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Thread: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    How do you do this?

    Most of the advisors I'd like to work with are in other cities, or other universities at the very least. All the programs I've contacted say my chances of being accepted are pretty much nil if I don't have a relationship wiht my proposed grad advisor.

    So...what am I supposed to do? What's the norm? Just email out of the blue? My undergrad advisor is useless and offering me no help or advice.

    Please advise!!

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Yup cold-contacting works great. In my personal experience, it's better to just call them if possible, because some grad advisors are very old-school, and either don't know how to use email, or simply refuse too.

    It helps to do a little research about the advisor first. A lot of school will put up the advisors' educational information, and you can use that. For instance, if the advisor also went to the university he represents, you can ask questions about his time at the college, his curriculum, etc. If not, try to look for some common ground. Maybe he has a degree is Russian Lit, an dyou are hoping to concentrate in a related sector. From there, briefly mention your own credentials, and ask the best way to go about the application process.

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    God/dess UtahMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Read his/her dissertation or thesis. If it isn't in the library, try finding it in ERIC and read the abstract. When you find one that interests you, read (skim) a bit more on the same subject. Then you have something in common to talk about, and a reason for making the selection of advisor other than just picking a name off the list.

    BTW, later on, when you are writing your OWN thesis or dissertation, it helps if you can cite works by your advisor and whoever else will be on the committee when you defend it. Of course, this only works if their research actually does support yours.

    Hmm--Firefox's spellchecker wants to kick out advisor and replace it with adviser. That's wrong, isn't it? Damn spellcheckers.

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Yikes, cold calling! Mkay. Crap.

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  5. #5
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Oh shit. Really? We're supposed to do this before even submitting our applications to the schools?

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Definitely up here...I'd assume down there too. I know, sucky eh?

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  7. #7
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Aigh!! What do shy wannabe-doctors do?? I can't very well just ring up everyone at UCLA and go, "Huh huh, hey, I think you're cool!"

    I seriously just broke out in cold sweats. I would hate to think I didn't get into a PhD program just because I'm shy!

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Do the email thing. I'm going to, even if some don't like it. I HATE the phone and don't want to spend two years working with someone who makes me use it, lol.

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  9. #9
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    ^^^ I'm the exact same way!

  10. #10
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Found it again, thank you Scarlett.

    So how do you know who the advisors even are? Do you just pick the person on the faculty whose areas of interest are similar to yours?

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    The websites for the programs I'm interested in all have the advisors listed, with a little summary of their work, and an email address.

    Yeah, I'm going to find people with similar interests, and let them know what my ideas for grad research are, to see if they like it/see potential. If it clicks, I guess I'll continue with the correspondence, if not, I'll move on.

    That's the plan, anyways...

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  12. #12
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    I just found the one for UCSB, which I think is my first or second choice. Will keep looking for the others. I'm going to finish my Statement of Intent or whatever before I get in touch with anybody, so I have a better idea of what I'm trying to communicate with my application. And I can't decide whether to minor in Mandarin or Women's Studies or Sexuality. Anyway, when you send your email to one of your advisors, would you mind sending me a copy by PM just so I can see what you're doing?

    I just called my grandfather, who worked in universities before, and my grandmother, who is a teacher. Both of them have Master's degrees (no PhD's) and said they'd never heard of this, but it couldn't hurt. I don't think it's standard here. But what the hey, never hurts to try something to pull my application closer to the top of the pile, right?

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    ^ Really, it's not standard there? We're so crazy up here!

    I agree that it's worth the effort though, esp. if it's not standard.

    Will pm you a copy for sure, probably by the end of the month.


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  14. #14
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Thanks!

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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    You guys, I have an MFA, not a PhD, but I'm teaching and around PhD's all the time, and I've never heard of this--that you need to establish a relationship with a professor before you're in the school? It sounds like a good idea if you want to get an angle on applications, but that it would be some sort of requirement is new to me. I wouldn't freak out about it, Yek. I would contact each school you're interested in and ask about the protocol, and if they don't mention this you can raise the idea if you're still concerned about it.

