Applying to PhD while studying Phd

[SkySamurai]

Greetings everyone:

I am a newbie in posting in the forum, eventhough I have been lurking for a long time, this year I am finallyt applying for a US University.

I have a ver curious situation that I would like to present to you and listen (or in this case read) your opinions.

I am currently in a full ride scholarship in Japan for my graduate studies (I am not Japanese), however I always have been amazed by the US education system and I am currently applying for a PhD Program in a top school, my field is Economics.

I have finished my Master here in Japan and was offered a slot to study my PhD here in Japan (I am currently in a top-3 university in Japan), however as I said I am applying for US universities. The punctual question that I have is: In my application for american universities, should I state that I am currently already accepted and studying a PhD? I have been thinking about this, and I do not want to be portratyed as a person that has no commitment to his school, at the same time the application process for the Japanese university that I am currently enrolled in (and just begun my PhD stduies in) has world-class standards of admissions so I think that it would be interesting to show that I have been accepted to this university, in any case I don't know how attractive of a candidate I would be if I disclose that I am already in a program.

The plan that I had was to keep the Japanese school as a safe option and apply to the American Universities, but because of reasons not relevant to the case, my application for the US universities was delayed and now I am starting the PhD program in the 2012 class in Japan but applying for the 2013 class in US universities.

Hope you can give me some advice, thanks in advance for your time and opinions

SkySamurai

[SkySamurai]

Hello guys, any ideas are welcome please!!!

[Chai_latte]

So, it looks like you're interested in transferring from one grad school to another. It just happens that your current grad school is an international one. I'm not an expert, but I think that would be fine. It's OK if the US schools know that you're a current student elsewhere. And if you explain your situation to your current professors, I don't see why you would have trouble getting letters of recommendation for American schools. Give it a shot.

[chaetzli]

It should not be a problem. I am also a phd student. You should just explain why you accepted the phd offer even though you wanted to go to the us. Furthermore, it is always good to have a recommendation from a prof at your current institution so this doesn't look like you've screwed up and want to change now.

Edited October 30, 2012 by swisschocolate

[moody]

The admissions committee will know that you're already in a PhD program because it will be stated on your transcript (which you are required to submit). In your SOP you should focus on why you want to attend the particular American university that you are applying too, and how attending that university will help you to extend the research that you have already begun in Japan (in the Master's program and now the PhD). This is not a problem, just be sure to avoid anything like "bashing" your current institution. Also, as swisschocolate mentions, make sure that you get a LOR from your current institution; not having a letter will look very bad (like you are doing poorly and trying to escape / like no one at your current institution will agree to write for you / etc.)