Switching App from Funded MA to PhD?

[egg-bean-crumpet]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me. I'm applying to history Ph.D. programs, and decided to also apply to one funded MA program (that also has a PhD program). However, when I contacted profs at the MA school, they let me know that they give precedence to applicants interested in the PhD. Since I'm ultimately interested in pursuing a Ph.D., just not at this school, I'm wondering if I should just make it clear in my SOP that my goal is to complete doctoral work, or if I should attempt to switch my application from MA to PhD. My main reason for applying to the MA school is that my current research interests are focused on the city in which the MA school is located, but I would like to earn a Ph.D. at a school with a stronger national reputation. My recommenders have already submitted their letters to this school in support of my application to the MA program, so the main barrier to switching my target degree on the application would be logistical.

Hope this makes sense. My instinct is to tactfully ask a professor at the MA school with whom I am in contact for his assessment, in order to just let him know what the deal is (i.e. leave off any mention of the school's reputation and indicate that I'm now considering the benefits of staying at MA school for doctoral work). I suspect that the school is just looking for serious students who are actually interested in putting in the time and effort that a graduate program requires, as opposed to those who are just seeking to spend another couple of years in school for the heck of it, so my problem hopefully won't be all that significant.

[TMP]

No, it should not be a problem. Talk to the DGS. Tell him/her that you've just decided that you would like to try for the PhD as you are truly serious about it and you have changed your mind since you last talked to your LOR writers. You want to go for it and mention a few reasons why it'd be a good move (archives, etc). But also ask if it's possible to apply to both or, should you not be admitted into the PhD program, could you also be considered for the MA, at least?

You always have the option of switching to another PhD program if the program itself is a MA/PhD program, not direct PhD.

[egg-bean-crumpet]

No, it should not be a problem. Talk to the DGS. Tell him/her that you've just decided that you would like to try for the PhD as you are truly serious about it and you have changed your mind since you last talked to your LOR writers. You want to go for it and mention a few reasons why it'd be a good move (archives, etc). But also ask if it's possible to apply to both or, should you not be admitted into the PhD program, could you also be considered for the MA, at least?

You always have the option of switching to another PhD program if the program itself is a MA/PhD program, not direct PhD.

This is good advice, thank you very much!