How do admissions committees evaluate PhD transfer students?

[offthewall]

How do admissions committees evaluate PhD transfer students? My current program really isn't as good of a fit I thought it would be. 

I'd love to transfer out to a different program, but how is it perceived by other programs? Should I wait a whole year before applying (meaning I'll start at the new school during my third year)? Or should I start applying during this round (that way I start at the new school, if I get in of course, during my second year)?

[GreenEyedTrombonist]

This is a tough one. Are you switching research foci as well? Moving into a different field? Are you having serious enough issues at your current program that it is causing problems with your physical or mental health? How well known is your current program/faculty within your program?

The short answer is to not burn bridges unless you have to. The long answer is that, if I'm reading your post right, you are in your first year and have really just started. Why do you think it isn't a good fit? Perhaps the issues you are having now are more about getting used to being in the doctoral program, rather than inherent issues with your fit in the program. If you are staying in the same field, you are probably going to hurt your career if you leave the program after one year (without truly justified reasons for doing so). If this program is really not the best fit for you (but is not causing you mental, emotional, or physical harm) master out of it and then apply to other programs. 

[fuzzylogician]

The best way to leave a program is with their support. If the problem is with fit, as in there is no one to advise your research since it's evolved since you entered the program, ideally that's something that you can describe in your SOP and that at least one LOR writer can attest to. A corollary of this: it will be much better for your case if you have at least one LOR from your new program. Another corollary: it's good if you have good grades and some work to show for your time in your current program. You want to be able to tell a positive story about making the most of your time in your current program that leads up to something like "my program is not equipped to support these new directions that my research has taken, and therefore, with the support of my advisors, I have chosen to apply to Awesome U." (Awesome U is awesome and can support these interests, as I'll discuss at length.)

If you just started your program a couple of weeks (a month?) ago, there's a good chance that adcoms might worry that you haven't given it program a fair shot. Or that you aren't actually focused, since you went through the entire application process last year and ended up in a program that couldn't support your interests. Either way, that presents a risk for a program that you might drop out again, hence wasting time and resources that could go to someone else who'll use them better. These aren't insurmountable problems, but they are potential red flags that you'll need to address through your SOP and LORs. 

[offthewall]

Thank you so much for the input @GreenEyedTrombonist and @fuzzylogician. You guys have given me a lot to think about and you both make such good points

For now, I think I'll continue to work on my application kit etc. But I'll hold off on submitting anything until I really think this through (though I feel like my heart is set. I'll wait to see if anything changes until then.)

I may end up waiting this out for a year. If things are still the same by then, I'll take it as a sign and follow through with the apps.

I've spoken to a number of faculty members at my previous university, but from them, I've also received conflicting advice. I only wish I could speak to someone who had gone through a transfer.