Switching clinical PhD programs

[shouldiswitch]

Hi everyone, I’m a second year clinical PhD student and would really appreciate some advice.

 

During my application cycle, I was accepted into Program A and Program B and ended up picking Program A after struggling for weeks to make a decision. I was less excited about the research, coursework, and PI at Program A, but I picked it because I preferred the location and stipend. I’ve regretted the decision ever since then and I’m strongly considering reapplying to Program B this cycle. 

 

I want to leave my program primarily because I feel unsupported by my PI and no other faculty member has similar research interests. I knew going in that my PI is very hands off, but I naively thought that it would be a good fit. It’s not. Starting grad school during COVID has been hard, I need more guidance, and I haven’t made much research progress this past year (though some of that has also been due to COVID). Additionally, I’m very interested in a specialization that I won’t be able to pursue in this program until internship. Program B, on the other hand, has a track for my specialization of interest, my research interests align very well with the PI who I’d be working for, and the PI is very friendly, approachable, and hands on. I’m confident that I would do well in that program; I’ve done very well and gotten a lot of research done (at least compared to now) when I’ve had hands-on mentors/PIs in the past.

 

If I stay in Program A, I’ll be able to have a career in my area of interest eventually, but I don’t know if I’ll even be able to complete my thesis (let alone dissertation!) because I need more guidance than what my PI provides. I feel very lost and multiple students of this PI have left the lab or program for similar reasons.

 

I have some concerns about reapplying. My understanding is that attempting to leave one PhD program for another is a pretty big red flag to admissions committees for a variety of reasons, especially considering my lack of research progress. My PI also isn’t too happy with my progress, so I doubt I’d get a positive letter of rec, which would most likely get my application thrown out. I also don’t want to burn any bridges with my PI or labmates, especially if I don’t get in to Program B if I do reapply.

 

Should I tough it out in this program, attempt to get research guidance from other folks (senior grad students most likely), and wait for internship or postdoc to do the work I’m interested in? Or should I reapply to Program B, attempt to convince the admissions committee that I’ll do well in their program despite struggling in this one, have that awkward conversation with my PI, and start my training over (if accepted to Program B a second time)? Or should I do something else? Any suggestions for talking about this to a PI? I’d appreciate any input, I’ve been struggling with this for over a year.

[Clinapp2017]

First of all, sorry to hear about all of this! Dealing with the challenges of a PhD is hard enough, much more during a pandemic!

 

Is there an option to work with a different mentor or get a co-mentor in your current program? I would fully explore that option first. Also, have you talked to your DCT about all of this? 

 

Leaving is possible (I know someone who did it and got in somewhere else) but there are a lot of factors to consider. This person had to entirely re-start her PhD despite being 2 years in the program she left. She also had no guarantees of getting in anywhere else and she certainly burned a big bridge... there was a very valid reason, but not ideal.

[shouldiswitch]

4 hours ago, Clinapp2017 said:

First of all, sorry to hear about all of this! Dealing with the challenges of a PhD is hard enough, much more during a pandemic!

 

Is there an option to work with a different mentor or get a co-mentor in your current program? I would fully explore that option first. Also, have you talked to your DCT about all of this? 

 

Leaving is possible (I know someone who did it and got in somewhere else) but there are a lot of factors to consider. This person had to entirely re-start her PhD despite being 2 years in the program she left. She also had no guarantees of getting in anywhere else and she certainly burned a big bridge... there was a very valid reason, but not ideal.

Thanks for the kind words. I haven’t talked to my DCT or any faculty at my program about this yet; I’m still weighing my options and don’t want to talk to faculty about this until I’m more decided. I could potentially switch labs and work with someone else, but my PI is the only one in the program who researches what I’m broadly interested in.

 

It’s reassuring to know that she got into another program, though restarting entirely must have been tough. Can you tell me whether she was able to get into another PhD program, or did she go another route (such as master’s or PsyD)? Or whether she switched from one program to another, or had to take time off in between programs? I talked to one of my old bosses about this and they said I’d be able to justify switching programs to admissions committees more easily if I was applying to a different type of program altogether (PsyD rather than PhD, for example), but I really want to stay in a PhD program.

[Clinapp2017]

I think it was PsyD -> PhD but I am not sure. This person was at a program most would classify as a "diploma mill" for PsyDs and realized it only after a year in the program b/c these particular programs are often very deceptive in their admissions processes. 

 

I would at least voice your concerns to your DCT now, even if not saying you are going to leave yet. It is good to work within programs in the event you have to start entirely over at a new program. Also, I would be sure not to discount that the entirety of your training has happened during the pandemic, which creates stress all around.