Can graduate students transfer to another graduate school?

Question

Could a graduate student be admitted into a program (say, Strayer), take a few classes, then transfer to a higher ranking school?

Would it be better to take a few courses on a non-degree basis then apply to the higher ranking schools after boosting my GPA and experience?

Answer 1

You can sometimes transfer, and sometimes not. It depends on what you're going to grad school for, and the school you end up applying to.

For example, NYU's MBA program accepts transfer credits. Columbia's does not.

Strayer, though, I'd be concerned about. That's one of the online schools, yes? Not such a great rep, academically. And I don't believe they're AACSB accredited, so no decently ranked MBA program will look at them. If MBA or another business field is your preference. If it's another major you're looking at, check their accreditation for that. It's important.

I do believe it would be better for you to take some undergraduate classes and do well in them, working at the same time so you get some good experience under your belt. But your best bet is to call the admissions office of the school you want to get into. Ideally, if they are local, try to make an in-person appointment. Ask them, frankly, what they suggest you do to make yourself a stronger candidate. Bring up your ideas and see what they say.

I did something similar. Although my undergraduate GPA, unlike yours, was quite high, I had very few math or business classes. And since my GMAT verbal/writing scores were very high but my GMAT math scores were piss-poor, I took a few accounting and statistics classes, via continuing education, before I applied. And on my essays, I highlighted the high grades I got in those classes (hoping they'd overcome my bad GMAT math). And it worked. I got into a very good MBA program.

I suspect you may be able to do the same. Work and, at night, take some undergraduate, continuing ed classes in the subjects you know grad schools like to see (and which, perhaps, you suck at). Do everything you can to ace those classes, including working with the professor or a tutor if need be. Then apply.

Answer 2

Transferring Graduate Schools

Answer 3

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RE:
Can graduate students transfer to another graduate school?
Could a graduate student be admitted into a program (say, Strayer), take a few classes, then transfer to a higher ranking school?

Would it be better to take a few courses on a non-degree basis then apply to the higher ranking schools after boosting my GPA and experience?

Answer 4

Yes you can -- but you pretty much have to start at the beginning. If, for example, you were in a PhD program at one university and transfer to another, then you might be able to skip a couple of the classes, but still have to pass the written and oral exams again.

I got my PhD in Finance at Berkeley. All six of the people who entered my program during my year had done graduate work before starting the program. Two already had a PhD in a different field.

Students will often get a master's degree at a second tier university to get more experience then apply to a first tier school for a PhD. You still want to get that MS or MA at a decent school before applying to the top schools. On-line universities and fourth tier schools should be avoided.

Since most of the top tier schools do not take master's only students in most disciplines (other than professional schools), you don't see a lot of transfers from one top tier school to another -- unless the student is changing fields. The exception to this is that when a faculty member moves from one school to another, he often makes provisions for his advanced graduate students to follow him.

Answer 5

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Contrary to the answers you have received above, it is quite difficult to transfer from one graduate program to another. An MPA program is usually only a two year program, and most reputable programs are very reluctant to take students in the middle. This is because they train their students using certain methods, and each program's methods are different from another's. (You know this to be true, as you have observed that your preferred program has a different focus from your "backup" program.) I am going to give you the advice you do not want, but know in your heart to be correct: Do not settle for second-best, and back yourself into a corner. Take the GRE in a month, and then apply to the program you prefer (as well as a few others -- no one gets into every program to which they apply). All you must do to prepare for the GRE is to take several practice tests in a prep book, and focus on the areas with which you have the most difficulty. (Try the Barron's Guide. Many of my grad students have praised it.)

Answer 6

I am in the same boat as you. All schools are different, but I will tell you what is going on with me. I am in my first semester in a MPA program. I didn't have to take the GRE either, I took the MAT to get in. I am not really digging this program and I looked at another MPA program that was more suited for me. I called the school and talked to the director. She told me that only 9 credit hours would transfer to her program from mine. She also said that we could possibly get away with me not taking the GRE even though it is required for her school because I was already attending a MPA school. You might want to talk to other schools about this. Like I said, every school is different. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and study for the GRE just in case...go ahead and take it after you study. It really couldn't hurt.

Answer 7

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