When starting your PhD program, you may feel so overwhelmed with the stresses of researching, taking classes, teaching, and drafting your dissertation proposal that you don’t spend much time thinking about who to choose as an academic advisor. This is a mistake: along with your dissertation topic, your academic advisor can be one of the most significant choices you make during the program and can significantly affect the success of your PhD.
Your academic advisor serves plenty of useful functions: they help you secure funding, give feedback on your writing and research, support and vouch for your work, and offer invaluable advice for your career going forward. Here are five tips to help you when selecting an academic advisor.
1. Ask other professors for guidance
If you’re not sure where to begin when choosing an academic advisor, make an appointment with your program director or another trusted professor in the program. They’ll be able to point you in the direction of viable academic advisors conducting research in your field, and will have helpful insider knowledge on the professor’s work and communication habits. Plus, they might be willing to warn you of any red flags––for example, if a certain professor’s PhD students have a high dropout rate––and steer you in the right direction.
2. Bear in mind that the “best” professor isn’t always be the best advisor
Many students fall into the trap of assuming that the “best” professor––the hotshot bestselling author or public intellectual––will also be the best advisor. However, the opposite is often true.
Yes, studying under a professor with critical acclaim and status might help you get your foot in a few doors during the start of your career. But a high-profile advisor might not have enough time to properly support you in your work, leaving you directionless and waiting weeks for a reply. Ultimately, you’re probably better off with a more modest choice, one who offers something even better than a flashy name: their time.
3. Look to later-career professors where possible
While assistant and adjunct professors can be just as smart and helpful as their tenured counterparts––not to mention that their research can be even more current and relevant––they are often not ideal as academic advisors. Professors with less secure positions often have more work on the go and less time to help you out. They will also likely have less access to resources and funding opportunities than their tenured peers, and their research interests will be less specialized.
On the other hand, a later-career professor will have the tools and experience to properly support you in your work. They’ll also likely be more willing to invest time in shaping your career, since they don’t need to worry so much about their own.
4. Get in touch
Once you’ve selected a potential advisor, don’t wait too long before getting in touch. Send a quick email to find out whether they currently have the capacity to take on more PhD students, as well as to ask about their ongoing research and confirm that it matches your own interests. That way, you’ll know right off the bat whether they’re a viable option, or if you should keep looking.
That being said, don’t be concerned if they don’t respond right away. Professors have busy schedules and are fielding mountains of emails, so be patient.
5. Meet in person
While email is sufficient for making initial contact with prospective academic advisors, once you’ve settled on one it’s time for an in-person meeting. After all, you’re going to have to work with this person for the next four-plus years, so you need to make sure you get along and are on the same page in terms of your research goals, vision, and timeline. It’s also important to ensure that your advisor is a good communicator, is willing to be flexible about scheduling and deadlines, and understands the importance of work–life balance.