Requesting to Change Advisors

[CIIP]

Here's my situation, and I'd like opinions, if you'd be so kind.

I wrote a detailed SOP, did not name any specific faculty members in the statement, but I had one in mind. I emailed him and asked if he would be my advisor; he agreed. When I received my acceptance letter from the department, they did not assign me the professor I have been emailing. That's fine, and I knew I was taking that chance when I didn't request a specific advisor from the outset.

However, it's been less than a week since I've been accepted, and the school's website does state that students can request an advisor. It doesn't say this needs to be done before or during the application process. Additionally, the advisor I was assigned is on leave this semester. I am thinking that contacting him just to discuss things is going to be a little difficult.

So, I was thinking of contacting the graduate coordinator and saying something like, "I was assigned Professor Y, but I have been in contact with Professor Z and he agreed to be my faculty advisor. I was just wondering if it is possible to switch advisors at this point, and if this switch is possible?"

Sound good? Anyone else thinking about switching advisors? Anyone done it before?

Thanks!

[rising_star]

I wouldn't do anything for now. Just leave it be. For all you know, the person on leave could be more available/accessible than someone on campus (my advisor was this way last year while on a writing leave).

[amanda1655]

I agree with risingstar. Wait a bit before you request an advisor change. There could be a reason why the adcomm assigned you to this particular advisor... similar research interests, past success advising similar students, etc. Why not wait it out and give this person a chance? You need more than one person on your dissertation committee anyway.