Changing graduate schools

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi everybody,</p>

<p>I am kind of killing myself with an issue, so I thought I could perhaps share it with you all and get some opinions about it.</p>

<p>So, I am an international student, and I have just graduated from a top college in my country. Last year I've had research experiences in two schools in the U.S.: first MIT, and then UPenn. </p>

<p>Then, I have applied to a some universities in Europe and U.S. for graduate school, being accepted in about half of them. In the US, specifically, I got accepted in UPenn, since I already knew some people there and since I believe I did a good job while I was there. Unfortunately, I wasn't accepted at MIT, which was by far my first choice - and the school of my dreams as an engineer - although I was told by some professors there that I had good chances.</p>

<p>It turned out that I accepted my offer from Penn, since it I thought it was a good school anyway. However, I didn't know a lot about the american educational system, and I am figuring out how hard (if not impossible) is to change grad schools once you start it. I definitely didn't know that, and now I feel kind of regretful that I won't be able to go to MIT anymore, which was my dream. I always thought that I could later change schools, but I can see how hard it can be.</p>

<p>Maybe I should have rejected my offer from Penn and went for a masters in Europe, and then tried MIT again. Or maybe I should have just rejected Penn and waited for an year or so, trying MIT again on the next year. The point is that, now I don't know what to do anymore. And I feel more and more that MIT is so much better than Penn, and that by graduating at Penn, my chances to go for a Postdoc or a professorship at MIT will be incredibly small.</p>

<p>So I found this forum and I am wondering if someone ever had a similar experience. What should I do in this situation? Or, maybe better, is there anything to do? Or should I just accept Penn and do the whole 5 years of grad school there?</p>

<p>Thanks for any advice!</p>

2

<p>You need to accept this. Let it go. Penn is still excellent and well respected. You will have an opportunity to do a post-doc at MIT so work your butt off at Penn so you can win one of those.</p>

<p>My warning is this about leaving Penn and switching to MIT for no particular good reason other than specific research interests- you will evidently burn bridges by leaving those professors who have given their time to work with you to become a future colleague. MIT professors may go either way. </p>

<p>You knew how difficult it was to get into MIT and you got very lucky to get into Penn.</p>

<p>Also, you will experience this time and time again throughout graduate school- The green looks greener on the other side of the fence. Those who dare to climb will usually find disappointment (unless you’re just looking to escape to the real world!). If you have a lot of things going for you at Penn, your dreams of MIT will start to fade.</p>

3

<p>Watch switching schools. Academia can be a close knit community depending on the professors. I would just get my degree from UPenn and try to work at MIT later if I were you. If UPenn has the research you want, then just write some great papers there and when you get your degree you’ll be in good hands to go anywhere you want ;).</p>

4

<p>If you want to switch grad programs, you need a really compelling reason - to be close to sick relatives, to follow your advisor to his new school, etc. Otherwise you are just saying “open season on my reputation!!” Think of it this way - what MIT professor is going to want a student who bailed on their last school and advisor without a great reason?</p>

5

<p>Perhaps my little story will be of use: Coming from my experience when I applied to colleges as a high schooler - I didn’t get into my first choice school (which is super duper competitive to get into) and I ended up having so many doubts before starting at the school I ultimately choose (a great school too, but just not “my first choice”). Like you, I thought, well, I just will transfer if I don’t like it (you can transfer during UG much more easily than grad). After the first year - I loved my school and had no desire to transfer. My guess is that once you start, MIT will loose some of it’s “it just looks so much better to me” feeling. You probably will still really love MIT too (so work really hard to get a postdoc there), but perhaps you will learn to like Penn even more once it becomes “your school.”</p>

6

<p>Thanks a lot for your replies, folks.</p>

<p>I guess you are all right. This idea of “having to go to MIT” is driving me crazy, and I have to forget it once for all.
Maybe I should just focus on excelling at Penn, and then, perhaps, I can still go to another top place for my postdoc.</p>

<p>After all, Penn is not a bad school, right? =D</p>

7

<p>There’s no rule that you have to get your doctorate at the same place from which you got your master’s degree. People switch colleges after a master’s degree all the time. I think people thought you meant switching from the master’s program at Penn to a master’s program at MIT.</p>

8

<p>I believe the OP is talking about switching PhD programs. Maybe he/she should clarify.</p>

9

<p>Think of it this way–you are so fortunate to get an opportunity to be a part of a group of elite schools and once you are in, its just a matter of playing your cards right and getting to know and work with the best professors in the field and making valuable relationships with them who will help you get to your next career step (whether to help you land the postdoc at MIT, etc.) Not many students get this kind of chance and you are already ahead of the ladder by getting into an elite school in the first place. </p>

<p>These top schools are very much connected and have close relationships. I was reading online that if you are at any of the Ivys and top schools (including, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Berkeley)-you can actually do exchange programs or even take classes if you want at these schools without going through a rigorous admissions process…so you can actually build your skillset by making connections and collaborating with others who are the best in your field!! </p>

<p>My story is kind of similar too–I went to a state school (top 50 but not so much recognized in my field) and after two years of work experience in my field, I was in the position to apply and get into some of the best schools that I would have never dreamed of going to when I was in undergrad. </p>

<p>I will be starting my Ph.D. program at Penn this fall and I am so grateful to my undergrad professors and my work mentors who helped me get where I am today.</p>

10

<p>Thanks, guys!</p>

<p>Just to clarify the question above: I’m talking about changing schools during PhD, not masters.</p>

11

<p>It’s extremely unusual to switch Phd programs. Sometimes if a PI moves to another institution and a student is already an important part of the research, the PI might negotiate to bring the student along. The exception, however, is rare. In general, academia does not make it easy or even likely for students to switch PhD programs, especially when it comes to the top programs.</p>

<p>As others have pointed out, MIT is a possibility for a post-doc or collaborative work. You won’t have a degree from MIT, but you’ll see that it won’t matter–provided that your research is top notch. Penn is an excellent institution.</p>