JotCast | Prospective Graduate Student Chat, Nov 7, 2019

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Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:53

Hi Eric.

Shrihan

10:49

Sir,
So you tell me that applying for early deadline indicating that I haven't taken the tests is better than "made up" scores even if I reach those scores? If yes, then what is the significance of applying now as you told in the previous answer that the review wouldn't begin until I submit my scores?
What do you suggest I do?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:54

Shrihan, you can submit your application, but it won't be reviewed until we receive the official scores. That is our requirement.

10:55

It is clear on our website that we require all materials to be submitted for the application to be considered complete. https://gradadm.seas.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/

Ria

10:50

Hi Will, I am interested in applying for the CGGT masters program. I took computer graphics as an elective in college, and have done a project with my professor in the area. However, after graduation, I took a job in the IT industry, and have 3 years of work experience, which is not a related field. I have not much research experience, apart from the project work. Could you please let me know if this would make my application weok as compared to other candidates who would be applying?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:55

Ria, I can't say, as we don't offer assessments prior to submitting the application. However, I can tell you that it is not a research-based program, so not having a great deal of research experience shouldn't hinder you from applying.

Chinmay

10:50

Will, thanks for answers, it great you share details of MS program too, and i apply for both, will my application be reviewed separately?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:56

Chinmay, yes it would be reviewed separately, as they are different programs.

Linghao

10:51

Hi will, I will take my gre test on 11.12. Does UPENN need to receive my score before 11.15? Since it will take some time to get the official scores

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:57

Linghao, you should include the unofficial scores you receive at the end of the exam on your application. We can begin the review based on these, if the rest of your application is also complete. However, you should also have the official scores sent, so we can review them to make sure they match.

Darren

10:51

What was the admissions rate for the Data Science MSE last year?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:57

Darren, it was approx 9% last year.

Sohail Monga

10:51

Does applying to two separate programs (for eg. CIS and MCIT) influence one's decision? Like, do admissions committee reject an applicant from the other program if they have been accepted to one of the two programs applied?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:58

Sohail, not it does not usually influence the decision.

Chinmay

10:51

Details of acceptance rate for MS CIS program*

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:58

Chinmay, we accepted approx 13% of 1298 applicants last year.

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:52

Have you been to UPenn or Philadelphia?

Yes, I live here (5.3% | 1 vote)

Yes, both (26.3% | 5 votes)

Philadelphia, but not UPenn (5.3% | 1 vote)

The US, but not Philadelphia (31.6% | 6 votes)

I've never been to the US (31.6% | 6 votes)

Total Votes: 19

Yiyang

10:52

Cool. Thank you! Can I ask what’s the recommended length and format for personal statement?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:59

Yiyang, we recommend no more than 2 pages, and you can write it based on answering the following question: 1) Why are you interested in the program? 2) What have you done that makes you a great candidate? 3) What do you hope to do when you are in the program? 4) What will you do/accomplish once you have completed the program?

Eric

10:52

Hi Will, I wonder if the MCIT program will welcome those interested in a research career and hope to use tools from CS? Also, can MCIT students be transferred to Computer Graphics and Game Technology Program at some point?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:59

Eric, yes to both questions.

Ria

10:53

Also, continuing from my question above, I am interested in making this switch to follow my area of interest. Should I be mentioning this in my statement of purpose? Is there anything else I can do to strengthen my application?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

10:59

Ria, yes, that is a good thing to include. You can craft it to answer these questions: 1) Why are you interested in the program? 2) What have you done that makes you a great candidate? 3) What do you hope to do when you are in the program? 4) What will you do/accomplish once you have completed the program?.

Apoorva

10:54

Hello Will, What is the acceptance rate for The MS Biotechnology program?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:00

Apoorva, hello. Last year we admitted approx 45% of 191 applicants.

mounica

10:54

thank you for answering all my questions

Shrihan

10:54

Of the 1299 applicants to the CIS/MSE program and
169 candidates admitted, what's the approx % breakdown of those admitted on the priority deadline and the regular deadline

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:01

Shrihan, approx 10% were admitted from the early deadline

Ria

10:54

Would also like to ask if the CGGT masters program has rolling admissions?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:02

Ria, nope. Only our PhD programs.

Flora

10:56

Just curious: Can graduate student apply to on-campus housing?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:02

Flora, yes, we do have one grad student building, and you can also apply to be a graduate assistant in the undergrad buildings. I did this as a grad student and it was a very rewarding experience.

Prateek Sahay

10:57

Hello again Will,

Ah, thank you for clarifying that -- Robo is the program I'm interested in. Can you also please confirm that a joint degree in MBA/Robo is possible? If so, how common is this? E.g. how many students did this last year? And how many years would it take to complete?

Thank you again,
Prateek

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:03

Prateek, it is possible, but I don't know how many students did this last year, or really ever. We don't keep track, as each school admits students separately. Unless someone tells us they're doing it, we don't know.

Shrihan

10:57

As I don't have my scores now and I'm considering to apply before NOV 15, what should I enter in the fields when it asks me for scores of GRE / TOEFL

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:04

Shrihan, I'm sorry, but I don't know how I can be more clear. If you haven't taken the exams, you need to indicate that. And your application will not be considered for the Nov 15 early deadline, as your application will not be complete, as it doesn't have the required exam scores.

Yiyang

10:57

Another question is that if I’m applying to the MSE in cis program, can I still mention the professors whose research I am interested in in my personal statement even if I’m not applying to PhD?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:04

Yiyang, yes, that is fine.

John

10:57

Hello Will, thanks for answering my question above (regarding dual-degree of MCIT and DATS/SCMP) I had another question regarding the same topic. In the FAQ section (https://dats.seas.upenn.edu/faqs/#unique-identifier), it says that [UPenn] "strongly discourage[s] students from pursuing double majors in [Data Science and MCIT and Data Science and CIS] due to the large overlap between the programs." How is this fact reconcilable with the fact that I can pursue a dual-degree in MCIT and SCMP/DATS? Is SCMP/DATS a different program than MS in Data Science?

Will Fenton, Asst Dir

11:06

John, you can pursue a double master's with any two of our master's programs. They're saying they discourage it because usually one does 2 master's so that they are mastering two subjects. In this case, and you can look at the suggested course listings as they're laid out on each program page, the courses have relatively similar course requirements, so you're not expanding your knowledge that greatly.

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