<p>I'm a grad student currently enrolled in a PhD program and I hold a fellowship that allows me to study without paying. But I'm not quite satisfied with the challenges I'm facing here and I'm wondering if it's possible to apply to another schools while I'm studying here. Then, if accepted, drop the program and attend to the new school.</p>
<p>I'm not even sure if I want to do it, I'm asking it more like a general question because honestly I think it would be too much of a hassle.</p>
<p>Is there any advice you can give me on this? Because also I wouldn't go to other place that doesn't give me a scholarship, and I don't know how safe is to try something like that while I'm already attending to grad school.</p>
<p>I don’t really know but I doubt another school would give you a scholarship when you are already in a scholarship program. As a school I would ask if that person would be loyal to me after switching…</p>
<p>Fellowships aren’t just given to grad students because the university likes to teach people; they expect you to do research and such to make it worth their while. So it would probably be a very bad idea to do this.</p>
<p>I agree with amarkov, that it’s a bad idea to do what you’re proposing.</p>
<p>Ethics and fellowship aside it is extremely difficult to transfer at the graduate student level – especially the PhD level. Doctorate communities tend to be small and connected. Not knowing your major I’m unsure whether that applies to your discipline. Doctorate programs are very much about the relationships that you establish.</p>
<p>So I think that if you current program is not working for you, then consider staying and changing advisers. If that’s not working either then discuss the situation with your adviser, and ask for permission to transfer. He may be able to pull some strings to find you a new home. Funding is another matter. Perhaps your new school would have a TA position that would serve to get you through.</p>
<p>You’d be amazed at how small the academic world is. Jumping ship like that isn’t going to help you on your job search…</p>
<p>If you’re not being challenged in the way you want to be, how about talking to people at your institution and putting something together that meets both your needs and theirs?</p>
<p>I also concur that the academic world is very small and reputation is the most valuable asset that we have in this world. I strongly suggest that you followup on stradmom’s suggestion of investigating ways to make your current situation more interesting. Suggest collaborations with groups at your school or at other schools, investigate attending conferences in your field (apply for travel awards or pay yourself if your school won’t pay these costs). then try to finish your PhD as quickly as possible and move on!</p>
<p>One of the grad students in my previous lab went through the same situation and they did make the switch to a new phd program. They were able to make the switch work for them, but at a cost. Essentially they had to start over with their coursework and dissertation. They also had due reason to transfer programs because their dissertation advisor was not doing their job and thus her research suffered. Also, this student did not transfer to another university. Instead they transferred from one phd program to another within the same university but in different colleges (from the college of engineering to the school of medicine). So it’s up to you to decide if it’s really worth the effort. </p>
<p>But then again, you’ll come across many uncomfortable situations in life and starting over isn’t always the best solution. I personally think you should stick with it.</p>
<p>I also have a colleague in my program who transferred here from another PhD program (at a different school). He had a more ‘legitimate’ reason - his advisor left his old program abruptly and he had no one else there who could or would advise him. He got funded at my program (his ‘new’ program) but he did have to start over - he started his old program when I was a sophomore in college and now we’re in the same year. He would’ve been finishing up this year, but he’s got about 3 more years to go now.</p>
<p>It’s possible to do it - I’ve talked to other people online who have successfully transferred - but it’s not like transferring college programs.</p>