Transfering from one clinical psych program to another?

[ClinicalGal]

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I applied to 10 clinical psychology ph.d. programs and have received one offer. Unfortunately, the offer was from a school that i was not incredibly impressed with and don't think would be a good fit for me. Many people (outside the clinical psychology field) are telling me to accept the offer and transfer to a different school next year. I wanted to pose a question here to see if this is ever done and how favorably/unfavorably applicants from other clinical psychology programs are seen if they apply after completing their first year in a program? Is this a total "no no"? Should i decline the offer if it isn't a good match for me and hope for better results when i reapply next year? Any advice would be great, especially regarding if it's really frowned upon to accept an offer, attend for a year and reapply else-where. I want to go about all this professionally and am really not a "back door" type person. My biggest problem this time around were GREs and if i reapply, already being IN a program, will my GREs still be a problem? Thanks everyone in advance for your feedback.

 

[clinpsychjack]

This is a bit similar to the "accept or reject" thread. I would look there for more information.

I don't know how transferring is viewed (I guess it varies by program), but my first impression is that transferring from one programs sounds like a BAD idea. I doubt the program that accepted you would follow through with their offer if they knew you were planning to transfer in a year, and I don't think spending a year in one program would help your chances of getting into a better program next year (it might even look badly, and you'd have to explain to schools you applied to next year why you're transferring, etc.). Also, in graduate school your work load is going to be fierce. I'm not sure if you're working now or if you're still an undergrad, but as a graduate student I would think it would be really difficult to go through the application process again. As you know, applying takes a lot of time and money (both of which you probably won't have a lot of as a graduate student), and as a 1st year graduate student you won't have a lot of extra time to improve your GREs or other aspects of your application for next year. Also, I doubt you'll get much sympathy or support from this supervisor/program when you eventually tell them you want to transfer. Your GREs will be looked at regardless of whether your currently in a graduate program or not.

If you already know now that it's not the right program for you and you have no other offers, then why not turn it down? You could spend these next months improving your application...get more experience (get a research job in the field if you don't have one, do clinical volunteer work, etc.), re-take the GREs...and then you'll be ready to apply to programs again in the fall that you're definitely sure you'd want to go to.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

In general, if you don't think you are a good fit for the program, don't accept. A school is expecting its people to stay there, and if you go in with the intention to transfer it would be viewed as unprofessional.

People *do* transfer programs, but they tend to have a good reason, often outside of their control (prof leaving, loss of funding, etc). It can happen, but it is a PITA and I wouldn't recommend putting yourself in that situation.

 

[MaddieMay]

I do understand the desire to just get the h started, I sympathize. 🙁 This is a classic "bird in the hand" dilemma. IMHO, if you didn't really dig the program and thought it wouldn't be a good fit for you, I'd say decline. It would be hard to commit emotionally and scholastically in such a program, esp if you know you're planning on transferring.

I agree with Jack, spend a year getting a rock star GRE score and get another year of experience. Make all those other schools beg you to go there next year. 😉

 

[ClinicalGal]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess i just have that nagging fear that if i decline the only offer i recieved i will never get another offer again... (i swear i'm not usually such a pessimist!!! 🙂 haha)

I currently have a kick-*** research job and have been working at it for two years. Although improving my GRE scores (since they're my biggest hurdle) sounds like a wonderful idea, i'm just not sure that it's feasible. I took the Kaplan course prior to the test back when i took it and studied way more than i thought i needed to. I'm just not sure how much my score will improve if i take it again. i certainly will because it's my only bet but i'm just reluctant to decline the only offer i have with the possibility of knowing it may be the only offer i recieve, even if i reapply. Know what i mean? Still not sure what to do but it sounds like everyone is saying if i know i won't be happy at a program, i should decline... even if it IS my only shot????

 

[lilies05]

I think it's important WHY you think it will be a bad fit?

If it's something where you think you could put in 4 years, and be reasonably happy (but maybe not 100%)- then maybe you should go.

If you completely disagree with the POI's research and think you'll lose all respect for yourself by aiding them in their research, well that's another story.

 

[MaddieMay]

Hmmm. How bad would it be/look if she accepted, deferred for a year, got into a better school next year, and bailed on the first one?

 

[clinpsychjack]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess i just have that nagging fear that if i decline the only offer i recieved i will never get another offer again... (i swear i'm not usually such a pessimist!!! 🙂 haha)

I currently have a kick-*** research job and have been working at it for two years. Although improving my GRE scores (since they're my biggest hurdle) sounds like a wonderful idea, i'm just not sure that it's feasible. I took the Kaplan course prior to the test back when i took it and studied way more than i thought i needed to. I'm just not sure how much my score will improve if i take it again. i certainly will because it's my only bet but i'm just reluctant to decline the only offer i have with the possibility of knowing it may be the only offer i recieve, even if i reapply. Know what i mean? Still not sure what to do but it sounds like everyone is saying if i know i won't be happy at a program, i should decline... even if it IS my only shot????

ClinicalGal--our backgrounds sound very similar. I've been working at a "kick-***" research job since June '06 and, even though my GRE scores suck, I still applied this year. Like you, I applied to 10 programs (phd., clinical psych), but I looked at research match very closely (#1 priority). I got 4 interview invites (2/10 of my POIs weren't accepting students this year, ugh), and am waiting to hear back from 2 schools I'm interested in, but if those 2 reject me then I'm def. going to stay-put and try again next year. Perhaps I was able to get interview invites (despite my poor GREs) b/c I applied to schools all over (i.e. didn't exclude schools in rural areas) and b/c fit was a huge consideration for me. Seriously though, I don't think holding out for another year is a bad thing at all...applying next year will be a breeze by comparison.

Also, maybe I should change my name to clinicalpsychjackie? Everyone on this thing thinks I'm a dude.

 

[MaddieMay]

Also, maybe I should change my name to clinicalpsychjackie? Everyone on this thing thinks I'm a dude.

Oops! Sorry, Jackie!

I'd change your name if you mind being thought of as a dude. Jack isn't really gender-neutral. 🙂

 

[GiantSteps]

Also, maybe I should change my name to clinicalpsychjackie? Everyone on this thing thinks I'm a dude.

Clinpsychjack,

Please do not confuse ClinicalGal. She has enough about which to worry. The issue is transferring not transgendering!

However, it is interesting, you and ClinicalGal applied this year as dudettes. What would happen if you kept everything equal and applied next year as dudes?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Also, maybe I should change my name to clinicalpsychjackie? Everyone on this thing thinks I'm a dude.

Trust me.....I've been in that boat! I still think some people thing I'm a woman. 😀

 

[BorntoRun]

Hmmm. How bad would it be/look if she accepted, deferred for a year, got into a better school next year, and bailed on the first one?

Probably pretty bad -- and most programs won't let you defer; funding gets too complicated.

 

[amy203]

This thread also addresses this issue:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=449075&highlight=transfer

It's sounds like transferring is possible, but very challenging (and it would be very easy to piss people off along the way). Also, reapplying while already in a program would probably hurt you a lot more than help you; I would think the other schools would be concerned that you might quit their program as well!

 

[psychanon]

The advice you have gotten thus far is good. It is possible to transfer, but it's never a good idea to go into a program with that planned. I have known people who have transferred successfully. It works in a limited set of circumstances-- mainly if you get to the program and realize that the match isn't there, or if your interests change, or of course if your advisor transfers. You'd have to have your old advisor on board with it, because his/her LOR will be critical. You'd probably end up needing to re-take several courses. Basically....it's a bad idea unless totally necessary, and avoid it at all costs.