Choosing An Advisor

Choosing an advisor is an important step of your graduate school career. Your advisor helps you select courses and may also direct your thesis or dissertation. Follow these tips to choose the best advisor for you.

Choose a professor with similar interests

An advisor who shares your interests will be able to help you:

• Select coursework that will further your career goals.
• Conduct research projects.
• Select a thesis or dissertation project that you will be able to finish.
• Find internships.
• Meet influential people in the field.

Choose a professor who contributes to the field

An advisor who contributes research and articles to the field will be well-respected and will understand the research process.

Choose a professor you respect

You will be meeting regularly with your advisor, and your advisor will be offering comments and criticism on your work. If you respect your advisor's work and opinions, you will be more accepting of the input.

Choose a professor who wants to be your advisor

Being an advisor is often not a matter of interest for professors. Choose someone who will offer help readily and enthusiastically. Talk to some students who are or have been advised by your potential advisers to find out what the advisers are like to work with.

Choose a professor who will give you opportunities

You want opportunities to do research, write, get some articles published, go to conferences, etc. Choose an advisor who will offer these types of opportunities to you and will support you as you do your work.