Questions about transferring from a Biostat to a Stat PhD program

[possibletransfer?]

Does anyone have any experience with transferring from a Biostatistics to a Statistics PhD program? I finished my first year at a top 3 Biostat PhD program earlier this year (i.e. one of Harvard, Johns Hopkins, or Washington), and I'm finding out that while I really enjoyed the statistics that I've learned, I don't want to be limited to biostatistical applications/methodology for the rest of my career. In particular, I want to focus more on theory and other topics more common in a Statistics program (such as ML, high dim data, etc.), which will hopefully make me more marketable for a wider range of companies/industries that may not be biologically-oriented. If I really wanted to transfer, I would need to apply this year (i.e. during my second year into my program before I get my Masters degree), since I think waiting for my third year would be too late, as I would then already be a PhD candidate at my current institution. 

I know that many people have said that programs aren't really a fan of you leaving a doctoral program for another one, since they've already given you year(s) of funding just for you to leave them, so that's what I'm mainly worried about. I did pretty well during my first year of my program (almost a 4.0 GPA, some research done with a established professor, one publication), but I'm wary of asking current professors for a letter of recommendation, since they might not appreciate my trying to leave the program.

Has anyone gone through the process of transferring to a different program, and how did you navigate this process? Will other universities not look kindly on my trying to switch into a Statistics PhD program? What programs should I aim for if I do decide to transfer (for instance, would it be feasible to apply for the Statistics PhD program at my own university)? For more context, my undergrad GPA was between 3.7 and 3.8 from a non-HYP Ivy, and I think my GRE scores won't be a problem either, except that I haven't taken the Math GRE subject test.

Edited August 8, 2017 by possibletransfer?

[abstract_art]

Have you tried talking to some people in your department/ in the stats department at your school? I wouldn't think it'd be that hard to work with a prof in your stats department even if the two departments aren't super well connected (I'm guessing there have been students in the past at your program who've been in a similar situation). It doesn't seem like your reason for transferring is super compelling given that you can find a ton of graduates from biostats programs going to non bio/public health/medicine related positions post grad, and plenty of stats professors that have phds in biostats (and there are professors at all of the top 3 biostats departments working on ML/high dimensional stats/other traditional and theoretical stats problems).

[possibletransfer?]

@marmle I haven't really talked to anyone in my department about this because I don't want them to know that I'm thinking about transferring until I'm sure that I am going to. As for your other points, I'm thinking about transferring because I want to take more theoretical and upper-level math classes, which the department won't accept for the degree requirements even after petitioning. While I enjoyed my first year at my program, I don't think I'm a good fit with its goals and focuses, and I'd really like to make the switch to statistics or something more math-oriented. 

[cyberwulf]

While transferring out of a top-level program isn't common, I don't see any reason why top stat programs wouldn't give your application serious consideration. This is one of the rare circumstances that the statement of purpose is really important; you want to be very clear about why you are transferring (and it sounds like you have good reasons to write about). Also, I would strongly recommend that you get at least one letter writer from your current program, and ask them to mention that you are leaving while "in good standing"; i.e., you aren't abandoning ship because you failed a qualifying exam, were caught plagiarizing a paper, etc. Basically, you want your advisor to say that they're really disappointed to see you go because you had a lot of potential.

[possibletransfer?]

Thanks for the advice @cyberwulf! I will be sure to keep it in mind if I end up trying to transfer. I guess my other question is, if I do apply to transfer, and either I get rejected from all the programs I apply to or I decide that I actually wish to stay in my current program, would there be any tension between me and the faculty at my current program? I'm trying to do it as graciously as possible, but I'm afraid that some of the people in my program (my adviser in particular, who is funding me with his grant) might take offense if I try to leave. 

Edited September 4, 2017 by possibletransfer?

[cyberwulf]

On 9/3/2017 at 9:30 PM, possibletransfer? said:

If I do apply to transfer, and either I get rejected from all the programs I apply to or I decide that I actually wish to stay in my current program, would there be any tension between me and the faculty at my current program? I'm trying to do it as graciously as possible, but I'm afraid that some of the people in my program (my adviser in particular, who is funding me with his grant) might take offense if I try to leave. 

I don't think there's any way to avoid the awkwardness of sticking around in a program after it becomes known that you've tried to leave. I would recommend that you only apply to transfer if you are committed to leaving your current program, which may even entail a step down in prestige level to find a program which is a better fit for you.