has anyone succesfully transferred to another phd program?

[coastazure]

I have searched some articles on the forum and it seems people don't encourage those in dilemma to transfer.

I am just a first semester phd student and i really regret my choice, mainly because of the gap of research interest of my advisor and i. (it is a long story why I would have come here. it is also impossible to change the advisor.) so I am thinking to transfer but it looks difficult.

Can anyone share with me his/her experience? Is it okay to contact those schools which I rejectted their offers last spring? What is the best reason to transfer (somepeople told me family is the best excuse but i am poorly single.) My area is a small circle so I am also worried about being blacklisted.

thanks for your opinions.

[History_Nerd]

I wish I could offer you more - but I've heard of this happening before. If your advisor is well known, and he or she sees that there isn't a fit there - they may offer to contact faculty at others schools to help you transfer. Beyond that - I don't know what to tell you. Hopefully someone else knows more.

[judicial]

I might be able to offer some personal advice that might be helpful. But, I've heard I was a special case from some other students, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt.

After applying to ten schools, I had five offers from programs with far different reputation--some top-5, and some top-10/15. Eventually, I accepted an offer from a top-15 program, because they also were willing to make some accommodations for my fiance, whose also applied to the same school, but different program.

I began to have doubts right away (and even searched this forum for some recommendations or advice), but I thought I was locked in. Then, after the first week of classes, I emailed a prof. at one of the top-5 schools I was originally accepted to about the prospects of transferring next fall. He responded immediately, saying I could enroll this year (with my original funding offer) if I wished. I only needed a release from the institution I was enrolled in at the time. Luckily, the top-5 school began classes a little later in the year, so I could move down without missing classes. Plus, the top-15 program wasn't really interested if I was enrolled or not (attrition was pretty common there), and my faculty advisors was in full support of me transferring: there were just too many reasons not to stay, like job prospects, research resources, and becoming apart of a cohort. So, we packed up and left.

Generally, I think it all depends on the insitution, program, and what kind of work you've done in the past. I think the school I "transferred" to has taken on plenty of transfer students from other universities in the past. For example, there were a surprising number of transfers attending the recruitment trip and at least four in my cohort. However, I'm not sure if I could point to any charateristics about this program that would lend it to be more disposed to accepting transfer students. If I could venture a guess, it would stem from its status as a large R-1 university, where my program stands as one of the flagship programs here, giving them a larger budget in respect to other programs at other universities. But, that's just a guess.

I DO know of a few transfers students at other schools as well. They usually came from less well-known programs and had fairly strong academic credentials, suggesting that if you do well this semester and apply again it's possible to get into one of the programs you applied to the first time or another program all together.

Judging from my personal experiences, I don't think it would hurt to re-contact the director of graduate studies or particular faculty member (or both) at one of the schools you were accepted to earlier this year. But, I would suggest that you do it sooner, rather than later. As for being blacklisted, I think it's a realistic possibility, but, ultimately, it's up to you. If your work is good and academic record strong, that's going to say far more about you as a professional than an episode like this.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me if you would like more details.

bests,

J.

[Sonny]

Wow! This thread is pretty helpful.

I am on my first year (Ph.D.) and am toying with the idea of transferring. I came here in the US (yes, I am an international student) on a grant that cost-shared with my current university (my current university offered to cover around 95% of the total cost that the grant would have incurred). Ideally, the Department should have an expert in my field but I found out that he just retired and I am left with working with someone who tangentially deals with my topic. Furthermore, the Department does not offer basic and advanced graduate courses in my field of interest anymore. Now, I kinda feel like a "frozen delight."

My grant gave me several options and one of which is to transfer. Is transferring an unusual case? Is transferring treated similarly with applying for admissions? In my case, I was told (by the commission administering my grant) that if I want to transfer, I have to secure funding (in the form of TA-ship or RA-ship) from my prospective Department. In a sense, the main thing that I get from my grant is the prestige of the name and support it extended in getting visa and other related matter.

If I intend to go transfer by Fall 2007, is it too late now to look for contacts?