Brad Miller Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 (edited) So I plan to start my grad program in the sciences this fall. However, I am already considering transferring for two reasons. First, it is not a top-10 school, but rather a top-15. Second, the school admits by research group so I'm limited to doing research in only two areas. My interests have changed since I submitted the application, as I am now leaning toward research areas that this school won't let me get into. Has anyone here transferred to a higher ranked school in the sciences after coming from a program in the top-15? In particular to a top-10 school? The only thing I can think of that will improve my app, such that I can get into a top-10 after failing to do so in this years admissions, is to get A's in 2 grad-level courses this fall. Also, maybe improving my GRE scores. Edited May 14, 2011 by Brad Miller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante311 Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 (edited) Hey OP, Personally I wouldn't address your issue in this manner. I could understand if you were transferring from Bunker Hill Comm. College to a more notable University you could perceive it as an "upgrade". Forgive me if I'm understanding you wrong, but I would believe you should see it as transferring from one prestigious graduate program to another. It shouldn't matter where you receive your education (unless it's IVY); it should be the quality there of and your ability to immerse yourself into it and emerge "victorious" by earning the Masters Regalia or Doctoral Hood... the degrees... the education... I entered into my Undergraduate Honors thesis with Mindset A/Scope of Interest A (M/SI)... upon completion of my UGrad, I found my M/SI A shifted a bit towards the molecular mechanisms of Insulin Resistance... to M/SI B. My Advisor was intrigued by my interest and believed I had the capability ... welcomed me into his lab for a graduate program. I was excited. It was truly amazing how M/SI B became the product of my devotion, but my ideas were not producible given our facilities. Mind you, our graduate program is #3 in the US according to a number of well-known rankings. My M/SI B, as I continued research and helping in the lab, began to shift again. M/SI C came along... giving me my MS Thesis, 5 publications (3 abstracts/posters sessions/presentations) in well known journals/conferences. Now, I'm going from an MS in a respected field and graduate program... to hopefully a PhD in an adjacent field, but very similar in respects to my masters thesis. Do not dissuade yourself from entering your graduate program. There was already an intent to pursue something, no? Go with that notion. Some of the best ideas come from failure. One of my favorite movie quotes is from Nicolas Cage's character in 'National Treasure'. When asked how many times he failed to invent the light bulb, Thomas Edison responded, "I didn't fail, I found 2,000 ways how not to make a light bulb; I only need to find one way to make it work". You sir have an opportunity most don't even try/apply for... or earn/get the opportunity to be a part of. Top 10... Top 15.... Top 100. Who cares? (Again, unless IVY)... you are in a known graduate program. Take advantage of that. You're obviously intelligent, creative, disciplined, determined, motivated, and capable of thinking outside the paradigm. Whereincase, most aren't. Use this to your advantage and do something great. We chose academia not for the name of the school, but because we have a passion for this business in a more narrow scope. Yes, research/development is anything but linear, but once you learn to sum up your research interest in under 3 sentences... you're in the right direction. Good luck, Dante Edited May 14, 2011 by Dante311 Eigen, rising_star and Dante311 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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