acidrain

Hello. So I recently decided to master out of my PhD program by the end of summer 2018. I would like to enter different PhD programs which are more suited for me. However, I need to apply in the fall of 2018 for admission for fall 2019 and I would not like to waste a year. Is there any non traditional routes to getting into a PhD program while not applying during a traditional season? aka through professors, contacting departments, etc...? I have an NSF GRFP also so I think that may help...