JotCast | Prospective Graduate Student Chat, Nov 7, 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:14

Brandon, you would work with the program and your academic advisor to do this once you're admitted. You'd have to take at least 4 courses each semester and then the remaining two the following summer.

Maggie R.

10:09

Thank you!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:14

You're welcome.

Chinmay

10:10

Is it ok if my applications reach university by Nov 16-17. Will i be considered to be part of early deadline

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:15

Chinmay, no, the early deadline is Nov 15. If we considered applications submitted after that it reduces the point of having a deadline.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:11

Thanks for your patience, everyone. I've got some great questions today and I will get to all of them. Please don't ask your question multiple times. Thanks!

Liang Li

10:11

Thank you, Will. Another question. The official website of GRASP Lab shows the admission statistics prior to fall 2018, and the fall 2018 and fall 2019 statistics are unavailable. Could you please provide the statistics? (number of applicants, selectivity, average GRE)

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

Liang Li, I can tell you that we admitted about 16% of 600 applicants last year, and about 14% of 543 the year before. We don't have average GRE or gpa scores to release.

Chinmay

10:12

I am applying for data science, to which department should i send my scores of toefl, department in mandatory

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

Chinmay, you can use the code 1699.

Maya

10:12

Good morning Will. I hope your day is going well so far. I've got a few questions to ask. 1. What is the cut

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

Hi Maya. A bit under the weather, but I'm making it. I hope you're well.

Darren

10:12

If I am majoring in Computer Science, is it an issue that I have not taken an OS class? I noticed it as one of the classes I should have taken.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:17

Darren, it is not, as long as your major is CS.

kennen

10:13

Hi will, since my prof might not be able to hand in letter before 11.15, can he still sent it as a third additional letter after after that?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:18

Kennen, yes you can. However, the letter may not be considered if your application is considered complete by the early deadline and we get the letter after the review has already begun. Then it is up to the program as to whether or not it is included.

Shikhar

10:14

Thank you!

Rohit

10:14

Rohit, I'm sorry, but we don't offer Environmental Engineering in the Engineering school. We also don't require a WES transcript. Did you apply to a program in the College of Arts and Sciences? Yes, I have applied to School of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:20

So that is a different School within Penn, and the program is not in the Engineering School. They have different application requirements.

Brandon

10:14

Hi Will, I have been out of school for some time and am not sure if I will be able to provide 2 letters of recommendation from professors is it possible to have this requirement waived and have two letters submitted from professional references. I am applying for the MEAM program. Thanks!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:20

Brandon, we require this if you've been out of school for less than 5 years.

Maya

10:15

Hi Will. 1)What is the cutoff time for the November 15 deadline? 2) Can I send 3 references for the Data Science program? 4) My background is in engineering, and I was wondering if I should specify why I am switching to DS in my statement of purpose? 5) Also, in the UK, our grades are not on a GPA scale. Do I need to convert them or can I submit my transcript as-is?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:22

Maya, here are your answers:
1) 11:59PM EST on Nov 15
2) Yes, you may.
3) That would be a good thing to specify.
4) You do not need to convert them, just specify on your application that your program doesn't have a GPA. That is one of the options you can select.

Darren

10:17

If the Penn CIS MSE is course focused, how does research factor into admissions?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:23

It is focused, as there are multiple concentrations you can select from on the application. Research is one of the many facets included; we take a holistic approach to reviewing applications, so this is just one of all of the factors considered.

Shrihan

10:17

1. What are the chances of getting admit for early deadline vs regular deadline.
2. Does it mean if we are admitted to regular deadline we are definitely required to attend.
3. Can apply for early deadline without having my scores before nov 15.? I heard that we can edit the application once, so can I edit the application to reflect my scores on nov 26 when I will be taking the gre?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:24

Shrihan, here are answers to your questions:
1) Usually higher for the early deadline, because it is a smaller applicant pool
2) No, we do not require attendance if admitted. But we hope you come!
3) Your application cannot be considered without test scores, as they are required.

Chinmay

10:17

Hi will, I am interested in ML/AI. Where can I find the difference between the CIS program and the data science program in detail. If so, can you elaborate or provide any links, please. It would be a great help, thank you.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:25

Chinmay, you can find these differences on the program websites, as the overall course selection is broken down. Here is CIS: https://www.cis.upenn.edu/graduate/program-offerings/mse-in-cis/ and here is Data Science: https://dats.seas.upenn.edu/

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:19

Have you submitted your application?

Yes (4% | 1 vote)

Started it, but haven't submitted it (88% | 22 votes)

Not yet (8% | 2 votes)

I'm weighing all of my educational options (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 25

mounica

10:20

i am from india. My transcripts are in GPA 10 scale. should i convert them to GPA 4 scale

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:25

Mounica, you do not need to convert them.

Guest

10:20

Hi Will, I am applying to the MS Data Science program. I have a BS in Computer Science and have worked in industry for all my internships and since I graduated. I have been doing Data Engineering and Analytics for 2.5 years now and would like to enhance the data science part of my skills too. So, the program. However, I do not have any research experience. I wanted to know what can I do to prepare myself to combat the lack of research experience to make myself an ideal candidate.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:26

Guest, that is fine. We take a holistic approach to application review, so research, or lack-there-of, is only one aspect of many being taken into consideration. The fact that you have 2.5 years of professional experience could definitely offset that when compared to others that are fresh out of school.

Qiana

10:20

Hello Will, thank you for answering all the questions! I am applying to the data science program and would love to learn more about the thesis/practicum option associated with the master's degree. The website has listed many potential areas of specialization, and I am wondering if it is possible to conduct research on marketing analytics, for instance, in collaboration with the Marketing Department at Wharton. How are students typically assigned research projects, and what is the process for faculty sponsorship? Thank you!

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:27

Qiana, you can send an email to dats@seas.upenn.edu, as that is a more specific question than I am able to answer. As for scholarships or faculty sponsorships, we don't really offer those for master's students at this time.

George

10:20

Good morning Will,

10:22

I was wondering why there are two decision deadlines for MCIT early admission (i.e. the January and February dates)? What determines which date the decision is released on?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:28

George, this is being done at the request of faculty. They, and their departments, will determine when a decision is released on either Jan 15 or Feb 15.

Sohail Monga

10:22

hello

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