Transferring Between Related Departments in The Same Grad School?

[omoplata]

Hey Guys,

 

I'll probably catch fire for asking a question as ignorant as this, but here goes.

 

I am heavily wavering between neuroscience and genetics to go deeper into for grad school. I applied primarily to neuroscience programs this time around with a dabbling of umbrella biology programs because my undergrad background was more neuroscience. It happens that I've been rejected from most of the neuroscience programs I've applied to while all the umbrella places I applied to have reached out with interview requests -- maybe adcoms detected that I was conflicted. 

 

Anyway, if I choose to go to a school that accepted me for neuroscience, would it be possible for me to later switch into the bio program? Or would I be expected to reapply all over again?

 

Thanks. 

[rising_star]

It would depend on the specific schools. You would probably have to apply again, like someone applying to start in the bio program in the first place. And, your credits may not all transfer. My experience has been that only 9 units (3 courses) could count toward the new degree if you were to transfer. Given that, your best bet is probably to go into a bio program if that's where your interests lie.

[omoplata]

Okay, this segues to another next question -- 

would I be better off going into one of the weaker bio programs I got into (given that there are PIs I want to work with in these "weaker programs"), or would I be better off reapplying to more umbrella bio programs next year, given that I may be risking some time of unemployment as my current tech position may lose its funding?  

Edited January 8, 2015 by omoplata

[rising_star]

Not quite sure I understand the question. What do you mean by "weaker"? Do you mean lower ranked? Worse placement for graduates? Weaker fit for you? If the fit and funding are good, and you're okay with where your PIs place their graduates, then that matters more than the official program ranking in a lot of ways.