Right school... wrong advisor

[electrifice]

I have an acceptance from a school I'm very interested in, but I was contacted by a professor that I didn't list as a preferred choice. I was never interviewed or asked who I want to work with (outside of what I listed in my SOP)... the department seems to have just handed me a professor. The professor's area of research is the same as what I'm interested in and some of my past experience correlates with his work but I haven't seriously considered further work on the topics he is involved with.

Officially, I believe I have a year to select an advisor but this makes me wonder why I was offered admission but not put in touch with professors I'm interested in working with. The professor is relatively new, so I'm wondering whether it could be that he intends to explore a new research direction similar to my interests? I really haven't even spoken with him so I'm just wondering whether, as far as the school is concerned, have I been seriously paired with this professor or is it just a random initial point of contact in roughly the right area?

[jynx]

This varies from program to program. Definitely contact the school and ask them about how mentorship works in their program, and if this professor has been assigned as your mentor.

[newms]

It could just be that this professor is your initial contact, who will guide you through your first year, while you have the opportunity to seek out an advisor during that year. I agree that you should ask the department or check out their website to see if they have information about how the process works.

[frenchfries]

This happened to my partner when he was admitted to a PhD program. His POI was going to be on sabbatical during the first semester of his program and they didn't want him to feel lost coming during his first semester. Of course, they didn't tell him that up front. He only found out later.

[Old Man & the C(S)]

It could just be that this professor is your initial contact, who will guide you through your first year, while you have the opportunity to seek out an advisor during that year. I agree that you should ask the department or check out their website to see if they have information about how the process works.

The scenario newms described is exactly what happened to my colleague this last year. You got in! The other stuff can be sorted out.

[electrifice]

Thanks guys. I've looked into it more and this professor is indeed my initial point of contact. He is to help me select classes and plan the first year or so of my studies... I guess, until I select a permanent advisor, he is the interim.

[Phoenix84]

I'd strongly recommend to ask the department about the issue before you arrive there. Because the admission letters often are made from the same template. What changes are only the names. It might well be the case that the person mentioned as the initial point of contact has the money to support you. If that is the case you'd get into trouble if you want to switch your advisor. That happened to me and after two years I'm still struggling with the consequences of this issue.