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[username25]

Lets say someone got a BS degree with a double major in physics and geology. Then they get accepted into a geology grad program at a university. However, just before it is time to enroll for classes they decide that they would really rather study physics instead.

Any idea how hard it would be for someone to switch to the physics grad program at the same university? Would the letters of recommendation easily transfer to the other department, or would one need to go collect those all over again? Would any professors be angry about a student "defecting" to another department or is that a complete non-issue?

Just curious.

[sciencephd]

I'm a little curious about how you have arrived at your decision to change to such a different field.

This is probably going to be very specific to the particular university that you are in.  For example, in some places the admissions for physics and geology with be via the same administrative structure, and in others they will be completely seperate. 


The funding for the first year in science will almost always come from the department/program, so that would certainly be an issue.  You'll need to talk to people quickly before all of the slots in physics are filled.  If you are completely convinced that you need to do physics and not geology, it doesn't matter too much whether some professors are angry with you. You can't choose the wrong field for such a reason.

[watermarkup]

A good friend of mine once switched from the English to the CS doctoral program at a prestigious research university, so it can be done. This friend was a year into the program rather than just beginning, though, and he had undergrad preparation in both subjects. The English department ran into problems, the friend reconsidered his career goals, and then he went to go chat with the CS department head.

Switching before you start the first semester could be trickier, though. If you do a year of geology first, you show that you can already handle the rigors of graduate-level work at Very Special U. If you can explain how your new physics interests build on your work in geology, all the better.

[terpsichore]

If you want to make the switch, contact the new department as soon as possible. As sciencephd said, you want to talk with them before all the slots are filled with new students, and the two departments need to work out who is going to support you. Don't wait. The programs are probably very different and you'll want to get started on the one you want a career in.

Your letters of recommendation may or may not be useful. If they are all about what a great geologist you will be, the physics department may want to see additional letters that address your abilities in that discipline.

So, what prompted you to change fields?

[newbie]

Would any professors be angry about a student "defecting" to another department or is that a complete non-issue?

I think the issue is more on the other end: the department considering your transfer application.

Personally, I would not take someone on who had been accepted into a completely different department without being ABSOLUTELY certain that the student was a)fantastic and b)sincerely committed to the different field.

It's just a bad sign to me to have someone who changes his or her mind so easily, and I would not accept them easily. Maybe if I needed a grunt to do hard labor in my lab and this new person seemed like he or she would do the job well, I'd be flexible. Otherwise, no.

[polly_mer]

Changing majors even at the graduate level isn't a big problem in principle.  These things are fairly common.  Most professors would rather have a student who really wants to be in the department than someone whose heart and mind are somewhere else.

However, politics and funding are possible sticking spots.  If you applied to the geology program and now want to switch to physics before even enrolling, then that raises a red flag unless for some reason the geology department imploded between the time you applied and the time classes start.

Transferring departments can be done, but it's with the permission of the receiving department and it's not a simple matter of getting a single form filled for a change of major like it was for undergrad.

You will still need to apply to the physics program and probably get new letters of recommendation that state what an outstanding physics student you will be.  Funding is probably being debated right now and it's getting late for new students to be admitted.

Just for my own curiosity, why do you want to change now?  One cool physics class this semester is not sufficient reason to change. 

In addition, have you considered how good the physics department is at that particular university?  I know that at my alma mater, geology was a top ranked program as was physics, but physics was very much limited to two specialties while geology had a wide range of possibilities including geophysics.

[aggie_forever]

OP, I successfully transferred to a social-science department from a humanities at my Ph.D. institution, after I gained admission to the social-science department. However, I left the humanities department with an M.A. I had no problem with professors in the humanities department after I left; no one treated me poorly, and I felt that my decision was fully supported.

You might be more successful with a transfer, if you stick it out in the program that accepted you for a time. Could you take classes in both programs, until you successfully gain admission into the program of your choosing?

I hope you settle into the department that's the best fit for you.

[pamplemoose]

OP, I've never heard of someone doing this during the admissions process.  I've definitely heard of people change departments after arriving at a program because their interests changed and evolved, and they thought they could find more support for their interests in a different program.

I assume that your interests lie somewhere on the border of geology and physics.  What are your geology program requirements?  Do you have space to take some physics courses your first year?  I think doing that will help you know for sure you really want to be in the physics department, and not in geology.  By taking classes you can build relationships with physics professors, which will make the transition or migration to physics that much easier. 

I personally would not try to switch before actually getting to campus and settling into the program.  Switching now would seem more like restless indecision that a natural evolution or maturation of your interests, and might be politically risky.  There might be scope to pursue your interests in your original department, and include physics faculty on your committee. 

Also find out if, based on coursework and research, you can build a CV that would make you a strong candidate for both physics and geology departments.  This is something that you can talk about with faculty, but again, will probably go better once you are already there.

I know someone who completed all the coursework for a Ph.D in Chemistry, then decided to write a dissertation in Biophysics.  It was a stretch, but she had a physics background, a very supportive committee spanning three disciplines, and was able to correct whatever coursework deficiencies along the way, and so wrote a great dissertation.