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Prospective Graduate Student Chat Feb 13, 2019
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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:01
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.
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Total Votes: 1
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Guest
10:10
Hello?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:10
Hello there, guest. What questions do you have?
William
10:12
Sorry, but I just figured out: was it for enrolled students only?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:12
No, this is for prospective students
Although anyone can ask a question
10:13
Go right ahead
William
10:14
Thank you, I am an applicant for MS data science program, may I ask what is the approximate acceptance rate? I am applying by the Mar.15 deadline
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:15
We don't have a pre-determined acceptance rate, William. I can tell you that last year it was under 10% for those that applied by the March 15 deadline.
William
10:18
I got it, how many spots are available for the Mar.15th deadline applicants?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:19
We don't have a predetermined amount of spots, either. It's based on the numbers of applications we received.
/receive
cool 1
William
10:25
Thank you, what kind of expertise you are looking for, or you expect students to have for MS of data science students? The applicants may have various backgrounds and majors.
Guest
10:25
What is the current timeline for admissions to the MSE Ph.D program? In the Faq it states admission decisions are typically made 6-8 weeks after the deadline.
William
10:25
I mean, due to the difference in majors and backgrounds, how you would determine, when considering relevant courses,  the applicants is suitable for the master program?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:27
William, we look for students from a variety of backgrounds, focusing on those with strong math and/or statistical backgrounds.
Programming experience also helps.
10:28
Guest, to your question, decisions are made on a rolling basis by the PhD programs, so we send out the decisions as we receive them. Unfortunately, there is no definite "release" date.
10:29
And William, there is no specific "type," of student background that is suitable - all parts of the application are reviewed and considered.
William
10:34
Thank you, I am currently in a major really close to computer science, and in a Math minor, when talk about "strong" mathmatical backgrounds, what would be considered as a "strong" math or stats backgrounds?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:35
Well, having a math minor would definitely help, especially if your a cs major.
10:36
I'd say the equivalent of enough classes to have either a math or stats minor, if not a major that focuses on one of those areas is a great start.
10:37
I'd also point to any research or projects that you may have done that focus in an area, say probability research, for example,
William
10:38
What about data analysis research itself? It may not be pure probability.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:38
Yes, that would also be fine
William
10:39
Considering Math & stats with computer science and programming, which is more valued in the application?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:40
William, I can't say specifically, as I mentioned there is no specific type. Applicants entire backgrounds, including their course history and strength, are considered.
10:41
It is really going to depend on what you want to do with it and which of those are you're strongest areas, based on gpa, research/work experience, etc.
William
10:41
oh, I got it.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:42
Excellent. I'm sorry I can't give you a definite - "this, this and this," but admissions is really so cut and dry.
William
10:43
What is the total number of MS of data science of students enrolled last year? Are you considering expand the class size or decrease it?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:44
We enrolled 40 in the first year of the program. I know they are considering expanding it, but it does depend on the overall amount and quality of the applicants.
William
10:49
Is the admission process of MS of data science made through a rolling basis?
For applications due March deadline
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:49
No, all applications are reviewed after the deadline and decisions will be released on May 15 at this point.
William
10:50
Is there any possibility that it will released before May 15
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:51
There is a slight possibility as of right now, as we are working with that dept to determine if decisions can be released earlier. However, at this time the plan is still to release all decisions on May 15. If that changes our website will be updated. It will not be pushed later.
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