Transfer

[seasonal]

I know it's probably too early to talk about transferring to another PhD program right now, since many of us have not yet decided where to go. But, this might help you in the decision making process too. My advisor keeps telling me that if I decided to go to a not as good program as I expected, I should think about transferring to another school after my first year. But I feel like you plan to betray people, because the program funds you, but after 1 year you move on to another one. What do you guys think about this?

[waddle]

But I feel like you plan to betray people, because the program funds you, but after 1 year you move on to another one.

This. It's a good way to burn bridges.Not that there's anything good about burning bridges.

Edited March 5, 2011 by waddle

[communications13]

It seems counter intuitive to go into a program already thinking about transfering, not only is it frustrating to your teachers, but your fellow students who will rely on you for help and support

[ZeChocMoose]

I know it's probably too early to talk about transferring to another PhD program right now, since many of us have not yet decided where to go. But, this might help you in the decision making process too. My advisor keeps telling me that if I decided to go to a not as good program as I expected, I should think about transferring to another school after my first year. But I feel like you plan to betray people, because the program funds you, but after 1 year you move on to another one. What do you guys think about this?

I am surprised that your advisor said that to you. I don't think transferring is recommended for a lot of different reasons. In that situation, you would have to apply to transfer in the first couple months of being in your program. I don't see how you would really assess that the program is a bad fit in that short amount of time unless something drastic happens (i.e. lost of funding, your POI leaves, your department is cut, etc.) The other complications would be who to ask for LORs and how to explain why you transferring so that it sounds reasonable and legitimate to the adcom. Since graduate classes don't tend to transfer, you'll probably lose a year.

Are you sure your advisor wasn't suggesting to enter a PhD program and if you didn't like it to leave with your master's and apply somewhere else for your PhD? That would make more sense and is more common.

Edited March 5, 2011 by ZeChocMoose