Switching departments within same school.

[gradgradgradddddd]

Using throwaway account. Basically, I'm wondering if many people do this and, most importantly, how to do this without burning bridges.

I applied and was accepted to Dept A under a more old-school field. I want to join Dept B, which is affiliated with Dept A because they're more radical and also align a bit better with my current interests.  My school encourages a lot of cross-contamination between departments, so I could very well just take classes in Dept B while staying in Dept A. 

Here are some important considerations:

- Both humanities departments.

- Dept B has a much better placement rate than Dept A

- I have full-funding from Dept A and probably would with Dept B too but when I spoke to the current chair, he said I would probably have to reapply.

- I don't want to throw off my progress too much (I'm only in my first semester) so I do want to make this decision quickly.

- The superstars in the field in Dept B are way more relevant to me than the ones in Dept A.

- The cohort in Dept B seems way more genial and radical than in Dept A, which frankly seems a little stuffy and conservative. 

- Dept A and B, while affiliated, also seem like they're at odds with each other (whispers of rancor and drama between faculty.)

I don't know. I feel a lot of guilt and anxiety... I got into this school from the wait list and my advisor in Dept A was also head of the admissions committee and I really feel like he took a chance on me. I really feel like I'd burn a lot of bridges if I left Dept A behind but I also really think I'd be a lot happier. 

Anyone have any advice or experience with this kind of thing? I've been stressing out so much about this for the past couple of months. Any perspective would be great appreciated. Thanks in advance! 

[TakeruK]

Typically, when you want to do this, you will certainly have to reapply to Department B and compete with all the new applicants for funding. Most departments do not just have random extra money, space, resources, etc. to take on an unexpected student. And even if they do have some (i.e. maybe the current class is smaller than usual), it's not fair for them to just allocate it to you---you would have to compete with students applying for Fall 2016. 

It sounds like your school does have a lot of "cross contamination" (I'd say it is "cross disciplinary" or "collaborative") between departments, which is pretty typical in my fields actually. Because of this, it does not sound like there is any advantage at all for you to officially switch to Dept B.

Have you considered formally being a student in Dept A but doing all of your research and courses (as much as you can) in Dept B? You can hang out with people in Dept B, network with superstars in Dept B, etc. At my school, this is totally possible---the only difference between you and a student in Dept B is that you would follow the course requirements, quals exam, candidacy exams and thesis defense formats of Dept A and your final degree will be from Dept A, not Dept B. However, we have students formally enrolled in the Chemistry program work with people in the Planetary Science dept to study chemistry of planetary systems. These students are basically only Chemistry students "on paper"---they work in the Planetary Science building with the rest of us, take elective classes with us, TA our courses, present at our student seminar series etc. It's only the formalities (exams etc.) that separate them from us.

[kaykaykay]

Using throwaway account. Basically, I'm wondering if many people do this and, most importantly, how to do this without burning bridges.

I applied and was accepted to Dept A under a more old-school field. I want to join Dept B, which is affiliated with Dept A because they're more radical and also align a bit better with my current interests.  My school encourages a lot of cross-contamination between departments, so I could very well just take classes in Dept B while staying in Dept A. 

Here are some important considerations:

- Both humanities departments.

- Dept B has a much better placement rate than Dept A

- I have full-funding from Dept A and probably would with Dept B too but when I spoke to the current chair, he said I would probably have to reapply.

- I don't want to throw off my progress too much (I'm only in my first semester) so I do want to make this decision quickly.

- The superstars in the field in Dept B are way more relevant to me than the ones in Dept A.

- The cohort in Dept B seems way more genial and radical than in Dept A, which frankly seems a little stuffy and conservative. 

- Dept A and B, while affiliated, also seem like they're at odds with each other (whispers of rancor and drama between faculty.)

I don't know. I feel a lot of guilt and anxiety... I got into this school from the wait list and my advisor in Dept A was also head of the admissions committee and I really feel like he took a chance on me. I really feel like I'd burn a lot of bridges if I left Dept A behind but I also really think I'd be a lot happier. 

