Ever wanted to transfer....schools?

[Phedre]

Hey all,

So... Last year I was on thegradcafe quite a lot, fretting and worrying about my app. And I actually got into my tied-for-#1 choice for grad school!

Lately, though, I can't tell if I've been having the transfer blues because I dislike my town, or if grad school is just different from undergrad and I need to get adjusted to not going out with friends or having the camaraderie of a dorm. I moved from the best city in the entire world to a tiny rural town and I am getting used to the absence of museums, concerts, and restaurants (not that my grad stipend woul have allowed that anyway.. hahah). My university appealed to me because of a professor in my particular field AND century, which is amazing, in addition to about nine other profs who focus on aspects of my work. The intellectual freedom is wonderful, the other students are mindblowingly awesome, and I've enjoyed writing and working on my research.

Basically, this is such a good fit for me that I feel loath to transfer to any other less-ideal place academically (i'd have to do a French PhD at other schools, and I firmly decided to myself that I wanted a Comparative Literature one). This was the main reason why I couldn't bring myself to write my applications. However, the more that I think about it: I will probably apply for French jobs anyway, and wouldn't it be better to actually have a French Ph.D and to be at a better location? At that point in my mental "think through" i start kicking myself for not having accepted an offer at Columbia-- I could have been in NYC!! Alas. My other small qualm is the prestige factor, which I should just get over, and I know I sound like a snob for saying this, but my current school is not as well respected as my undergrad institution, so sometimes I'm embarassed to tell others... which is horrible of me, but at least I'm admitting it to myself.

Alas, I made my decision and I think I'll be here at least for another two years-- even if I decide to send in apps, I would have to do it next cycle. But does this sound like grad blues to people, or a valid reason to consider transferring?

[coho]

the charms of a small town are indeed more subtle that, say, having the Met in your backyard . . .

[IvyHope]

I think lots of people transfer programs. I am currently in a doctoral program, and just applied to several other doctoral programs for two main reasons: funding and fit.

I entered the program from undergrad. It is a MA/Phd combined program, and I recently finished the MA program. I was guaranteed three years of funding with the implicit promise that additional funding would be relatively easy to find. That turned out to be inaccurate, and after this year I am out of funding. Additionally, I have found through the MA that my interests are not quite what my current program can offer me, so I figured I might as well apply to other programs this year and see if I get any better offers. If I do, great. If not, that's ok too. I can finish my PhD where I am now, it's just going to be tough to secure funding for the remaining years. I also will be somewhat of a pioneer in the school, since my interests are not exactly what the school offers.

My point is, I think this is something that happens more often than you realize.

[Phedre]

Yeah, I can't complain about funding or fit... but I can see how that would be a good reason to transfer! The best thing about a small town is that my grad stipend goes really far. I think it's just me second-guessing a lot of things in general, but also my old advisor told me that if I could find a similar school in terms of fit, it may be worth it to live for five years in a place that I really enjoy, as opposed to a tiny town. But maybe I'm just being indecisive, alas.

[Minnesotan]

I moved from an R1 in a gigantic city to an R1 in a tiny college town when I upgraded from MA- to PhD-candidate, and the adjustment was difficult a first. The thing is, I keep asking myself where I would find the time to spend an hour each way on the subway to while away the evening at the newest Ethiopian restaurant downtown, like I could do once in a while as an MA student. The answer is, most days I'm lucky to have time for food that doesn't carry the option of being super-sized. I don't get days off to visit museums. I can't afford opera tickets. Basically, there are few amenities I really, truly require, considering I have no time to do much with the responsibilities I have to my school, my students, and my significant other.

I guess, to me, there are more important concerns than the availability of good sushi. Fit, funding, cost of living, library quality, program atmosphere, student culture. I find that, when I do have time, it's best spent immresing myself in the college town culture, which did not seem apparent to me at first, either. I go to readings for books by scholars in competely different fields, I attend a goodly amount of public lectures, and I malinger at coffee shops and used book stores. I always end up seeing a colleague, or meeting a friend of a professor, or their dog walker.

It's all connected in the college town. And, while it may not be the same culture as Giant City, or the culture might not be apparent at first, there is a culture if you're willing to seek it out.

**I tell you this story because I would hate to see someone give up a good fit, an acceptable funding package, and quality advising because they were homesick, or they didn't like shopping at IGA instead of specialty grocers. If you can't live somewhere, you can't live somewhere -- do what you need to do. But I would think twice before giving up guaranteed funding in this economy.

[coho]

first of all, shout out to Phedre, whose posts from last year I've appreciated (I've gone through much the same predicament re. languages this year).

I read this essay about the importance of a city's "vibe" awhile ago. It made me want to switch cities. :http://www.paulgraham.com/cities.html

Another thing you might consider investigating, however, is how easy it would be to convince your new favorite program that you want to go there after all because its "in the city."

Do schools play lovers' revenge when you re-apply if you don't pick them the first time round? I've heard one story that seemed to indicate this to be true.

[Phedre]

Haha that's true... Thanks Coho for the article, and let me know what you decide re: French or English! It's always the toughest call...where are your top choices?

I guess I didn't pick certain programs (+ or - city) for a REASON, and I have to keep those reasons in mind (weird profs, teaching requirements, poor funding etc) My main reason for reapplying would be that I didn't really have a good gameplan and I was all over the place with interdisciplinary programs (Modern though & language, rhetoric, etc) when I should have applied to those same awesomely-located schools for LIT programs, because that's basically what I do... literature. That said, it's taken me a semester's worth of grad school classes to realize that, so I couldn't have made the same decision last year!

In any case, I think I'm going to stick with my school for now, it's too late anyway (thanks guys for the advice!) and I'm developing more languages along the way while considering the benefits of a purely French Ph.D. I figure if I have to switch after two years, at least I'll either 1) know for sure if I want a French Ph.D or not, in which case I'll be able to indulge in a better city for a similar program or 2) be more competitive for other complit programs or 3) totally fall in love with my program-- everyone at my school loves the town and the school... and unanimously I've heard the first year is the hardest. Who knows... but you're right, a nice funding package, great placement, a nice school and good profs are hard to complain about (good advice Minnesotan-- thanks).

maybe the small town will force me to power through and finish QUICKLY!

[Minnesotan]

Haha! Another benefit of the small town: there's nothing else to do, so completion rates are higher. =)

[rising_star]

Phedre,

I don't really like where I'm living right now for my PhD and I don't have a sense of camaraderie like I did in my MA program. I even left behind my boyfriend to move, which certainly doesn't endear me to the new city and program. That said, I am there to work with an amazing advisor, who decided to work with me when people are clamoring to work with him. So, I throw myself into my research. I save money so I can take trips to visit my friends that all live 2000 miles from me. Personally, I've made the decision that I'll only leave if I can't get funding (university budget situation where no one knows what will happen). If I don't have funding, I have three programs in mind for a transfer (which would happen really late in the game).

I would say try to give it another semester just to see if you like it more. Try and get out and explore things. Do your best to meet people, within your program and beyond it. You have to try before throwing in the towel, especially if it's the right academic fit for you.