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mamokillo · 2009 August 12th, 04:44 AM

I have searched and I think I get the gist of it that it is generally bad to transfer from one program to another specially if it is not substantiated by a "good" story. I just want to hear it again, I guess.

I am trying to move up from my school. The school I am currently attending is in the bottom tier but the work is almost equivalent. They are trying to improve its reputation. Furthermore, we are loosing a professor to one of top five programs. He is moving up. I just wrote a paper with him this summer and we plan to submit it for publication soon (of course it is not guaranteed that it will make it but we hope to send it to the one of the top four - JF, JFE RFS, or JFQA).

I asked him if I can move with him but he said he does not have enough "credibility" (if that is the right word) in that department to take me with him. He suggested I could always apply. But I have a risk of offending my current professors if I don't get to anywhere.

I just finished my first year. I will be starting my second year.

Any thoughts on how to approach this? Or should I abandon it? thanks

EE570 · 2009 August 12th, 02:41 PM

If you can get a letter of reference from the prof who is leaving, would you be able to get two other good references (such as those who wrote for you last year?). If not, then find one or two profs in your current program and let them know your concerns and ask them if they think it might be wise for you to switch. Just minimize the number of individuals involved and be strategic about who you approach.

Hadiran · 2009 August 12th, 03:19 PM

Agree with EE570.
And, please be really really catious in doing this. It is a risky things indeed.

longshot · 2009 August 12th, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamokillo

Furthermore, we are loosing a professor to one of top five programs.

I asked him if I can move with him but he said he does not have enough "credibility" (if that is the right word) in that department to take me with him. He suggested I could always apply.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I think that if he's top 5 faculty material, he could easily bring a student with him. I understand if you want to move up, but jumping from a bottom tier school to top 5 is unheard of in finance. I imagine if you get a letter from the guy moving up, a top-5-professor-to-be, that will carry some weight not only in his new program, but all over the board. Pick up some other letters (maybe from guys in the econ dept, or another dept you took classes in that may not be tight with finance) and shoot out some applications. Worst case scenario you'll graduate from the bottom tier but have a coathored paper with a top 5 professor, not bad.

shootermcgavin7 · 2009 August 14th, 05:44 AM

If your professor is being poached by NYU, Harvard, Chicago, or Wharton, she or he normally would not have a problem bringing you along, especially if you are a co-author.

This is a bizarre situation, but if you can't follow your mentor for some reason, follow longshot's advice. Wait one year, then you'll have a rec letter from a faculty member at a top school who knows your research potential.

vega · 2009 August 20th, 03:01 AM

I did research for a professor at Harvard (in applied Physics). He just transferred from UPenn, and he brough his entire lab with him. It's not quite an identical situation, but the top programs will generally let the professors bring THEIR students with them, as it's the only way that they can maintain their research line. If this moving professor is not your advisor, it will likely be tough to migrate with him. At the same, time, transfers are frowned upon...not to mention going from a bottom tier school to a top 5, is a pretty big jump...it doesn't seem terribly realistic. Be careful indeed, as a failed admissions attempt, could ultimately destroy your current candidacy.

applicant12 · 2009 August 20th, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vega

I did research for a professor at Harvard (in applied Physics). He just transferred from UPenn, and he brough his entire lab with him. It's not quite an identical situation, but the top programs will generally let the professors bring THEIR students with them, as it's the only way that they can maintain their research line. If this moving professor is not your advisor, it will likely be tough to migrate with him. At the same, time, transfers are frowned upon...not to mention going from a bottom tier school to a top 5, is a pretty big jump...it doesn't seem terribly realistic. Be careful indeed, as a failed admissions attempt, could ultimately destroy your current candidacy.

In your case, the gap between students at UPenn & Harvard isn't really that big. I think Harvard may have no problem admitting students from UPenn. In the OP's case I think it's really tough for him to move because as you said, it's a big jump

That said, I don't mean that there's anything wrong for the OP to continue his/her PhD at the current school. In my opinion, however, a transfer may be unlikely unless his/her profile is really strong

mamokillo · 2009 October 29th, 05:19 AM

pals,

The application deadline is approaching fast and i am still in a limbo - but leaning towards giving it a shot. The guy will write me a decent letter if I go that route and I could get one from my undergard advisor, and one from an assistant prof who tought me two seminars: theory of asset pricing and emperical asset pricing. I think I need to move my gmat up north. I plan to take it mid november. Well here is my background.

current GMAT high 600s

education:
undergrad: math & cs (both 4.0)- from a very small libral art school
grad: MS in math (3.8) from a top 30 math progarm
grad: all the course work of a bottom tier finance phd program (by the end of this year)

teaching (if that matters at all):
i thought math while a grad school ... anywhere from college algebra to linear algebra and differential equation. i also thought math (full time 2 years - yehh i am approaching 30) at a small liberal art college -- mainly college algebra

research:
a working paper with this guy and a work in progress (only the tables as of today) for my summer 2nd year paper

Do you think my profile is worth taking the risk? ie. do you think i have a chance say at top 25 programs?

