letstrythiswinston

People do transfer Ph.D. programs sometimes. It isn't common, but it happens -- I know a girl who successfully went through that process in Chemistry. I think the key is that you have solid reasons for the transfer. I wouldn't emphasize the subpar nature of your current program in your applications though, but things like the lack of funding to do the work you want to do and the fact that your current advisor supports the transfer.
I'm not familiar with how this process works though -- would you have to withdraw from your current program to apply to new ones, or could you continue working and doing research where you are until you obtain a new position? You don't want to cut yourself off from research you're currently involved in when it'll help you be successful later. 

UIUC rejected me too. I actually haven't heard that they offered anyone anything, which surprised me a bit because I know a few other qualified people who applied. I'm curious about how many slots they had available this year and whether it's one of those programs that likes to take students from their existing masters students. Not that it really matters at this point. 

Each person has their own goals, motivations, resources, and priorities!
Personally, if I was in this situation, I would never take an unfunded terminal Masters. My thought is that there aren't any post-PhD career paths that would be worth an unfunded graduate degree (at any level). So even if the unfunded Masters led to a great PhD program, there's nothing beyond that which would make up for the unfunded Masters. But this is my opinion based on what I value/prioritize.
So, if the okay PhD program will still allow me to accomplish my career goals, I'd consider that. If I was not happy with any funded PhD offers then I would either take a different career path that doesn't require a PhD or apply for funded PhD programs again in a future year. 
When I applied to PhD programs, I aimed high and only applied to programs that I would be excited about and led to good career prospects. My reasoning was that I wouldn't want to attend an okay PhD program like you described---I would rather not be in grad school / academia at all. 

It would be complete anarchy without fees though. Every department would be inundated with even more applications. Think about that time sink. 
 
Talking about anarchy. I propose a "trial by combat" option to replace the GRE. 

Every school, "We consider all applicants holistically, we do not have any cutoffs for GRE scores....but........ successful candidates usually have xyz. Also unofficial scores will not be accepted"
Translation, "We believe that a highschool level test with nonsense questions that is timed in a cold computer room that won't allow snacks will help us decide if you're prepared for graduate level work even though you're literally already sending us a cumulative record of all your college classes, a writing sample you spent months on, a personal statement that you crafted, and letters from professionals vouching for you...but yeah, we'd like you to spend another $200 + $27 for that numeric score"
 

I love Boston  My sister lives there so I get to visit pretty regularly. Did you meet any other Quant people there last year? One of my advisors has offed to put me in contact with some quant people she knows who are going this year. I'm super excited about that. 
I had no idea what quant was until early 2017. I'd always been drawn to data analysis, statistics, and measurement and all of my independent projects have centered around those themes but I had no idea you could actually get a Ph.D. in quant until I started working with a new faculty member. And then things just took off  

Boston was great! It was actually what got me interested in quantitative psychology.

Yep! I enjoyed it a lot last year, so I think this year'll be pretty fun  

Howdy y'all,
I just got an invite to UCLA for their Quantitative Psychology program.
Check your e-mails!

I don't know how this works in other departments, but I can tell you that in mine they only offer two interview slots to the terminal masters students. I don't think that's something they say on their website. This year a ton of masters students applied to the Ph.D. program and it was basically a bloodbath. Anyways, I wouldn't necessarily see the presence of a terminal masters program as negative. 
I don't think we ever really know why we don't get in. But here's a story I want to share from a PI I've worked with. 
There was a clinical program he loved and he applied the first time and didn't get in. Next round of applications he applied and didn't get in -- but he got into an experimental Ph.D. program and went there. He completed that Ph.D. After that he still had an interest in clinical work and applied again to that original clinical program -- and didn't get in. Even with a Ph.D. and years of research experience and multiple publications. But he applied again the next year and finally got in. He went and now he has two Ph.D.s. 
I think the point is that persistence is the name of the game here. The application process is crazy and a lot of it doesn't make sense. You could be amazingly qualified and still not get in. It isn't necessarily something negative about you. There are things we can all do to improve but that is always going to be true. 
So.... if I don't get in this time around I'll probably cry for a couple of weeks straight and then force myself to get back to work. Then I'll apply again next year with more experience... and show them that there's nothing they can do to make me give up on this. 

I don't know how this works in other departments, but I can tell you that in mine they only offer two interview slots to the terminal masters students. I don't think that's something they say on their website. This year a ton of masters students applied to the Ph.D. program and it was basically a bloodbath. Anyways, I wouldn't necessarily see the presence of a terminal masters program as negative. 
I don't think we ever really know why we don't get in. But here's a story I want to share from a PI I've worked with. 
There was a clinical program he loved and he applied the first time and didn't get in. Next round of applications he applied and didn't get in -- but he got into an experimental Ph.D. program and went there. He completed that Ph.D. After that he still had an interest in clinical work and applied again to that original clinical program -- and didn't get in. Even with a Ph.D. and years of research experience and multiple publications. But he applied again the next year and finally got in. He went and now he has two Ph.D.s. 
I think the point is that persistence is the name of the game here. The application process is crazy and a lot of it doesn't make sense. You could be amazingly qualified and still not get in. It isn't necessarily something negative about you. There are things we can all do to improve but that is always going to be true. 
So.... if I don't get in this time around I'll probably cry for a couple of weeks straight and then force myself to get back to work. Then I'll apply again next year with more experience... and show them that there's nothing they can do to make me give up on this. 

I don't know how this works in other departments, but I can tell you that in mine they only offer two interview slots to the terminal masters students. I don't think that's something they say on their website. This year a ton of masters students applied to the Ph.D. program and it was basically a bloodbath. Anyways, I wouldn't necessarily see the presence of a terminal masters program as negative. 
I don't think we ever really know why we don't get in. But here's a story I want to share from a PI I've worked with. 
There was a clinical program he loved and he applied the first time and didn't get in. Next round of applications he applied and didn't get in -- but he got into an experimental Ph.D. program and went there. He completed that Ph.D. After that he still had an interest in clinical work and applied again to that original clinical program -- and didn't get in. Even with a Ph.D. and years of research experience and multiple publications. But he applied again the next year and finally got in. He went and now he has two Ph.D.s. 
I think the point is that persistence is the name of the game here. The application process is crazy and a lot of it doesn't make sense. You could be amazingly qualified and still not get in. It isn't necessarily something negative about you. There are things we can all do to improve but that is always going to be true. 
So.... if I don't get in this time around I'll probably cry for a couple of weeks straight and then force myself to get back to work. Then I'll apply again next year with more experience... and show them that there's nothing they can do to make me give up on this.