Keeping in touch with profs

[prospectiveanthro]

Hi all,

 

As the semester has come to end and assuming that some of us may also finish our program, will you keep in touch with the profs who had an impact on you? If so, is sending a courteous email the best way to approach it?

 

Also, I've noticed that a lot of profs are using the expression 'best of luck to you in your future endeavors'...is it mildly dismissive in any way or not? I'm not a native American and sometimes miss the nuances that such phrases may implicitly have.

 

Thanks for your responses.

 

 

 

 

[mockingjay634]

I sent one of my professors a long email after I found out that I got a major external fellowship. He replied back three weeks later with the same line that you mentioned, nothing less and nothing more.

 

Don't take it too personal. Just send an email once a year to let them know how you are academically progressing and ask them about their research. If you are ever in town, drop in their office. Just keep in touch occasionally.

[Chops13]

Yeah my undergrad faculty mentor actually sent out a generic congrats on graduating email to me and the other students he supervised. I found out because he sent it to me and forgot to delete the other student (my peers) name from the greeting line... It seemed a little unprofessional and slightly more insincere, but I still plan on keeping in touch because he helped me reach one of my greatest goals.

 

 

I do know what you are feeling though, it is almost like you in some way feel really grateful to them and want to remain close, but it seems like they have kind of moved on and have shifted their focus. I think it is important you give them space and let them help the next wave of students through the cycle. Okay now I sound like a unstable bitter ex now lol, but I feel like what mockingjay said about emailing once a year, or semester to update them would be appropriate.

Edited May 19, 2014 by Chops13

[reinhard]

If it makes you feel better, I sent an email about my grad school results to one of my LOR back in April. He still hasn't replied to my email yet.

[Guest criminologist]

do people usually keep in touch with their LOR writers?

[midwinter]

I do know what you are feeling though, it is almost like you in some way feel really grateful to them and want to remain close, but it seems like they have kind of moved on and have shifted their focus. I think it is important you give them space and let them help the next wave of students through the cycle. Okay now I sound like a unstable bitter ex now lol, but I feel like what mockingjay said about emailing once a year, or semester to update them would be appropriate.

This comment somehow completely sums up how I feel about this - thanks for putting it into words. Anyone else feel this way, too? And a question to those students already a few years into their grad programs: how have you kept in touch with your former profs, and have they been generally happy to hear from you?

[fuzzylogician]

And a question to those students already a few years into their grad programs: how have you kept in touch with your former profs, and have they been generally happy to hear from you?

 

I've kept in touch with some more than others (I had 4 LORs). One was really outside my main field (an emergency LOR, long story, don't ask) and I actually haven't seen them or talked to them since 2008. One I probably see once every other year and we have a polite short chat. I do think this person appreciates the updates but I kind of doubt my progress concerns them too much beyond that. My last two LOR writers I see once or twice a year at conferences and we usually enjoy coffee/lunch and a nice update chat. I believe that these two people do care about my progress and would do their best to help me, if I asked. I also keep in touch with two additional people who were not LOR writers for me, but were people who supported me before grad school and have continue to be supportive throughout. I email them or see them in person roughly once a year, when I have the time to go visit my alma mater.

[Eigen]

I have two undergraduate professors I see about twice a year- either meet up with at conferences, or go back to my old school to visit. They've also had me come to give departmental seminars, and it's a very productive relationship. 

 

One was my undergraduate advisor, and I still consider him one of my primary and important mentors. The other was a letter writer, and we now have more opportunities to talk about/collaborate on research. 

 

Others in the department I keep up with, but less frequently and personally. 

[bsharpe269]

I unfortunately dont keep in touch with my undergrad advisor at all. I had a bit of an unfortunate falling out with her... she really wanted to me to stay at that school at do the phd program but I wasnt completely passionate about the research and wanted to take a break and figure out exactly what I wanted to study. I actually received a big research award at graduation and she didnt even show up. We havent spoken since I graduated.

 

Anyway, that being said, I cannot imagine falling out of touch with my current PI for my MS and a couple other professors. My PI is so amazing and sits down to give my advice about grad school applications and teaches me random subjects that im interested in. I want to stay in similar reserach so my greatest hope is that we can stay in touch and collaborate in the future!

[TakeruK]

My experience with keeping up with my former supervisors match that of Eigen and fuzzy! I always look forward to our field's annual conference because I know I'll get a chance to catch up with them (and others!)

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I unfortunately dont keep in touch with my undergrad advisor at all. I had a bit of an unfortunate falling out with her... she really wanted to me to stay at that school at do the phd program but I wasnt completely passionate about the research and wanted to take a break and figure out exactly what I wanted to study. I actually received a big research award at graduation and she didnt even show up. We havent spoken since I graduated.

 

Anyway, that being said, I cannot imagine falling out of touch with my current PI for my MS and a couple other professors. My PI is so amazing and sits down to give my advice about grad school applications and teaches me random subjects that im interested in. I want to stay in similar reserach so my greatest hope is that we can stay in touch and collaborate in the future!

This. The same exact thing is happening with me. My advisor really wanted me to stay at my undergrad university. I really liked working with him, and I was very tempted to stay, but I thought leaving would be best for me in the long run. While I was making my decision, he made it clear that he wanted me to stay but said he was completely supportive of whatever I choose. Except, he hasn't talked to me since I told him I was leaving. I left a thank you card and little gift in his box for all of his help during the process, but I haven't even gotten an acknowledgement. That was over a month ago. I really wanted to keep a working relationship, so I'm super bummed. 

It also is unfortunate because it was a lot like your relationship with your current PI, so I didn't expect the reaction.

Edited May 20, 2014 by TheGirlWhoLived

[rising_star]

I keep in touch with the professors from my MA program fairly regularly because I see them all once a year at the major conference. My MA advisor and I talked on Facebook the day after my defense where she congratulated me on my success, for example. I've actually talked to my MA advisor more than my PhD advisor in the last year or so, to be quite honest. I have less contact with my undergrad advisors, but that's partially because I've changed fields and so have no professional contact or relationship with them anymore. I will probably always keep in contact with some of the professors from my MA and PhD program because we work in the same subfield and because I know they'll be happy to hear about my successes.

[Gauche]

It's always good to keep in touch with former professors because you never know down the road when they could be of more help to you and vice versa. Example: Before graduating last year, I was aware that my mentor was in the midst of working on a book project that he really didn't know where to take it. I came across a book that I thought might be helpful to him, sent him an email about it, and it turned out it was exactly what he needed.

 

Of course, the frequency of keeping in touch with them depends on how close you were with your professors before you left. I was very close to three professors in particular and pretty close to several others. I visited all of them when I was in town during spring break, and the three professors that I was very close with took me to lunch as we spent an hour catching up. Also, it just all depends on the nature of the department you're from. In both departments from the two universities I've attended, both were naturally communal, so it's no surprise that professors and students keep in contact with each other after students leave.

[juilletmercredi]

My main faculty advisor from undergrad I keep in touch with occasionally - I even had lunch with her the other day (I went to college in my hometown, and I'm home visiting).  I send her email when I get something big, like my NSF or my postdoc.  Part of the reason is because she was the assistant director of a research training program I did in college, and so I want them to have information on us, but the other part is because she had a big impact on me professionally and I want to let her know about my successes - which are, in a way, her successes too.

She's always sent me back something personal, but short.  Yes, these professors move on, but I think they usually appreciate a thank you note or an update from former students.

On the flip side, as a TA and hall director I've gotten emails from former students about their progress through life and I'm always happy to get it