Interim supervisor "mismatch" - need advice...

[marxram]

Hey all,

I am applying in the Canadian social sciences field, and I got an offer from a good university, but the interim supervisor they assigned me is working in a completely different field from mine, i.e. focusing on aspects of my field that I know nothing about and have no interest in. This is a MA program.

I know it is ok to find a new one (supervisor) for your permanent supervisor, but can you advise me as to how common this is, whether it is ok to do so (issues of politeness) and whether it is likely that another supervisor might take me under their wing.

Cheers,

M

Edited February 29, 2012 by marxram

[MediaMom]

If they've specifically identified this person as your "interim" supervisor, then I would assume that the intent is for you to find someone who is a better fit and switch at some point. I would set a meeting with this supervisor (even if it's a phone/Skype meeting if you're not in the area) and say that you're very excited about starting the program, very interested in his work (even if you're not) and that you'd just like to get some basic info on how the advising process works. Ask about this "interim" designation and how he would suggest you go about finding the right fit for a permanent supervisor. Remember, it's not personal, it's business. You might be a "student," but this is basically your job. As long as you're straightforward and professional, this person should be happy to answer your questions and help you to get settled.

[marxram]

If they've specifically identified this person as your "interim" supervisor, then I would assume that the intent is for you to find someone who is a better fit and switch at some point. I would set a meeting with this supervisor (even if it's a phone/Skype meeting if you're not in the area) and say that you're very excited about starting the program, very interested in his work (even if you're not) and that you'd just like to get some basic info on how the advising process works. Ask about this "interim" designation and how he would suggest you go about finding the right fit for a permanent supervisor. Remember, it's not personal, it's business. You might be a "student," but this is basically your job. As long as you're straightforward and professional, this person should be happy to answer your questions and help you to get settled.

Ok, that makes perfect sense. I have to wait on my other schools (to see if I get any offers), but eventually if I accept this one I can just explain the situation to her. It does clearly specify "interim" and given my proposal was very specific in one field, I am assuming they are aware of what my general interests are and have selected her simply as an available interim option until I find someone more suited. But I think the problem was I was looking at it still in terms of personal relationships, rather than as you say, business. Cheers!

[fuzzylogician]

What is the role of this "interim" advisor? In my program students are assigned a temporary advisor for their first year who may not work in their field at all but only fulfills the function of signing papers and making sure the students are doing ok (all our first-year classes are mandatory, so this is mostly a beaurocratic matter). Students are distributed among professors in a way that equalizes their workload and not necessarily according to a match in interests. After the first year students may switch advisors and choose someone with a better research match, but in our program even then people might work with Prof A but continue to have as the official academic advisor who signs their papers Prof B. It's not particularly important who the official advisor is, and there is no obligation to work only (or at all) with that person. Of course, if they are completely outside your field of expertise they may have a hard time advising you on classes and such like, which may be a reason to switch. They will then probably know this themselves and will not be offended in any way.

What you need to know is what status this advisor is fulfilling? How common is it to have one official advisor and someone else as the main person you work with? Ask the department but also the students how often people change advisors, and whether that introduces difficulties into working relationships. In my program no one is particularly offended if a student who mostly works with A also wants A as the official academic advisor. If it's the same in your prospective program, I'd say this issue is not a problem.

[marxram]

What is the role of this "interim" advisor? In my program students are assigned a temporary advisor for their first year who may not work in their field at all but only fulfills the function of signing papers and making sure the students are doing ok (all our first-year classes are mandatory, so this is mostly a beaurocratic matter). Students are distributed among professors in a way that equalizes their workload and not necessarily according to a match in interests. After the first year students may switch advisors and choose someone with a better research match, but in our program even then people might work with Prof A but continue to have as the official academic advisor who signs their papers Prof B. It's not particularly important who the official advisor is, and there is no obligation to work only (or at all) with that person. Of course, if they are completely outside your field of expertise they may have a hard time advising you on classes and such like, which may be a reason to switch. They will then probably know this themselves and will not be offended in any way.

What you need to know is what status this advisor is fulfilling? How common is it to have one official advisor and someone else as the main person you work with? Ask the department but also the students how often people change advisors, and whether that introduces difficulties into working relationships. In my program no one is particularly offended if a student who mostly works with A also wants A as the official academic advisor. If it's the same in your prospective program, I'd say this issue is not a problem.

This is very helpful as well. I am not sure what the practices are at that uni, I will check into it, and consult with the grad secretary, s/he might be better able to advise me on, exactly as you say, those "practices". My main concern was I am not sure why they picked this person in the first place, since we are so different in focus, but perhaps it is as you say, simply a distribution of workload! That is very helpful, thanks a lot!