Quitting one PhD for another - help!!

[Sinthome]

Hi everyone,

 

I am thinking of quitting a Canadian PhD program in sociolog and applying to US PhD program in soci. I am thinking about top US schools: Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, etc.

 

Recently, I am feeling very disatisfied with my program, even though it is one of the best in Canada. Moreover, as an international student, I am also struggling with my scholarship. It simply is not enough, so I am REALLY struggling financially.

 

I decided to do GRE this year and apply to US school. But do you think me leaving my current program will raise red flags?

 

After two years of coursework in my PhD program, I am the top student, with A+ average. I completed my BA with summa cum laude and my MA with distinction, both in the EU. I have 4 years of research experience, and have received numerous research grants while I was working in a think-tank (prior to pursuing PhD). I will also have 3 or 4 publications in edited volumes by the end of the year (by top academic publishers).

 

I still haven't started working on my thesis. Currently, I am working on my comps.

 

Sooooo, what do you think? I really want to move and work in the US.

 

P.S. I am in my late 20s.

Edited February 6, 2013 by Sinthome

[JZappa]

I don't know for sure but I can't imagine it'd be too big of a deal. As long as you're very specific about why your current program isn't a good fit and why you think the programs you're applying to would be a better fit.

[khaled]

I don't know for sure but I can't imagine it'd be too big of a deal. As long as you're very specific about why your current program isn't a good fit and why you think the programs you're applying to would be a better fit.

It seems like a financial problem. 

 

I personally see no harm of moving to another school, and you do have a good reason to leave. Moreover, I believe that some of the courses that you took can be transferred so you will not have to repeat them. 

[lypiphera]

I am thinking of quitting a Canadian PhD program in sociolog and applying to US PhD program in soci. I am thinking about top US schools: Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, etc.

 

Recently, I am feeling very disatisfied with my program, even though it is one of the best in Canada. Moreover, as an international student, I am also struggling with my scholarship. It simply is not enough, so I am REALLY struggling financially.

 

I don't think it's a problem at all, BUT, I would think very carefully about what you write in your statement of purpose about why you are leaving.  You definitely want to mention it, since they will want to know why, and you want to be as diplomatic as possible.  Be sure you don't say overly negative things about the school, since that will come off the wrong way.  It's fine to say that you don't feel that you fit there, but avoid sounding like the school isn't good enough for you or that the program was terrible (not saying you would do that, just think about your words carefully).

 

Will you be able to get letters of recommendation from your current advisors/professors?  I think that will be an important factor.  If they write you a letter, it will be clear that you weren't leaving because you are a bad student or don't get along well with people or couldn't handle the program - instead it will be clear it just wasn't the right school for you after all.  If, however, your professors will not be writing letters of recommendation, it will be more important to talk about what made you leave, since it will look like you are not leaving on good terms with them.