<p>How does transferring work? I am currently a senior with a 3.3 GPA so i'm looking at grad engineering programs ranked 25-60. I would really like to transfer to stanford when it comes time to begin my research (stan has always been my dream school as far as ChE orofessors and research groups)..</p>
<p>I would recommend just doing a masters at a 25-60th ranked school, show dramatic improvement, and then apply to Stanford (or similar) for the PhD.</p>
<p>I am confused. Do you plan on transferring as a senior or are wondering whether you can apply to a 25-60 grad program and then transfer to stanford?</p>
<p>Do a masters. PhD programs are really not made for transferring and you likely wouldn’t get accepted at stanford unless it was clear that there was a specific reason that they provided something that another program did not – and even then they would likely be skeptical.</p>
<p>(people who need to work with a professor at another school are usually visiting students rather than transfers for PhD work)</p>
<p>then how come its very common for a professor to have a masters from one school and a phd from another? are these typically people who complete a masters and then later apply for a phd at another school, or people who transfer?</p>
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<p>oh sorry dude i missed your post…yeah thats what i was thinking. the only thing is that if i apply to masters programs, i probably wouldnt get any aid at all…and it seems like masters programs arent that much less competitive than phd programs…generally the average gpa for masters kids is 0.1 lower…so i might as well apply to a phd program right?..get my masters on the way, leave the school and then apply to the stanford phd program</p>
<p>racnna,</p>
<p>In general, most professors who have masters and PhD’s from different schools did it above board, as I suggested - apply to a masters program, then apply elsewhere for the PhD later. Transfers as you are describing are very uncommon.</p>
<p>When you go into a funded PhD program, it is like a contract - which you personally intend to break. Anytime that happens, you are burning bridges with a department and professors who supported you, and it does not look good to prospective future departments either - are you going to run out on them, too? There are occasionally acceptable reasons (like your advisor leaving) but these are few and far between. If you COULD be studying at school A but WANT to study at school B, it is just going to look bad.</p>
<p>Also, bear in mind that TRYING this is kind of like the all-in bet in poker - your current school will know you are trying to transfer, and if it falls through it will make it very tough for you to continue. Why would they give funding to someone trying to break the contract and leave when they have plenty of others happy to be there?</p>
<p>At the end of the day, you need to go slow and steady with this - apply for both masters and PhD programs. If you get a funded masters offer it will give you the chance to do it right. If you get funded PhD offers you can get your doctorate and then look into a post-doc, research position, or professorship at Stanford down the road.</p>