Choosing the Right Academic Advisor: Tips for Avoiding Potential Pitfalls

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gravenewworld
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Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid falling into the trap of wrongly choosing an academic advisor that is more about their own ego than actually mentoring a graduate student? My worst nightmare is applying to grad school, choosing the wrong professor to study under, and simply getting used for someone else's gain. I have read that one good strategy to avoid this is by not picking any assistant professors since they are trying to gain tenure, is this true? I want to be sure I pick a mentor and not a tormentor. The one professor that seems to keep hounding me about my application (since he seems to like my resume) is an assistant professor. He said on average it takes students in his lab 6-6.5 years to complete their PhD which seems awfully long to me, and I am very skeptical about his intentions. Is he trying to use the students he has as much as possible to gain tenure, or is his research really that intense? I feel kind of lost on how to pick the right advisor.
 
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gravenewworld said:
Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid falling into the trap of wrongly choosing an academic advisor that is more about their own ego than actually mentoring a graduate student?

Talk to the advisers other graduate students. Also it helps to be on good terms with the department secretary. Ultimately choosing an adviser is like choosing a roommate or a boy/girlfriend.

I have read that one good strategy to avoid this is by not picking any assistant professors since they are trying to gain tenure, is this true?

No it's not.
 
(1) If possible, delay making a supervisor choice immediately. You'll be concentrating on coursework in the first couple semesters anyway. Some schools may not allow you to do this, but if it's an option I would take some time to chose. If you do have to chose quickly, keep in mind that you can change before you really get going.

(2) Talk to more than one potential supervisor. Even if you have someone who you think will be a good fit, it's worth at least talking to some others.

(3) Talk to other graduate students - both those whom the supervisor has worked with and those with other supervisors.

(4) Put a lot of effort into defining both of your expectations. Outline your project. Agree on how frequently you are expected to meet. Find out how your progress will be evaluated.

(5) With any supervisor there will be advantages and disadvantages. For example chosing a younger assistant professor who hasn't had many graduate students will carry some risks with the person's inexperience, but it is also likely that he or she will have a stronger interest in your project and seeing you succeed than the older professors who have to split their time between a dozen different students every week on top of other duties.

(6) Supervisory committees exist to keep anyone professor from being 'all powerful' in determining the student's direction.