Anyone have any advice or experience with this kind of thing? I've been stressing out so much about this for the past couple of months. Any perspective would be great appreciated. Thanks in advance! 

Is Dept B ranked over Dept A because you may run into problems if you are reapplying if it is more popular etc. Also who would give you recommendations? I would recommend looking into building a joint committee, doing a masters in the other field, taking classes etc. When you apply for jobs they will look at your dissertation committee more than the department you are coming from.

[gradgradgradddddd]

 

Have you considered formally being a student in Dept A but doing all of your research and courses (as much as you can) in Dept B? You can hang out with people in Dept B, network with superstars in Dept B, etc. At my school, this is totally possible---the only difference between you and a student in Dept B is that you would follow the course requirements, quals exam, candidacy exams and thesis defense formats of Dept A and your final degree will be from Dept A, not Dept B. However, we have students formally enrolled in the Chemistry program work with people in the Planetary Science dept to study chemistry of planetary systems. These students are basically only Chemistry students "on paper"---they work in the Planetary Science building with the rest of us, take elective classes with us, TA our courses, present at our student seminar series etc. It's only the formalities (exams etc.) that separate them from us.

I considered this and it would certainly be the easiest course. I wonder how Dept A would think about me as a student then if I'm just their student in name and don't actually engage or do much with them as a "community." That's kind of what I'm scared about in terms of bridge burning.

Is Dept B ranked over Dept A because you may run into problems if you are reapplying if it is more popular etc. Also who would give you recommendations? I would recommend looking into building a joint committee, doing a masters in the other field, taking classes etc. When you apply for jobs they will look at your dissertation committee more than the department you are coming from.

I wouldn't say it's ranked over... they're probably about equal although Dept B is much, much smaller so that might be a concern. Joint committee definitely sounds like something I'd want to do. Thanks for the tip off on that!

[rising_star]

I considered this and it would certainly be the easiest course. I wonder how Dept A would think about me as a student then if I'm just their student in name and don't actually engage or do much with them as a "community." That's kind of what I'm scared about in terms of bridge burning.

Why can't you just fake it in Department A? Go to the weekly seminar, do occasional social things, etc. Also, be open to the idea that the geniality and radicality of a department can change as new students come and others graduate. My own department went through a period of time where radicals and anarchists were in the majority, though at the beginning and end of my PhD that wasn't the case. You may find that the incoming cohort brings people who are more your type in Department A (and the inverse could be true about Department B). I would just keep this in mind and not write Department A off entirely. There's some reason you went there in the first place, after all.

[TakeruK]

I think rising_star has the best advice. Since it sounds like you can focus on Dept B for the academic needs, I'd stay a part of both communities for social needs, seminars, collegiality, etc. You can pick and choose the best parts each Dept has to offer.

[GradSchoolTruther]

What does "more radical" mean? Is that code for "telling it is?"

[gradgradgradddddd]

Why can't you just fake it in Department A? Go to the weekly seminar, do occasional social things, etc. Also, be open to the idea that the geniality and radicality of a department can change as new students come and others graduate. My own department went through a period of time where radicals and anarchists were in the majority, though at the beginning and end of my PhD that wasn't the case. You may find that the incoming cohort brings people who are more your type in Department A (and the inverse could be true about Department B). I would just keep this in mind and not write Department A off entirely. There's some reason you went there in the first place, after all.

Yes this does seem like the best course of action... but I'm just not sure how much I would offend either department by doing so. I might make myself an outsider in Dept A and then never-fully-integrate in Dept B and lose out on the benefits of both. I guess it's very school and department specific. I'll have to do some more research into the culture of it all...

What does "more radical" mean? Is that code for "telling it is?"

I mean it literally: Dept B is more invested in radical (leftist) politics in terms of content, form, and methodology. Dept A, much less so, if any. In fact, many of the more radical professors have jumped from Dept A to Dept B over the years... one that I'm working with currently is apparently trying to make the switch.