Apps. for graduate program go on-line

Expansion of Web services is possible For the past several years, prospective students could learn about almost every aspect of the University over the Internet. Starting last week, those applying to the University's Biomedical doctoral program could take that interaction one step further -- submitting their applications over the World Wide Web. The University is using the Biomedical program as a pilot program to determine whether to expand the concept of electronic applications to other Penn schools and programs. Several universities have started to make their applications available over the Web, according to Information Systems and Computing Application Architect Jim Choate. But Choate noted that Penn's program is the first to allow the applicants to "complete [the application] in sections." This innovation enables the prospective student to work on his application, save it and return to it an unlimited number of times before actually submitting the final draft to the University, according to Choate. Other colleges' electronic formats force students to do the entire application in one sitting. Vice Provost for Graduate Education Janice Madden said the new application process has advantages for both the University and the applicants. Madden pointed out that students will no longer have to search for typewriters, and both sides will save on mailing costs. Biomedical Graduate Studies Associate Director Judy Jackson added that the electronic application will avoid paperwork and data processing for her own department. The site will also allow the applicant to "check the status of the application on line," Jackson said. Students can find out whether the other parts of their application have been received, such as recommendations, transcripts, personal statements and payment, which are still being done via regular mail. According to Madden, security reasons prohibit those sections from being completed over the Internet. But Choate further added that those establishing the electronic application did not "want to pilot everything under the sun." Madden explained that the Biomedical doctoral program was chosen because the office had the necessary staff and a willingness to work with the computer programmers. She added that she hopes the pilot program will eventually expand, first to other graduate programs and then possibly to other parts of the University. The future "depends on what we learn [and] how people use [the application]." Jackson said the Biomedical Department will continue to work with ISC by providing feedback from her office, the individual graduate groups within the department and the applicants. According to Madden, individual graduate admissions departments will have to establish a certain standard within their databases before any expansion will be seriously considered. The application's Web site can be accessed through various links, including the Penn homepage ("http://www.upenn.edu") via the Graduate Research Programs section of the Prospective Students site.