phdhope · 2009 October 29th, 06:21 AM

I am going with my gut on this one but I think you should stay in your current program. Your GMAT will have to improve before you apply to the top 25 programs which it might not. However, the bigger problems are your storyline and the abandoning your current college. It goes without saying that you will be damaging your relationship with the professors at the college by transferring. The world of finance academia (assuming it is at least a little similar to accounting) is small enough that risking relationships with a few professors could have consequences for the rest of your career. Likewise, the school that accepts you will want to know why you are leaving your current Finance PhD program. Saying that you left because the professor you worked on a paper with for 1 year moved on without you seems like a sort of weak story. I mean was he the only reason that you went to that college? Is your relationship with him so close that without him you can't think of doing the coursework? Likewise, as everyone has mentioned, the question arises, why didn't the professor take you along? It seems to be a negative signal on your commitment to pursue a phd.

2009 August 12th, 04:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
mamokillo I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Finance PhD Transfer I have searched and I think I get the gist of it that it is generally bad to transfer from one program to another specially if it is not substantiated by a "good" story. I just want to hear it again, I guess. I am trying to move up from my school. The school I am currently attending is in the bottom tier but the work is almost equivalent. They are trying to improve its reputation. Furthermore, we are loosing a professor to one of top five programs. He is moving up. I just wrote a paper with him this summer and we plan to submit it for publication soon (of course it is not guaranteed that it will make it but we hope to send it to the one of the top four - JF, JFE RFS, or JFQA). I asked him if I can move with him but he said he does not have enough "credibility" (if that is the right word) in that department to take me with him. He suggested I could always apply. But I have a risk of offending my current professors if I don't get to anywhere. I just finished my first year. I will be starting my second year. Any thoughts on how to approach this? Or should I abandon it? thanks

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2009 August 12th, 02:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
EE570 Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 171	If you can get a letter of reference from the prof who is leaving, would you be able to get two other good references (such as those who wrote for you last year?). If not, then find one or two profs in your current program and let them know your concerns and ask them if they think it might be wise for you to switch. Just minimize the number of individuals involved and be strategic about who you approach.

2009 August 12th, 03:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hadiran God light my path~ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 94	Agree with EE570. And, please be really really catious in doing this. It is a risky things indeed.

2009 August 14th, 05:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
shootermcgavin7 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 571	If your professor is being poached by NYU, Harvard, Chicago, or Wharton, she or he normally would not have a problem bringing you along, especially if you are a co-author. This is a bizarre situation, but if you can't follow your mentor for some reason, follow longshot's advice. Wait one year, then you'll have a rec letter from a faculty member at a top school who knows your research potential.

2009 August 20th, 03:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
vega I JUST got here. Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 15	I did research for a professor at Harvard (in applied Physics). He just transferred from UPenn, and he brough his entire lab with him. It's not quite an identical situation, but the top programs will generally let the professors bring THEIR students with them, as it's the only way that they can maintain their research line. If this moving professor is not your advisor, it will likely be tough to migrate with him. At the same, time, transfers are frowned upon...not to mention going from a bottom tier school to a top 5, is a pretty big jump...it doesn't seem terribly realistic. Be careful indeed, as a failed admissions attempt, could ultimately destroy your current candidacy.

2009 October 29th, 05:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
mamokillo I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	pals, The application deadline is approaching fast and i am still in a limbo - but leaning towards giving it a shot. The guy will write me a decent letter if I go that route and I could get one from my undergard advisor, and one from an assistant prof who tought me two seminars: theory of asset pricing and emperical asset pricing. I think I need to move my gmat up north. I plan to take it mid november. Well here is my background. current GMAT high 600s education: undergrad: math & cs (both 4.0)- from a very small libral art school grad: MS in math (3.8) from a top 30 math progarm grad: all the course work of a bottom tier finance phd program (by the end of this year) teaching (if that matters at all): i thought math while a grad school ... anywhere from college algebra to linear algebra and differential equation. i also thought math (full time 2 years - yehh i am approaching 30) at a small liberal art college -- mainly college algebra research: a working paper with this guy and a work in progress (only the tables as of today) for my summer 2nd year paper Do you think my profile is worth taking the risk? ie. do you think i have a chance say at top 25 programs?

2009 October 29th, 06:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
phdhope Eager! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 99	I am going with my gut on this one but I think you should stay in your current program. Your GMAT will have to improve before you apply to the top 25 programs which it might not. However, the bigger problems are your storyline and the abandoning your current college. It goes without saying that you will be damaging your relationship with the professors at the college by transferring. The world of finance academia (assuming it is at least a little similar to accounting) is small enough that risking relationships with a few professors could have consequences for the rest of your career. Likewise, the school that accepts you will want to know why you are leaving your current Finance PhD program. Saying that you left because the professor you worked on a paper with for 1 year moved on without you seems like a sort of weak story. I mean was he the only reason that you went to that college? Is your relationship with him so close that without him you can't think of doing the coursework? Likewise, as everyone has mentioned, the question arises, why didn't the professor take you along? It seems to be a negative signal on your commitment to pursue a phd.

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