Transferring PoliSci PhD Programs

[B.Arnold]

I'm enjoying my current institution and the grad school experience, which I am grateful for. However, my research interests really don't match up with any of the faculty. I am soliciting any advice for transferring.

Going from a #40-49 range school to a range of schools, all ranked better. (thinking: maryland, ucla)

660V, 730Q

undergrad GPA 3.8

Do I need letters of rec from my current institution (not sure how/if I should do that. Will my old letter writers suffice?)? Transcripts from current institution (will only be 1 semester/quarter in by time of submission)?

How do I petition to get this year's credits transferred? Do I do that before the school year is finished? Do I tell my current school after the school year is finished? etc.

Thanks,

B. Arnold

Edited September 30, 2010 by B.Arnold

[adaptations]

I am not exactly sure how best to go about this, but I definitely think it would be a smoother process, and you would be more likely to get into another program if you have faculty at your current institution in the loop and writing at least some of your LORs. If you really don't have good faculty mentors for your specific research interests, your current professors should also recognize this and be willing/able to assist you in transferring to program better suited to your interests. That said, they must have felt they could provide good mentoring, or else they wouldn't have admitted you. So I would definitely tread softly. You should probably discuss this with a professor you feel comfortable with.

Also if you don't tell anyone at your institution, I would not be surprised if one of the schools you were applying to contacted your current school during the review process. This, of course, would not be a good way for your current institution to find out about your desire to leave.

I will be curious if anyone who has actually done this can weigh in, but those are my thoughts.

[BrunoPuntzJones]

No simple answer to this...Attitudes regarding transfers vary from institution to institution and amongst different faculty. Where I'm at, graduate student transfers are pretty common and there don't seem to be much by way of hard feelings (though generally it's during the second year). Assuming you have a good relationship with the grad director (which isn't always the case), I'd keep them in the loop after explaining why you're looking elsewhere. I don't think you need to worry about letters from your current institution...But there is a good/excellent chance faculty there will be contacted.

[tlala]

I did this essentially for the same reasons. I had a fairly good case though, as most people would agree that my old school is not very good in what I would like to do. As far as I know nobody cared to bother to contact my old school , and I also only told them after I accepted my new school*s offer. I got recommedations from the same people from whom I got in the first round. I honestly revealed my situation for these profs, so they could address it in their LORs. (actually first I asked their opinion on my situation , so they were the ones who sort of suggested me to transfer) As said before they also knew that I was not a good fit in my old school.

Transfers seem to happen quite often although I had the impression that noone would support it if they felt that you only want to do it to move to a better ranked school. Honestly you have a better chance to make a lateral move. Also I cannot transfer credits (theoretically yes practically not really). My new school sort of said that they accepted me because they can teach me what I could not study at my old institution so they expect me to study wat they have to teach.

Good luck!