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Prospective Graduate Student Chat Feb 6, 2019
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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.
Where do you live?
United States (45.5% | 5 votes)
 
China (27.3% | 3 votes)
 
India (18.2% | 2 votes)
 
Europe (0% | 0 votes)
 
Middle East (0% | 0 votes)
 
Another Region (9.1% | 1 vote)
 
Total Votes: 11
10:04
What questions do you have for me today?
Marko Zotovic
10:08
Hey Will, for the data science program, what programming languages are learned/used?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:09
Hi Marko, that's a great question! Have you taken a look at the course listings, here? https://dats.seas.upenn.edu/programofstudy/
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Roscoe
10:33
Hello Will, will the program or the school provide any resources to help students find summer interns?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:33
Hi Roscoe, the school has a very robust career services office that does assist students in finding career opportunities and internships. And the departments are also able to assist students with these efforts as well.
Soyoung Kim
10:34
Hi, Will. I would like to ask the same question as Roscoe's, only with CS Master's program for non-CS majors.
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:35
Soyoung, can you elaborate on what you mean? The Career Services office is for the Entire school of Engineering, so they can assist all students in the School of Engineering in looking for internships.
Soyoung Kim
10:36
Will, what would you say are some of the things non-CS majors should be prepared for before starting CS Master's for non CS majors?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:37
Soyoung, do you mean the MCIT program?
Soyoung Kim
10:38
Yes
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:39
Thank you. Well, I would start looking at the potential course listings, here: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/current-students/graduate/mcit/index.php
10:40
You can explore the course listings and requirements, and see what areas you may want to study up on and/or start to research.
Kunwei Ho
10:40
Hello Will, I have three questions.
1. What is the most interesting thing studying in UPenn rather than other schools?
2. Is there any possibility to take the courses from other departments?   
Thank you!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:40
Hi Kunwei, those are great questions:
10:41
1) The cross discplinary nature of the courses/programs we offer, along with the work of the faculty.
2) Yes, there are definitely opportunities, as every program allows for at least a couple of electives.
10:42
That was only 2 questions - do you have a 3rd?
Kunwei Ho
10:44
Oops! Here is the third question:
Could I prolong the time, which seems to be 1.5-2 years, in the school to obtain the degree for more courses?
Thanks!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:45
Kunwei, thank you. You would need to apply for additional degrees and be admitted to be able to take more courses than are required for your program. Especially if you are an international student, you must maintain full-time enrollment while a student due to visa requirements. However, it is relatively easy to apply to complete an additional master's program once you are enrolled in a program at Penn Engineering.
10:46
Have you submitted your application?
Yes (0% | 0 votes)
 
Started it, but haven't submitted it (50% | 3 votes)
 
Not yet (33.3% | 2 votes)
 
I'm weighing all of my educational options (16.7% | 1 vote)
 
Total Votes: 6
Brian Rauzi
10:46
Is there a difference in the degree for the online MCIT program and the in person one? For example, is the coursework and test material the same? Is it the exact same diploma?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:47
Brian, the coursework and test material may be slightly different, as some of the online courses are still under development. However, the online program is designed to mimic the on campus program as much as possible and the degree will be exactly the same.
Riya Philip
10:49
To be clear, the deadline for the application for fall 2020 is upcoming this March right?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:51
Riya, I'm sorry, but the deadline for Fall 2019 is this upcoming March. The deadline for Fall 2020 will either be Feb 1 2020 or March 15 2020, depending on the master's program, and whether or not the deadlines change at this time. The Fall 2020 application will open on Sept 15, 2019, at this time.
Brian Rauzi
10:51
Thanks Will, that’s good information. Do you have any statistics available for the innagural online MCIT class last year/semester? Admission statistics as well as job placement ?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:51
Brian, the first course just started January 16, so I don't yet have any official information, and we don't have any job placement info, and won't until at least the summer of 2020.
Mosha Deng
10:51
Hi there, I am applying to the Biotech program. Regarding recommendations, I have been working for the past 4+ years, so academic references may not be helpful. I did take a science class last semester, but don't think the Professor is equipped to opine on me holistically. What are your thoughts on using all 3 references from my colleagues instead? One has a PhD and the other two have MDs. Thanks!
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:53
Mosha, good day. The Biotech program only requires two letters of recommendation. However, unless you've been out of school for at least 5 years upon time of application, we do require at least one Letter to be from an academic source. Otherwise, you'd need to contact the program to have this requirement waived.
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Riya Philip
10:53
Alright, since I am a junior, I can apply for the combined program with Bryn Mawr soon?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:53
Riya, if you are a junior and currently enrolled at Bryn Mawr, the deadline is March 15 for this upcoming Fall semester, if you are applying for one of the programs that has a March 15 deadline.
Riya Philip
10:56
Thank you!
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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:56
You're welcome!
Melanie
10:58
I saw that that a letter of recommendation “from a faculty member who is familiar with the candidate’s scholarly abilities” is required - does this mean strictly faculty at UPenn or rather from your previous schooling?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
10:59
Melanie, this is meant for one of your academic resources - if a UPenn faculty member is familiar with your work/abilities, great. Otherwise it would be expected to be a faculty member or advisor from your schooling.
Akash
10:59
Hi Will, I am applying for MS in data science. I have 18 months of work experience. All my LoRs are professional, would I be able to apply for the MS in DS?
AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:00
Akash, unless you can ask the program to waive the academic letter, you will need to have at least one letter from an academic source, as this is one of our requirements.
Melanie
11:00
Great, thanks!
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AvatarWill Fenton, Asst Dir
11:00
You're welcome.
Akash
11:01
Got it, thanks!
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