JotCast | Prospective Graduate Student Chat, Dec 5, 2019

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:30

Lyu, you would need to apply to both programs, as we do not automatically consider rejected PhD candidates for the Master's program. However, please note you must submit one application before you can start.

Andy Zhang

10:24

I'm applying for the PhD program in Bio-engineering, but I've been working in a unrelated field (tech company) for the past 2 years. How common is it for UPenn PhD students to come from industry and not directly from undergrad/masters programs?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:37

Andy, I don't have a specific answers for you, but we do have applicants from all walks apply.

Mossab

10:27

Hi Mr. Fenton. Thanks for your time. I'm applying to the CBE Ph.D. program and I was wondering what the deadline is for submitting the recommendation letters? I already added my recommenders in my application but I am afraid that some of them might take a while to write the letters. So how long after I submit my application do they have to submit the letters?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:38

Hi Mossab, the deadline is the same as the application date, Dec 15.

Martin

10:32

Hi Will, may I know how will the committee deals with students who applied in the first round and also fulfill the requirement for admission, but due to the overwhelming applicants in the same round, the committee may not be able to provide an offer? Is it possible that they will be considered in the second round?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:39

Hi Martin, we do our best to give everyone a decision for the round in which they apply. So if your application is being reviewed for the early decision round, you should receive a decision on either Jan 15 or Feb 15.

James

10:36

Hi Will, my status show “Application Ready for Early Decision Review” is that means my application is in round 1?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:39

Hi James, yes, you will receive a decision either on Jan 15 or Feb 15.

Simon Carrillo

10:39

Thank you so much Will!

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:39

Simon, you're welcome.

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:40

Where would you plan to live?

On campus (16.7% | 1 vote)

Off campus, but near UPenn (50% | 3 votes)

Off campus in West Philadelphia/University City (0% | 0 votes)

Off campus in Center City/Downtown (0% | 0 votes)

I have no idea, help! (33.3% | 2 votes)

Total Votes: 6

Mossab

10:40

If I send 2 GRE test scores, would a "super score" be considered? A super score is the best score in each section across different tests.

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:41

Hi Mossab, yes, we do use superscoring for GRE/TOEFL consideration.

Linghao

10:40

Hi Will, I took 2 courses(6 credits) in a community college, then I transferred the credits to my school. Do I need to submit the unofficial transcript from that community college? Also in my online application, do I need to add that school to the school that I attended?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:44

Hi Linghao, if the community college credits show up on the transcript for your current school, showing each course and the credit received, you do not need to. However, if they don't, then you would need to submit that unofficial transcript as well.

Chirag

10:40

Hey Will! My IELTS TRF was delivered to the university on November 21 but I forgot to mention the street address in the receiver's end. Could you please tell whether it has reached the correct place or not? I have applied for MCIT and my full name is Chirag Tutlani

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:44

Chirag, can you please send an email to admissions2@seas.upenn.edu, with your information and question about your IELTS test results? We'll be able to look them up to see if we received them.

shilpa

10:41

Hi Will,

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:44

Hi Shilpa.

Mackendy Pascal

10:41

Good morning,

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:45

Hi Mackendy

Eme

10:42

Is there an application for CIS PhD admission for the spring 2021, or just for the fall?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:45

Hi Eme, just the Fall. We don't have Spring Semester starts, except for very special cases.

Mike

10:42

Hi Will, I am applying to the Masters in Robotics program. Does it make any difference as long as I submit my application before the deadline? Are applications reviewed on a rolling basis before the deadline? Thanks!

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:45

Hi Mike, it does not make a difference, as all applications are usually reviewed after the deadline.

Andy Zhang

10:43

Hi Will, follow up to my last question: How is work outside of academia considered in the application process (aka work in an unrelated industry)?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:46

Andy, to my knowledge it is really only considered if it is applicable to the program to which you're applying. But all things are considered, so you can use your personal statement to tie in your work outside of academia to why you are applying for the program.

Mackendy Pascal

10:44

I have a question, Is there a way to have a fee waiver for the admission request?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:47

Mackendy, you can submit an email with your request to gradstudies@seas.upenn.edu and we will respond. Please note we don't normally offer waivers to master's applicants since we don't offer financial aid to master's students.

shilpa

10:45

Hi will. May I know if the MS in Electrical Engineering degree could be customized to include courses from Robotics, Systems Engg. and Embedded systems (i.e, to cover more courses in terms of breadth ) ?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:48

Shilpa, you are able to take a variety of electives during the course, so this is something you'd work out with the program once you are admitted. You can find a potential course guide here: https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/

Mackendy Pascal

10:49

I am applying to a graduate program, electrical engineering. So do you think I still can send an email to ask for the fee waiver?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:49

Yes, you can. You'll need to explain specifically why you're asking for the waiver.

10:50

Have you been to UPenn or Philadelphia?

Yes, I live here (0% | 0 votes)

Yes, both (0% | 0 votes)

Philadelphia, but not UPenn (12.5% | 1 vote)

THe US, but not Philadelphia (25% | 2 votes)

I've never been to the US (62.5% | 5 votes)

Total Votes: 8

Gaurav

10:50

Hello Sir!

Can I apply for more than one program??

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:50

HI Gaurav, yes you can. You must submit one application before you can begin a second. You are able to apply for multiple master's programs but only one PhD program per academic term.

Mossab

10:50

Do international students have lower chance in being admitted compared to US applicants? Or is nationality not a factor in admission?

Will Fenton, Enrollment Specialist

10:51

Mossab, to my knowledge nationality is not considered when applicants are being considered.

Connecting…