    I might be entirely wrong about this--maybe it has just never come up in conversations with professors I work with, and so I am uninformed; it sounds to me more like an additional step some students are taking to increase their chances. I teach in a graduate program, and it makes perfect sense that you might get a call from someone outside, interested in the program...but to be honest I would be hard-pressed to vouch for the person without a deeper knowledge of their work, so beyond offering them information I don't know how much it would help them.

    If I'm wrong about this vis a vis the PhD my apologies! But I know you're very interested in PhD programs Yek, and don't want this to become a roadblock for you before you're out of the starting gate!

    It is interesting to find this out about Canada, Scarlett--you've made me want to learn more about it. Best of luck to both you guys in your efforts!
    JK Jim

  16. #16
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    I think I'm going to drop them a note next month just to introduce myself... not sure what else I should say beyond that. But I figure establishing contact ahead of time would show initiative and dedication, right? It couldn't hurt, unless I say something really stupid, which is why I'm going to finish my statement of purpose first to come up with a clear idea of where I intend to go with my studies.

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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    I think you're right, Yek--it sure can't hurt in any case.
    JK Jim

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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    I think I'm going to drop them a note next month just to introduce myself... not sure what else I should say beyond that. But I figure establishing contact ahead of time would show initiative and dedication, right? It couldn't hurt, unless I say something really stupid, which is why I'm going to finish my statement of purpose first to come up with a clear idea of where I intend to go with my studies.
    It can't hurt you. For both my MA and PhD programs I actually drove around to get face-to-face meetings with these people, after arranging appointments with them either via email or phone. It makes a difference; it really does. They see your seriousness and can size you up more appropriately--and you can size them up as well. For example, when I was scoping out PhD programs in Boston, I visited a department head at BC. I knew after ten minutes with the prof that I didn't have any further interest in studying in his program. That was good for both of us.

    Considering the degree to which PhD candidate positions can be a political minefield, it's important to get as much of a feel as you possibly can about the program and those running it.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

  19. #19
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    What did you say when you contacted them for an appointment? What did you do in the meeting? What did you guys talk about? I' m really shy and the main reason is that I never know how to break the ice and start the conversation.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Think of it like a job interview.

    I would try and schedule a meeting over lunch or coffee or something. Just say that you are looking for somemore insight into the school than the brochures and tours give. Ask questions about the curriculem you're interested in, or (if the faculty member you're meeting with was/in involved in your desired field) ask them to share what they studied in school, what jobs they did after school, to help plan your own career.

  21. #21
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Hm. That's a pretty good idea. I'll try to schedule a day to visit Santa Barbara soon, because right now UCSB is looking like my first choice and the grad advisor there seems like a really good guy. Thank you.

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    That IS a good idea.

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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    What did you say when you contacted them for an appointment? What did you do in the meeting? What did you guys talk about? I' m really shy and the main reason is that I never know how to break the ice and start the conversation.
    Just be direct and forward:

    I'd like to make an appointment with you to get more information about the program and about what your department criteria is for prospective candidates, and to get your thoughts on my qualifications and how I might better prepare myself and my application for your program.

    Make it about them. Professors are inherently egotistical to some degree or another; it's why they do the job, in part. Remember that and play on it--deference and respect, combined with interest. It's not radically different than approaching a PL, when you think about it.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

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    God/dess Lena's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    I don't think it's standard here, but it's common enough that once when I emailed this guy to tell him how great I thought everything he'd ever written was he assumed that I was applying to his grad program.



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    God/dess UtahMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: Establishing relationship with potential grad advisor

    Once you are accepted and have your program planned out with your advisor, be sure to get it in writing, get a copy, and keep it where you can find it a few years later when you are finished and want your degree.

    I have one less Master's degree than I deserve because the original dean of the graduate school had changed between the time I applied and the time I finished. There was no record that I'd ever been in the program, and there was nothing I could do about it. Damn bureaucrats.

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