My advisor is on sabbatical until next year! How should I proceed?

[smugpug]

Hi guys, 

 

I've finished up the first semester of my M.A. program  and still have not met my advisor. She's on sabbatical until next year, which is when I'll actually be writing my thesis. I'm pretty lost as far as my topic and in the whole program in general. I feel as if I'm expected to be exchanging emails with her while she is away, but I don't know what questions to ask and I don't want to sound completely clueless (which at this point I pretty much feel that I am). 

 

Should I be trying harder to reach out to her via email, or should I wait until she comes back next Fall? 

[CarlieE]

That really kinda sucks, considering that your MA is (I assume) 2 years? 

 

My advisor is also on sabbatical - for a year and half actually - but since I'm in a PhD program it's really not bad. He's also kept in touch and has gone out of his way to meet up with me and keep in contact etc. 

 

Perhaps, if your advisor is really not reachable, you might find a "temporary" mentor in someone else in your dept. I assume you will have to have 3 committee members, so perhaps one of the other 2 can give you some guidance. OR, perhaps if no one else in the dept has similar academic interests then a faculty member in a related dept who has a regional or theoretical commonality? 

 

OR, have you tried talking to your chair about the issue? 

[fuzzylogician]

Should I be trying harder to reach out to her via email, or should I wait until she comes back next Fall? 

YES! Reach out now.

 

It's your advisor's job to help you through the process of writing a thesis, it's what she's paid for. Email her, and the sooner the better. You don't need very specific questions; tell her that you're done with the first semester and now starting to think about a thesis topic, but you're at a loss as to how to proceed. Ask for advice about the next step - how should you go about finding a topic? She may have ideas or suggest readings or she may follow up with more pointed questions about your research interests.

 

In the meanwhile, you can start thinking about things that came up in readings or course discussions that you found interesting and try reading up on them a little bit. Maybe some interesting questions will come out of that. But whatever you do, don't be embarrassed to ask for this type of help. It's your advisor's job and you're not supposed to already know everything without her help; you've never been through a similar process before and it's precisely for this reason that you have an advisor.

[michigan girl]

Can you also request a new advisor? I'm in the process of switching advisors because I found a better professor who matches my academic interests than my current advisor.

Edited January 6, 2013 by michigan girl

[juilletmercredi]

Your program should have a director of graduate studies; in this situation, you may want to reach out to that person for help.  They may appoint you a temporary advisor or let you know how much your absentee advisor will have input in the process.

 

I would also definitely email your advisor, introducing yourself and letting her know that you're looking forward to working with her next year on your thesis, and that you're currently in the process of identifying your topic and want to know if she has any guidance to offer.  Perhaps you can come up with a broad area first and try to get her assistance in narrowing it down.

[CageFree]

Several people in my cohort have had their advisers on sabbatical or leave (myself included), and we just started. All of us have been able and encouraged to email them, and they've all made the effort to meet with us as needed. Unless your adviser is out of the state, chances are she will be able to meet with you, or you may be able to schedule a Skype chat if the prof. is farther away (like on a research trip).

 

In general terms, the expectation is that you will make that effort. Just send a quick e-mail saying you want to touch base to discuss your thesis, and would like to meet/speak at her convenience.