JotCast | Applied Graduate Student Chat, January 8, 2020

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Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:13

Olivia, the only program that has official PhD interviews is the BE PhD program. All of our other PhD programs may request an interview, but they also may not. Our master's programs do not request official interviews as part of the application process.

Jiayue

10:03

Hi, I am applying for MSE in MEAM program for next fall. Is it possible for me to be enrolled in a dual degree program in MEAM and data science?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:14

Jiayue, yes. However, you can only start one program for your initial semester. Once you've completed one semester in good academic standing you can apply to join a second program and do a dual degree.

Lorick

10:03

Is there any specific reason for the MSE decision to come out on two different dates for the early November deadline

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:14

Lorick, this is what the faculty requested. :)

Tanuj

10:03

Hello, my TOEFL status shows up as "waived", even though I sent my score and am not from a country where English is the primary language. Is there any chance my score hasn't been received?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:15

Tanuj, if it is showing up as waived, it would mean that you met our criteria to have it waived. Did you graduate from a school where English is the language of instruction, or from a school in the US?

Sydney Shannon

10:03

Hello! Are decision notifications released solely through the student portal or are they also emailed to students? I have been experiencing a bit of trouble when trying to load the portal webpage. Also, if applicants proceed to the next stage of the process, are they given the opportunity to interview on campus or do they first go through a round of Skype interviews?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:16

Hi Sydney, I'm sorry you've had issues with the application account webpage. You can notify the 3rd party that runs the website and application by emailing help@applyweb.com. You'll receive an email telling you that there is a decision available, but you do have to log into your application account to see the actual decision letter.

Yunxuan

10:03

Hi Will, will you recalculate the GPA on your own rules?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:17

Hi Yunxuan, to my knowledge we don't usually recalculate GPAs, but I can't speak for individual reviewers.

Heng Su

10:03

I applied for MCIT program, early decision round while I realized haven't submitted the transcript for one semester when I studied abroad (I am now a graduate student). Is there anything I could do right now? Thanks!

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:18

Heng Su, you will need to send that to admissions2@seas.upenn.edu right away. Also, if we didn't have all of the required materials, we may not be able to review your application for the early decision release date. You can ask us when you send the transcript.

Johhnny

10:03

Hi Will, I just got my final fall term grades, can I update it to my application (PhD)?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:19

Hi Johnny, can you tell me the program that you applied to?

Guest

10:05

Hello! For PhD applicants for the Bioengineering program invited to interview, what percentage are given offers? What are the common reasons why an applicant might be rejected after an interview? Thank you!

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:19

Hi Guest, I'm sorry, but I don't know the % that are offered emails, as the dept doesn't report those numbers. I can say that they admitted approximately 14% of applicants last year.

10:20

As for why an applicant may be rejected after the interview, I can't really say other than the interviewer wasn't satisfied with the answers that were provided.

Eric

10:06

Hi, I've heard that it is advantageous for students to contact PhD advisors by email. I haven't done so yet and I already applied to the CIS PhD program. Will it still be beneficial to contact professors now?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:21

Eric, you can contact them. However, at this point they may not get back to you right away, if at all, because this is often the busiest time of year for them, if they are reviewing PhD Applications, conducting research and getting ready for the new semester. We recommend not to take it personally if someone doesn't get back to you right away, if at all.

Sripranav

10:06

One of my papers has been accepted but I have already submitted my application. Is there a way to update the details?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:22

Sripanav, you can submit an updated CV/Resume to be updated in your application. It should be sent to one of the two following emails:
BE, ESE, MEAM, MSE – send an email to admissions1@seas.upenn.edu

CBE, CIS – send an email to admissions2@seas.upenn.edu

Guest

10:06

Greetings! Will the Data Science, MSE decision be released on January 15? Or the decision release date is still not determined between Jan 15 and Feb 15?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:23

Guest, we hope to have most, if not all, of the early decisions released on Jan. 15.

Saurabh

10:06

Hi Will,
The student aid page states that there are no fellowships available for the masters program.
Is this true for all the MS programs? I am specifically looking for TA/RA/scholarships or any financial aid available for MS in MCIT.

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:23

Saurabh, yes, it is. You can find some additional info on these pages: Potential Fellowship and Financial Aid Information
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid.php
https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradstudfunding.php
JP Eckert Fellowship for CIS-Related programs
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid-eckert.php

Guest

10:06

Hello. What is the common timeline for MEng student to apply for the PhD in UPenn?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:24

Hi Guest - to apply? Well, the deadline to apply was Dec 15, so you would need to apply after the application for 21-22 opens next Fall. If you're asking about when decisions are released, they are sent out on a rolling basis, usually starting 6-8 weeks after the deadline.

Yunxuan

10:07

Hi Will, another question, have the committee already finished the early round review for master's programs?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:25

Yunxuan, no they haven't. They have until next Tuesday to finish up, so that we have time to review their decisions, enter them into our system and then send them out on Wed, Jan 15.

Thomas

10:07

Hi,

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:25

Hi Thomas

Elizabeth

10:07

Hello, Is there normally an interview before PhD decision are made?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:26

Hi Elizabeth. The BE program is the only program that holds official interviews for their admitted applicants.

Guest

10:08

I applied before the early deadline for the MS CIS program. How many results are rolled out on 15th Jan and how many on 15th Feb?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:26

Guest, we'll be rolling out as many decisions as the department has made. Any that don't go out on Jan 15 should go out on Feb 15.

Thomas

10:09

when will the admission decision for ChemE PhD be released?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:27

Thomas, these will be released on a rolling basis, usually starting in 2-3 weeks.

Guest

10:09

Has anyone been invited to interview for BE PhD? Is there any expected timeline for BE PhD program? Thanks!

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:27

Hi Guest, I'm sorry, but I don't have a "timeline," for the BE PhD program.

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