Advice on switching PhD program after a dumb decision

[eratanz]

I'm going to risk sounding like kind of a jerk here, but could use some advice.

I did something pretty stupid when I was applying to PhD programs last year, which was not really thinking through what I wanted to do. I applied to pure science programs, and on a whim, to one related engineering program as a quasi-safety. After visits were done, I absolutely loved the engineering program (and was put off by the "pure" programs) and was kicking myself for not looking at other engineering programs.

I accepted the offer. I am now at a good school (a top 20 engineering school, with my department ranked somewhat lower depending on who you ask). Here's the part where I'm going to sound like a jerk: I am much better prepared/experienced than my cohort, and that's really not the situation I wanted to be in. I want to be surrounded by people who are much smarter than me because that's when I do my best work. They're great people, but I honestly feel a little out of place. I think, if I had applied to other programs, I could have gotten into a really top-notch school. It also turns out the guy whose work I am most interested in is extremely difficult to work for (he has 1 student left right now- the others bailed on him).

My question is this: Could I drop down to getting a masters at this school, and then reapply to PhD programs in 2 years? Are there any serious drawbacks to this (other than losing some funding)? I'd really like to know if someone here has done something similar, or knows someone who has.

[SymmetryOfImperfection]

Let me put it this way: my undergrad institution is top 30 in sciences, and most of my classmates weren't that smart. One guy seriously didn't know the units for velocity was meters/second... as a 4th year chemical engineering major. He just doesn't care about units for some reason and he actually passed his classes.

My grad institution has a rank of N/A and my classmates are kicking my ass.

There's little correlation between how good your school is and how good your cohort is.

If you're really just THAT good, then couldn't you graduate early with 3+ publications and straight As?

If not, then appreciate getting into such a good school (and know that it will be a hassle to try elsewhere).

[fuzzylogician]

"Not prepared" and "not smart enough" are two very different things. If the problem is not with your colleagues' abilities but rather with their current state of knowledge, that will likely sort itself out before the year is out. But if you think that you're not going to get the stimulus you need to push you to do your best work, that is another issue. Without knowing which one is the problem, I'd say that if leaving the school with a Masters is an existing option in your program, then you could use it. Be strategic - you want to maintain good relations with the professors in your program since you'll need LORs from them, but there should be a way to make this work. However, since I assume the Masters program is two years long, I'd highly recommend doing your best to make the program you're in work, and only decide on a course of action towards the summer. At that time you'll have a much better sense of your fit in the program.

[eratanz]

Thanks for the advice so far. I'll phrase my question in a different way- do you think it's better to be a top student at a decent school, or a decent student at a top school?

[SymmetryOfImperfection]

Lets put it this way:

I'd rather be an early graduating straight A 3 pub student at UCLA, than a B- 1 pub 7th year at Harvard.

[pheonixx]

I kind of feel the same way. I had interviews at some of the best psychology programs in the country but ended up as a first alternate at many of them. So close, yet so far.

I accepted at a decent program, not my top choice by any means, but a program that really, really wanted me. I decided to make the best of things and hit the ground running. I've been here for a month and I'm on track to get three pubs out this year. It might not be a top school but I'm going to use my time effectively and be as productive as possible so I can get a great internship, post doc, etc. I guess I'd rather be a top student at a decent school than get lost in the mix.

[kaykaykay]

I think the quality of the professors and the cohort matters. It depends on your personality though. I am a race horse and I just sleep if there is no competition(so strangely I am a good student in a good place and bad in a bad place). For these reasons I transferred and it was a great decision. This said, often there is not much difference between top universities. Also you may have to restart your entire study when you move to a different place. If you are really sure that this is the right way for you : go for it. Be sure though that you actually like the universities you apply the second time , and not just because they are ranked higher.