Transfer or not?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey, </p>

<p>I am a PHD student at Columbia and thinking of transferring to Vanderbilt where I was accepted last year. </p>

<p>I know it is Ivy League and all, but I am really disappointed from my department. Bad courses, phony students, and I still didn’t have found an adviser where I could write my dissertation. Finding a nice but cheap place to live is another problem in NYC.
I really loved studying at my last university (that’s why I got accepted at Columbia), but here studying is just a pain in the … I really feel uncomfortable at my department, and that is certainly not a good thing if you want to have innovative thoughts :(</p>

<p>However, I am aware that Columbia’s reputation and university rankings do plays a role on the job market. (Col is ranked about #10, Vandy #20 at my field). And I am not sure that everything will be gold in Vandy, though people there and life there seemed to be very nice. </p>

<p>What do you think, should I suffer for a while and try to survive these 4 or 5 years at Columbia, even if I really can’t stand it, or should I transfer to a university with a slightly lower prestige at the risk of not finding a job thereafter?</p>

2

<p>I have learned that if something makes you happier, go for it. But just remember the grass isn’t always greener.</p>

3

<p>don’t transfer, you’ll be done with your phd soon enough and then you’ll have a nice job and columbia will help you get that</p>