Changing Graduate Programs: Is It Doable?
We小蝌蚪APP檙e not going to sugar-coat it. Unlike changing your major as an undergrad, changing graduate programs can be a challenge小蝌蚪APP攁nd it小蝌蚪APP檚 really not encouraged.
That said, why spend two or more years of your life pursuing a graduate degree that you小蝌蚪APP檙e not passionate about? The whole point of a graduate education is learning more about the one subject that excites and inspires you. If you小蝌蚪APP檙e not in a program that does that for you (or perhaps you小蝌蚪APP檝e realized your skill set doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 quite match the program), and you小蝌蚪APP檝e realized that another master小蝌蚪APP檚 or doctoral degree path does, then you should consider switching graduate programs.
Be warned, however, that you will encounter some difficulties along the way. If you小蝌蚪APP檙e considering switching graduate programs, here小蝌蚪APP檚 what you need to know.
Changing graduate programs is not like changing your undergrad major
You can小蝌蚪APP檛 just walk over to your student support office and declare you小蝌蚪APP檙e changing master小蝌蚪APP檚 programs or doctoral programs after you小蝌蚪APP檙e already enrolled at the 小蝌蚪APP. You have to apply to the program you want to be in, submit new application materials (including new letters of reference that speak to your potential for success in a different program), and then that program and the Graduate School have to decide whether to admit you.
Graduate programs are highly specialized, so each one can have specific admission requirements that you小蝌蚪APP檒l need to fulfill in order to apply. For example, if you小蝌蚪APP檙e changing master小蝌蚪APP檚 programs from the MBA program to a computer science program, you小蝌蚪APP檒l probably have to take the GRE even though you may have already taken the GMAT. If you小蝌蚪APP檙e changing from English to the MBA program, you may need to take 小蝌蚪APP渓eveling小蝌蚪APP courses in order to meet all of the undergraduate course requirements in business to be successful in graduate coursework. And in some fields, you may even need an entirely separate bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree. So, research the requirements and the cost.
Before you decide that switching graduate programs is a good idea, talk to your current graduate coordinator and the graduate coordinator in the program where you want to be. They can help you determine the best course of action.
You小蝌蚪APP檒l lose the course credit you小蝌蚪APP檝e earned so far
When you are changing graduate programs, you小蝌蚪APP檒l likely be kissing any graduate credits you小蝌蚪APP檝e earned so far goodbye. Credits do not often transfer from program to program, so you小蝌蚪APP檒l be back at square one if you enroll in a new graduate program. If it小蝌蚪APP檚 a related field of study, credits might apply as an elective course. You小蝌蚪APP檒l want to talk with the graduate coordinator about courses taken that might fit into your new curriculum.
In the grand scheme of things, it小蝌蚪APP檚 not an enormous credit loss if you小蝌蚪APP檙e in your first semester of grad school and decide to change to a different program. If you decide early on that what you小蝌蚪APP檙e studying in your graduate program is not your passion (and you know a different program will be a better fit), then you should definitely go for it.
However, if you小蝌蚪APP檙e beyond your first couple of semesters, you may want to evaluate whether you really want to switch programs or if . It might be worth it also just to finish the degree you小蝌蚪APP檝e already started before switching to another program.
You may also lose your assistantship
If your graduate assistantship is tied to your program, you may not be able to keep it. You小蝌蚪APP檒l have to talk to your graduate coordinator about funding availability.
There are other options
There are other ways to change your direction without completely switching graduate programs and negating the hard work you小蝌蚪APP檝e put in so far. For example, you小蝌蚪APP檙e often able to change concentrations within your graduate program. Earning your EdD in Educational Leadership? You might be able to switch from the K-12 concentration to the exceptional learners leadership education concentration, because there is some crossover in the curricula. Your timeline to graduation may get a little bit longer, but that小蝌蚪APP檚 worth it if you小蝌蚪APP檙e actually studying and researching what you want to pursue as a career.
Be warned that changing concentrations isn小蝌蚪APP檛 possible in all disciplines, like engineering and nursing. Because mechanical, petroleum, chemical, electrical, and civil engineering are all such specialized disciplines, for example, making the switch from one to another is not that simple--you小蝌蚪APP檒l have to go through the admission process. Again, the graduate coordinators are your best resource to help you figure out your options.
You could also explore whether you小蝌蚪APP檙e close enough to finish with a different degree. For example, if you小蝌蚪APP檙e in a doctoral program, could potentially fulfill the requirements for the master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree? If you小蝌蚪APP檙e a master小蝌蚪APP檚 program, could you exit with a graduate certificate in your field?
So, should you switch?
If you are in a graduate program and realize that it really isn小蝌蚪APP檛 your passion and it doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 excite and inspire you, then by all means consider switching programs小蝌蚪APP攅specially early on. Just remember that changing graduate programs may affect the time it takes to get your degree and often requires going through the admission process again. The most important thing to remember is that you should always talk to the graduate coordinators and your mentors before making any decision and, ultimately, follow your passion.