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Prospective Graduate Student Chat 1/16/18
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AvatarWill 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
Where do you live?
United States (28.6% | 2 votes)
 
China (28.6% | 2 votes)
 
India (0% | 0 votes)
 
Europe (14.3% | 1 vote)
 
Middle East (0% | 0 votes)
 
Another Region (28.6% | 2 votes)
 
Total Votes: 7
10:02
Here are some links that you may find useful:

Application Link:
https://www.applyweb.com/upenng/index.ftl
Grad School FAQ Link:
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/faq/
Financial Aid Info:
http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/
Costs
https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/paying-for-your-education/
Fellowship and Aid Information
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid.php
JP Eckert Fellowship for CIS-Related programs
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/aid-eckert.php
International Students & Scholars Services:
https://global.upenn.edu/isss/new
International Student Pre-Departure Checklist:
https://global.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Pre-Departure%20Checklist...
University Clery Report Information:
https://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/clery/annual-security-fire-safety-r...
Career Services Survey for Engineering Grads:
https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/caree
10:03
What questions to you have for me today?
Abhimanyu Yadav
10:03
Hello. I am applying for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics beginning Fall 2019. I currently attend a UK University. When filling out the application form it said that I should transcribe my transcript using the CertiFile feature. Is this necessary in my case as I am from a British university?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:04
Abhimanyu, you do not need to use the Certifile service when first submitting an application. This is only used to submit official documents, which are only needed if you are admitted and choose to enroll.
Abhimanyu Yadav
10:06
Thank you so much for your response. Have a nice day
Guest
10:06
Hello Will, is it true international students are not eligible for most scholarships?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:07
Hi Guest, Penn Engineering doesn't offer scholarships for master's programs, so there isn't anything to be eligible for in the first place.
For outside scholarships, they all have their own criteria, so there's no way to say yes or no to your question, since it each is different.
10:08
But for the PhD Fellowships, this is definitely NOT the case, and international applicants are just as eligible as our domestic applicants.
Guest
10:10
OK thank you for clarifying
cool 1
Eric Shapiro
10:10
Hello Will - I'm interested in the MCIT program online. I completed the preview course that was offered. A big component of that course was peer grading - assignments would be graded by fellow classmates. Is that also part of the online curriculum in MCIT?
Thejus Jose
10:10
Hello,
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:11
Eric, I don't believe so, however I am conferring with my colleagues in Online-Learning right now and will let you know a definite answer as soon as I get one.
You can also send an email to the Online program, online-learning@seas.upenn.edu
Mohit
10:11
Hi, being an undergraduate student from Electronics background, can I apply for PhD in Computer science without an MS degree!?
Tianlong
10:11
Hi Will. I have found a course list for ESE department as a whole. However, I could not find the prerequisite course list for Master program in robotics, ESE department. So is there a prerequisite course list for Master program in robotics, ESE department?
Thejus Jose
10:11
Is there a word limit to the Personal Statement that we are supposed to submit in the application?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:12
Mohit, you can, although the Penn CIS PhD program is very much gearead towards those that have a CIS Engineering background, so I do not know how high your chances would be of being accepted. Also, please note that our PhD deadline for Fall 2019 was Dec 15, and we are no longer accepting applications.
10:14
Tianlong, we don't have a pre-requisite course list for Robotics. Also, it's not in the ESE Department. You can find more information for it here: https://www.grasp.upenn.edu/academics/masters
Thejus Jose, no, there isn't a word limit, but we recommend no more than two pages in a readable font/spacing.
10:15
Have you submitted your application?
Yes (0% | 0 votes)
 
Started it, but haven't submitted it (71.4% | 5 votes)
 
Not yet (14.3% | 1 vote)
 
I'm weighing all of my educational options (14.3% | 1 vote)
 
Total Votes: 7
Thejus Jose
10:17
Thank you
cool 1
Guest
10:17
hi, will. I am applying for MS system engineering. for the transcript, do I need to send  official scripts for all transfer credits?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:18
Hi Guest, you don't need to send official transcripts for anything at the time of application. However, your unofficial transcripts must show any and all coursework for which you've received academic credit and the school you attended that offered those courses. Does that make sense?
Carolyn Sun
10:18
Good morning, Will. I'm also very much interested in the ROBO program. I guess since it is an interdisciplinary program jointly sponsored by different departments, I couldn't find a list of specific courses to be taken in the program. Where can I find a study plan sample for that program?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:19
Carolyn, that is described lower on this page: https://www.grasp.upenn.edu/academics/masters.
10:20
You can also contact them for more specific information using this page: https://www.grasp.upenn.edu/contact
Haotian
10:20
Hello Director Fenton, I have a question regarding GRE test. The online application allows student to submit multiple GRE scores. Which score is the admission committee finally reviewed? Is the nearest one or a score set from multiple date?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:21
Haotian, most of our programs will use the top score in each category, regardless of when you took the exam, as long as the scores are valid.
Guest
10:21
thank you!
cool 1
Eric Shapiro
10:22
Great. Thank you Will!
Tianlong
10:23
Could you please inform how many people the master program in robotics admits every year?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:24
Tianlong, the Robotics program has had approximately 40 students start the program each year for the last two years.
Haotian
10:24
Thank you,  Have a good day.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:24
You're welcome, Haotian.
10:25
Eric, here's the answer from the Online team: "Peer grading will be a component in some of the courses, but I believe it will be the minority. Most assignments will be autograded or graded by the course team." I hope this helps.
cool 1
Tianlong
10:25
Thank you!
cool 1
Carolyn Sun
10:25
Thank you so much, Will!
cool 1
Sarath Panicker
10:28
Hi Will, I am applying for MS Integrated Product Design. The portfolio requirement mentions about 72dpi resolution which is really low quality. Can I edit some images in higher quality for better clarity?
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