PhD Applicants' Frequently Asked Questions

1. If you have questions about your submitted application...
2. When will my application be reviewed ?
3. How will I know whether I'll be invited for a visit?
4. If you are invited for a visit...
5. What can I expect financially, if I am admitted into your program?
6. How is the program structured? What are curriculum and tracks requirements?

POST APPLICATION FAQ AND PROGRAM-RELATED QUESTIONS

1. Unfortunately due to both the number of applications and inquiries that we receive, as well as confidentiality issues connected with student records, we can not respond to individual inquiries regarding received application materials.
2. Instead, we suggest that students keep tabs on the completion of their application file through the online tracking system.

3. If you believe that materials for your application were sent but they are not stated as "received", we suggest that you do the following:
1. Make sure that your information was sent to the correct address. This information is available on our website.
2. Keep checking the status of your materials. Due to the number of materials that we receive both electronically and in paper form, the receipt of your materials may appear be slightly delayed.
3. On an average, receipt and logging of your application may take up to one week. If more than one week has passed since you are certain that your materials were received, please email an inquiry to email engstats@seas.upenn.edu to report the problem.

1. All applications will be reviewed between December 15 and January 15.
2. The top tier candidates (approximately top 15% of applications) will be invited for interviews, which will be held in late February and March 2009.
3. Although not all of our invited applicants will be offered fellowships, a high percentage (~ 75%) of these visitors are offered admission to our doctoral program.
4. Only in the rarest cases (most often students living abroad) are students admitted without attending a scheduled visit.
5. So that our applicants who are not admitted can make the most educated decisions possible regarding their graduate careers, we plan to notify the majority of rejected students by March 1, 2009.

1. Of over 250 applicants last year, sixty students were invited to interview and offers of admission were made to 25 applicants for the Fall 2008.
2. Applicants who are selected for interview will be explicitly notified both by email and surface mail. Invitations will be issued between January and February 2009 for visits in late February and March 2009. If you do not hear from us by February 15, 2009, we can not be encouraging.

1. Why have I been invited?
1. Penn Bioengineering entertains prospective graduate students by invitation only.
2. Your are among our top tier of applicants.
3. Offers of admission are very seldom made to students who do not interview at Penn.
4. An integral part of our philosophy of graduate education involves the early mentor match, which allows the student to begin research in his or her first semester of our program. As a result, we offer admission only to those students who have "matched" with one of more mentors, as a result of their interviews.
2. Visits are scheduled for weekends in February and March 2009.
   The selected dates for this season's visits will be determined soon.
3. The duration of our interviews are three days (Thursday -Saturday).
4. All invitation, date selection, travel arrangement, etc. will originate from and be conducted through the Department of Bioengineering academic office.
5. How should I select a date?
1. The invitation to interview will include "exception" dates for recruiting faculty, which applicants must consider when selecting a visit date.
2. Recruiting weekends must be evenly attended, so once the available space for a particular date is filled, students must attend a "second choice" interview weekend. Consequently, we strongly encourage those invited to respond to Kathleen Venit as quickly as possible upon receiving an invitation to interview.
3. Second "return" visits will not be considered, so we advise applicants to choose their visit dates early and to choose wisely.
6. Will I have to pay for my visit?
1. Our program covers the costs of travel to and from Philadelphia as well as meals and lodging during your visit.
2. All arrangements are made under the supervision of the Graduate Coordinator, Kathleen Venit, in the Department of Bioengineering, and information about visit specifics is supplied with the invitation to attend the recruitment visit.
3. Unauthorized requests for reimbursement will not be honored.
7. What is a typical visit like?  Sample Itinerary, 3-day visit

5. What can I expect financially, if I am admitted into your program?

1. The package offered for academic year 2008-2009 was $27,000 stipend, plus full tuition and healthcare coverage.
2. All of our students offered admission are also offered full funding for their first year, with the anticipation that this funding will continue for the duration of the student's education at Penn.

1. Components of the program

• Degree Requirements
• Research at Penn BE
• The Qualifying Exam
• The Research Proposal
• The Dissertation
• Transfer Credit

 

2. What is the average length of study until graduation?

1. Though the duration of study varies from student to student, our average is five years, including summer study.
2. This period is roughly split between research (70%) and coursework (30%), with a minimum course requirement of 20 c.u. and a maximum of 40 cu.
3. One cu (course unit) equals one one-semester course at the graduate level.

Department of Bioengineering
School of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Pennsylvania
210 S. 33rd Street
Room 240 Skirkanich Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone No.: (215) 898-8501
Fax No.: (215) 573-2071
beoffice@seas.upenn.edu

Send Comments and Suggestions to:
beweb@seas.upenn.edu