transferring after 1 year

[eco_env]

I was accepted to grad school for this fall, with 9 month TAships to support me most years, but I'm not so sure about summer funding- so far it doesn't look like I'll get any. So, I've been thinking about applying to other graduate programs. will it reflect badly on me that I'm applying to other grad programs when I'm just starting my first year in another program? Even if I can stretch my 9 month TAships into the summer (which I don't think I can), it doesn't seem reasonable to do summer research without getting an RAship to cover it (maybe I can manage to get my own grant to cover it, but I can't count on that).

[juilletmercredi]

It's not unreasonable, but it's going to be...well. I mean, it's your decision about whether to go or stay, but personally I think funding and program fit should be considered together when deciding whether or not to attend a program that has accepted you.

Inadequate funding is definitely a valid reason for transferring/going to a different program. But yes, I do think that some professors will look upon you oddly for applying to transfer when you are scarcely three months into a graduate program. They will know that you have to had made the decision before you even went to the school, and they are going to wonder why you decided to go if you knew you were going to transfer out. Personally speaking, I would think a student who did that just couldn't find anything else to do in between the time he finished college and went to his ideal program, and I would be skeptical about that student's seriousness about graduate work.

I think you might be able to explain around that, but you should at least check with your grad program FIRST to be sure that there's no summer funding. I know in my program, certain fellowships give you summer funding and others don't. Most students find something to do though.

[kaykaykay]

it is possible to transfer in your first year. but I would actually look around the university first if it is only for financial reasons.often there are RAships for summer, check how other students in your program survive.

I mean you should have negotiated before accepting the offer if you liked the place, that is what will be on everyone's mind. (adcomms as well as professors at this place)

[ZeeMore21]

I agree with the last post...you definitely should have read the financial package closely before committing to your current program, there shouldn't have been any surprises. I do agree with the other posters here that transferring would be possible, but members of your department might look at your transfer negatively and you may be in danger of damaging your reputation. However, if you really can't afford to stick with your current program then I do understand the need to transfer. Just remember to pay attention to your financial package if you get into another program next year...you really don't want to be in this situation again. It is a waste of your time and the department's.

Edited August 5, 2011 by ZeeMore21

[eco_env]

I guess I'm too trusting- they didn't put the summer RA in writing, but my advisor made it sound like s/he would have summer funding for me, but is now the funding situation sounds more iffy. I guess I'm better off waiting and seeing if I can work something out, funding-wise. I just felt like I've done a lot since I submitted my application (and accepted the offer) and learned a lot from my failures last application season, which tempted me to give it another shot to get in somewhere with a better reputation and location.

[Sparky]

What degree is this for?

It's not unheard of to transfer between an M* and a PhD (especially, to my knowledge, in the sciences). If you try to ditch out your first year, however, it will look like exactly what it is--I think I'm too good for you. Remember, you'll need LORs from the faculty at your current school in order to explain to your prospective new schools why you need to "transfer" (aka start over, as grad credits don't always transfer. And "but they don't give me summer funding" is not a good reason for a world where hiring often depends on one's ability to pursue and win grants independently). Will you really have built up the necessary relationships by November? Do you think profs will be able to tell that your real motive is that you think you're too good for them?

If it's a combined M*/PhD program, try sticking it out at least through the master's.

Edited August 5, 2011 by Sparky

[eco_env]

What degree is this for?

It's not unheard of to transfer between an M* and a PhD (especially, to my knowledge, in the sciences). If you try to ditch out your first year, however, it will look like exactly what it is--I think I'm too good for you. Remember, you'll need LORs from the faculty at your current school in order to explain to your prospective new schools why you need to "transfer" (aka start over, as grad credits don't always transfer. And "but they don't give me summer funding" is not a good reason for a world where hiring often depends on one's ability to pursue and win grants independently). Will you really have built up the necessary relationships by November? Do you think profs will be able to tell that your real motive is that you think you're too good for them?

If it's a combined M*/PhD program, try sticking it out at least through the master's.

