UBC masters to PhD transfer situation?
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:47 pm
Hi all,
I was admitted to University of British Columbia for what I thought was their PhD program (because that is what I applied for!) but it turns out they admitted me as a masters student. In talking to some of their grad coordinators, it seems almost all of their new grad students enter as masters students, with very few exceptions.
They then allow for transfer to PhD program after year one provided you have done well enough, know what you want to study, and have picked an advisor. This sounds all well and good, (especially since UBC is a prime place to be for string theory), but I'm worried about getting stranded as a masters student! I want my PhD and got accepted into some lower ranked PhD programs already.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Apparently UBC is different in this respect. Essentially what I'm asking is do you think there's a decent chance of transferring after year one or would it be safer to accept an honest to goodness PhD offer from a somewhat lower ranked institution?
Much thanks everyone!!
I was admitted to University of British Columbia for what I thought was their PhD program (because that is what I applied for!) but it turns out they admitted me as a masters student. In talking to some of their grad coordinators, it seems almost all of their new grad students enter as masters students, with very few exceptions.
They then allow for transfer to PhD program after year one provided you have done well enough, know what you want to study, and have picked an advisor. This sounds all well and good, (especially since UBC is a prime place to be for string theory), but I'm worried about getting stranded as a masters student! I want my PhD and got accepted into some lower ranked PhD programs already.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Apparently UBC is different in this respect. Essentially what I'm asking is do you think there's a decent chance of transferring after year one or would it be safer to accept an honest to goodness PhD offer from a somewhat lower ranked institution?
Much thanks everyone!!