Switching schools (starting over, not transferring...)

[francomeri28]

Hi all,

 

I have started a PhD program in France. However, I would like to apply to US schools for the 2014 cycle because once I started at my current school, I realized that faculty and program structure in the US would far better suit my academic interests. 

 

Note that I would not necessarily want to transfer any credit, i.e. I would be ready to start over in the US (from year 1).  

 

My questions are:

 

1. All else equal, do I stand a weaker chance of admission because I am already enrolled in a doctoral program?  

Some schools say in their FAQ that they "rarely take transfer students" - would such a position apply to me at all since I am not intending to transfer credits from my current program?

 

2. How positive should I be about having already started in a program? Should I proactively mention that I did some introductory coursework in my current program that would be useful for my prospective research? Or should I be rather defensive about this and mention my current program as rarely as possible in my application documents? 

 

It would be great to get your stance on my questions. Thanks a lot. 

Edited June 24, 2013 by francomeri28

[Penelope Higgins]

In my experience, being enrolled in a European graduate program won't hurt you in the admissions process and it may help. Schools will treat you as a regular applicant rather than as a potential transfer student. To the extent that you can both explain why you're applying to US schools and explain what you have gotten out of the program you are currently in, the experience of being enrolled in a PhD program should help your application.

Having letters from faculty in the program that can attest to your ability to do graduate level work will help as well, especially if those faculty are known quantities here in the US. You may, of course, have reasons not to seek those letters if you're worried that faculty in France will be upset that you are leaving. You'll need to figure out whether you can ask your current professors for letters based on your relationship with them.

[PoliSwede]

It is my understanding that in general people who have been in graduate school (either a PhD-program or a MA) should highlight that that in their application to a PhD program. It signals that the student knows what graduate school is about, that they've (hopefully!) started to develop a research agenda, know that they actually want a PhD, etc.

 

As a transfer student I'd point out that you have experience from graduate school, but I would also say something about why you are applying to this other program. Is it because of fit and research interests? Job prospects? Personal issues? And so forth.