It's a PhD. Maybe one option is to try to get a Master's and then leave, if I find that I'm unhappy with it. Or withdraw now before the semester starts- but I don't know if I'll find any good research jobs that will help me get into another school.

[ZeeMore21]

It's a PhD. Maybe one option is to try to get a Master's and then leave, if I find that I'm unhappy with it. Or withdraw now before the semester starts- but I don't know if I'll find any good research jobs that will help me get into another school.

Finishing up a MA and then leaving could be a possibility, though you would want to make sure that you would even be able to obtain an MA....there are some doctoral programs that don't grant one, and if that was the case, you would drop out with no degree.

[runonsentence]

While I know it's stressful to have things so up in the air, I know that at my department "fortune favors the brave" with summer funding. That is, while summer funding is primarily teaching, available through formal application and awarded to PhD students, I was able to scrape up some summer research money this summer (between my MA and PhD) because (a) I asked for it a few times and ( my mentor has my back.

The number one thing I've learned in grad school is that it never, never, never hurts to ask about something. Especially when it involves you finding money to live on. Even if you think (or are dead sure) that the answer is no: if you ask in a polite way, the worst that they can say is...no.

The second bit of wisdom that I've picked up: find a faculty member who will go to bat for you on stuff like this. Faculty excited about a student is how many friends of mine successfully negotiated for more money, scraped up summer work, and scored really awesome teaching opportunities.

You might consider sticking through your new program the first year, to see if you can scrape up some summer funding after all. Ask around. Ask directly. Find faculty to back you up or lobby on your behalf. You never know what will happen. Then, IF you have trouble with summer funding and decide you absolutely can't afford to stay for the rest of your degree, you'll have more credibility when approaching faculty for transfer LoRs.

Edited August 5, 2011 by runonsentence

[eco_env]

While I know it's stressful to have things so up in the air, I know that at my department "fortune favors the brave" with summer funding. That is, while summer funding is primarily teaching, available through formal application and awarded to PhD students, I was able to scrape up some summer research money this summer (between my MA and PhD) because (a) I asked for it a few times and ( my mentor has my back.

The number one thing I've learned in grad school is that it never, never, never hurts to ask about something. Especially when it involves you finding money to live on. Even if you think (or are dead sure) that the answer is no: if you ask in a polite way, the worst that they can say is...no.

The second bit of wisdom that I've picked up: find a faculty member who will go to bat for you on stuff like this. Faculty excited about a student is how many friends of mine successfully negotiated for more money, scraped up summer work, and scored really awesome teaching opportunities.

You might consider sticking through your new program the first year, to see if you can scrape up some summer funding after all. Ask around. Ask directly. Find faculty to back you up or lobby on your behalf. You never know what will happen. Then, IF you have trouble with summer funding and decide you absolutely can't afford to stay for the rest of your degree, you'll have more credibility when approaching faculty for transfer LoRs.

I think it's up to my advisor to provide me with summer funding for research (if I don't manage to get my own)- the department just provides teaching assistantships. This allows me to do more independent research, maybe along with some work for my advisor that is related to my work. But- I'm still not really sure how funding in the sciences generally works. Any scientists out there that can provide advice?

[Sparky]

I can't help with the funding, but about the degree thing--some programs which don't usually (or publicly) offer a terminal master's degree, will often grant an exiting student the degree if whatever requirements (finished with coursework, 2nd year research project, etc) have been met. It's usually for students who leave for another program b/c their interests developed in a different direction, or who leave to accompany their advisor when s/he gets a job elsewhere. So that's at least something to consider.

[rising_star]

eco_env, I think you're being premature here. My program funds people on a 9 month basis. If you budget, you can make that money last for 12 months. I successfully funded my own predissertation fieldwork by winning several small grants that paid for my expenses (and, btw, these might be higher than yours since my research site is not in the USA). Instead of just saying it's impossible to survive on a 9 month stipend, try to find out what other graduate students in your program (or on this site) do. As it stands, you just seem a bit whiny to me and not all that committed to the program you chose. If you're having second thoughts that severe, then defer your admission or just don't go.