Changing graduate schools

yaygrady
Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:46:33 +0000

Think of it this way–you are so fortunate to get an opportunity to be a part of a group of elite schools and once you are in, its just a matter of playing your cards right and getting to know and work with the best professors in the field and making valuable relationships with them who will help you get to your next career step (whether to help you land the postdoc at MIT, etc.) Not many students get this kind of chance and you are already ahead of the ladder by getting into an elite school in the first place.

These top schools are very much connected and have close relationships. I was reading online that if you are at any of the Ivys and top schools (including, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Berkeley)-you can actually do exchange programs or even take classes if you want at these schools without going through a rigorous admissions process…so you can actually build your skillset by making connections and collaborating with others who are the best in your field!!

My story is kind of similar too–I went to a state school (top 50 but not so much recognized in my field) and after two years of work experience in my field, I was in the position to apply and get into some of the best schools that I would have never dreamed of going to when I was in undergrad.

I will be starting my Ph.D. program at Penn this fall and I am so grateful to my undergrad professors and my work mentors who helped me get where I am today.