Rfwarlick Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 I am currently looking for an advisor, before I apply to graduate school this fall. I have one picked out, but she is pretty high up. I am planning on meeting her this summer for the first time, she is a scholar that I greatly respect and who has done a great deal of research in the field I wish to study. I also plan on going far in my own career and having her as an advisor would give me a wonderful start. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to approach the subject with someone I have not yet met. How can I make her want to advise me? I plan on sharing how much I support her research, and my thoughts on it, as well as my plans for my own research that will compliment hers. Can anyone give me further advice?
lafresca Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 First of all, relax. You have no idea how this conversation will go, or if you will even like her as much in person as you do on paper. As long as you know her research fairly well and express your interest in it / how your interests will complement her research, you will be fine. Most professors want to ensure that their students are comfortable working with them and she will not want to quiz you on everything she has written. I have found that professors just want to meet students who are genuinely interested in research and are not too naive about what pursuing a Ph.D. entails. You will do great!
Sofi dlS Posted May 3, 2013 Posted May 3, 2013 The fact that she is pretty high up shouldn't intimidate you. Just stay calm and approach her as who she is: a normal person looking to work with people as passionate about a given topic as she is. So, if you sort of know what you'd like to do, I would say just make sure your research interests are similar to those of hers. You are not gonna be asked to be proficient in a particular subject, that is why you are going to school: to learn. You just need to demonstrate passion and commitment to research and show her that you won't be a gamble; you will be a great person to work with. Confidence is key! Also, I think a very important thing to remember in this type of "meetings" (or interviews) is that it will be the time for her to meet you and you to meet her. It goes both ways. It happened to me while looking for advisors that one of the professors I had contacted (and our research interests were aligned) ended up not being compatible on a more personal level (if you know what I mean). We talked, he offered to be my advisor and I decided not to do it. I just didn't feel it would have been the right fit. Keep in mind that you will be working together for several years and the human factor is as important as academics.
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