad question, but I would love any insights you might provide, thank you!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:04

New Applicant - I believe the main things are research interests, specific research/work background and "fit." Unfortunately, as these are handled exclusively by the departments, I don't have a ton of information to impart. Sorry, and good luck!

Guest

10:04

Master

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:04

Thank's Allison. Have you tried logging into the application system, https://www.applyweb.com/upenng/index.ftl? This is the real easy way to see if your application was submitted.

Guest

10:04

Hi will,
If I understand correctly the interview days for bioengineering PhD program is already over. I still havent received a notification about my applications yet. SHould I take this as a reject ?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:05

Guest, they have three weekends, so the first one is the only one that's over. And until you receive a decision, there's always a chance.

Xiaoyu Tong

10:05

Greetings, has Upenn already sent out all the interviews, or more interviews are still coming out?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:05

Xiaoyu, all of our programs are still making decisions and are still in the process of sending out invitations for phd weekends. Our master's programs don't usually hold interviews.

Xiaoyu Tong

10:05

Thank you!

10:06

Good morning Mr. Fenton. I have a question regarding TA/RA positions. I noticed on the website it states there are no RA positions available for MSE students, but there are TA positions for PhD candidates. Are there any additional positions to aid MSE students?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:06

MO, there may be, it varies per dept and per semester. You have to have completed at least one semester in good standing to be able to apply.

10:07

Where do you live?

United States (52.6% | 10 votes)

China (21.1% | 4 votes)

India (15.8% | 3 votes)

Europe (0% | 0 votes)

Middle East (10.5% | 2 votes)

Another Region (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 19

Guest

10:07

Hi Will, for late Masters applications, how long will it take to hear back from the day the application was submitted?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:07

Guest, right now the decisions are scheduled to be released on May 15. We may move that up, as it is under discussion at this time. If we do, the website will be updated.

Abhirup Basu

10:07

Hello sir, I have applied for Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Many students have received their admits. I haven't heard anything yet. Does that mean a rejection?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:07

Abhirup, until you receive a decision, it means one hasn't been made on your application.

Guest

10:07

Hi Will, do you know how many interview weeks are scheduled for bioengineering phd program? Also when are they scheduled and students would be notified?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:08

Guest, there are two more interview weekends. The dept handles these, so I don't really have more information.

Guest

10:08

Hi Will ,
I think the interview days for the bioengineering PhD program are already done. Since I havent received any update from the university about my application do I assume its a reject?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:08

Guest, they're aren't done yet. All applicants will receive a decision, so until you receive one there's always a chance.

Guest

10:08

Good Morning Mr. Fenton! I applied for the Bioengineering program and I saw that the decisions are sent out in April. However, I am currently at Penn State and will require an extension of my i20 if I go to graduate school. I already got into UT Arlington and the deadline for accepting the offer is March. Do you think there is any way I could know about my application status before April? Because even if i wait until April, it will be too late to get a new i20

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:09

Guest, unless that is a special program at UT Arlington, there is a national agreement for grad schools that offer funding that you have until April 15 to accept the decision. https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution. You should bring this to the school's attention. We will not be sending the decisions out earlier than April 5.

Jacie

10:09

hello Will. I applied both MSE EE and SE. Is it possible to be admitted by both program or I can only be given one offer ?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:10

Jacie, You can be admitted to both programs, but you can only accept one program to start. Once you've completed at least one semester in good standing you can apply to add a second degree/program.

Mike

10:10

Hello, two question for PhD application. 1. Does the invitation for interview or rejection come through email? 2. Is there a final day that an invitation may be sent by? Thanks

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:11

Mike, 1) Yes, it comes through email. 2) This is handled by the dept, so I don't know if they have a final date or not.

Lavigine

10:11

Hello Will. I hear from that for some program there is a GRE AW 3.5 cut off line, is that true?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:11

Lavigine, I am not aware of any program having a writing score cutoff of 3.5. This is only one aspect of the application, and we review the entire application before decisions are made.

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