Professor advised me to attend another program

[NorCalSLPA]

A professor at my current university heard that I got into another program elsewhere, and promptly told me that I should attend that program. To offer some background, I am hearing back from my current university's program in two weeks and very likely got in. At first I appreciated the advice. But when I asked what her reasoning was, she simply stated, "I just know" and "it's just my intuition." When I discussed it with classmates, I found that several other students were told to go to other universities by the same faculty member. These students and I agreed that the lack of explanation given is somewhat bothersome (given that many of us have been interested in attending our current school's program). 

The feeling of my classmates and I is that we have worked very hard to be in a position to have graduate school options and to be good candidates. We did not feel it was appropriate for someone in a position of authority to tell us what to do without any reasons offered. Any opinions on this exchange, or just support?  I know all this will blow over, but this kind of thing just makes you wonder why. Thank you for reading. 

Edited March 20, 2017 by NorCalSLPA

[babykoala]

I don't think we can really make any sort of judgment given that we don't know why your professor suggested that.

For what it's worth, according to my professors, there are definite benefits to doing your master's at another university, as departments can be a bit insular and going elsewhere exposes you to different people and perspectives. Not sure if that's what your professor was getting at though.

[pbandj]

I don't think it is inappropriate or odd, but it may depend on how they go about it. I would say it may be inappropriate if they give you such a suggestion in a way that makes you feel unwelcome at your own university. My mentor, although she believes in the quality of my university's program and really wants me to attend, is pushing harder for me to attend other universities. She has made it clear that she believes it is ultimately in my best interest to attend another university and be exposed to other perspectives and people, especially given my career goals. I don't think she is really telling me where to go, or saying I should limit my options. Rather, I think it is her suggesting I expand my options and look farther outside of my university. She's given similar advice to my friends, some of whom have totally gone against her suggestion and applied only to our university because they're sure it's where they want to go lol. 

That being said, she did at least give us reasons for her suggestions. I don't know how your professor went about suggesting you attend another university, but I would say if you are bothered about it you should politely ask that professor why they gave that advice. The feeling that it is inappropriate may just be a misunderstanding due to unclear communication. I am sorry you are feeling uncomfortable with the situation, and I hope it clears up soon! 

[NorCalSLPA]

56 minutes ago, pbandj said:

I don't think it is inappropriate or odd, but it may depend on how they go about it. I would say it may be inappropriate if they give you such a suggestion in a way that makes you feel unwelcome at your own university. My mentor, although she believes in the quality of my university's program and really wants me to attend, is pushing harder for me to attend other universities. She has made it clear that she believes it is ultimately in my best interest to attend another university and be exposed to other perspectives and people, especially given my career goals. I don't think she is really telling me where to go, or saying I should limit my options. Rather, I think it is her suggesting I expand my options and look farther outside of my university. She's given similar advice to my friends, some of whom have totally gone against her suggestion and applied only to our university because they're sure it's where they want to go lol. 

That being said, she did at least give us reasons for her suggestions. I don't know how your professor went about suggesting you attend another university, but I would say if you are bothered about it you should politely ask that professor why they gave that advice. The feeling that it is inappropriate may just be a misunderstanding due to unclear communication. I am sorry you are feeling uncomfortable with the situation, and I hope it clears up soon! 

Thank you for your response. I did probe by asking if there were any specific reasons behind it and she said it was "just a feeling." That was what made it difficult to accept or understand. Regardless of why it was said, I am already leaning towards attending another school. I think (as someone who has an extensive pro/con list for each program I have applied to) I was hoping for more of an explanation from my professor. I guess I can assume she just though I would enjoy my experience more and fit in better at this other program. The two programs are very different (as different at SLP MS programs can be!)

Edited March 20, 2017 by NorCalSLPA

[TakeruK]

If you are just asking whether it is appropriate or not, then my answer is yes, it is appropriate for your professor to give you career advice. It's part of their job. Of course, I am assuming that your professor is giving this advice with your interests in mind and that it is their professional opinion that you are better off attending a different school for your graduate education. I am also assuming that you have some kind of relationship with this professor where it would be appropriate for them to give you advice. 

Otherwise, if this is just some random professor in your department that doesn't know you very well, without solicitation for advice, just telling you that you should go to a different school, then well, while I believe they have the "right" to say whatever they want, I would think this is an odd thing for a professor to say. I would think this is not an appropriate thing for a professor to say to you out of the blue.

In either case, I also agree with you that you have worked hard to earn your acceptances and you should be able to make your own choices. A professor giving you a suggestion/advice does not mean you must follow their advice.

So, in the end, it's all a matter of whether or not you trust this person. If you do, then consider their advice and think about why they might say what they said. If you don't, then you don't have to feel any pressure to follow their advice. You make your own decisions!

[NorCalSLPA]

15 minutes ago, TakeruK said:

If you are just asking whether it is appropriate or not, then my answer is yes, it is appropriate for your professor to give you career advice. It's part of their job. Of course, I am assuming that your professor is giving this advice with your interests in mind and that it is their professional opinion that you are better off attending a different school for your graduate education. I am also assuming that you have some kind of relationship with this professor where it would be appropriate for them to give you advice. 

Otherwise, if this is just some random professor in your department that doesn't know you very well, without solicitation for advice, just telling you that you should go to a different school, then well, while I believe they have the "right" to say whatever they want, I would think this is an odd thing for a professor to say. I would think this is not an appropriate thing for a professor to say to you out of the blue.

In either case, I also agree with you that you have worked hard to earn your acceptances and you should be able to make your own choices. A professor giving you a suggestion/advice does not mean you must follow their advice.

So, in the end, it's all a matter of whether or not you trust this person. If you do, then consider their advice and think about why they might say what they said. If you don't, then you don't have to feel any pressure to follow their advice. You make your own decisions!

Thanks for your feedback. My relationship with this professor is somewhere between the two you described. She knows me well, but I have not sought advice from her and her statement came somewhat out of the blue at a professional event. 

I appreciate you bringing up trust. My department has a reputation for being "political" and this individual is very high on the totem pole. It is hard to know why she might say such things to not just myself, but other classmates as well, while certain students have no such conversation. 

I suppose I will have to move on and accept that she had no reasoning for her strong advice, other than she just "had a feeling" and she "just knows I will thank her next year." I need to make this decision on my own based on the factors that matter to me. A professor's magic ball sorcery does not tell my future. 

Edited March 20, 2017 by NorCalSLPA

[pbandj]

Ah, I can see why that response from your professor even after probing would be pretty odd. In any case, as you've already said in above posts, the decision comes down to you and you seem to already know a lot about your programs of interest! I hope you'll get more thorough advice from other professors and people soon as well lol. By the way, congratulations on your acceptance! You have a bright future wherever you attend graduate school!

[NorCalSLPA]

2 minutes ago, pbandj said:

Ah, I can see why that response from your professor even after probing would be pretty odd. In any case, as you've already said in above posts, the decision comes down to you and you seem to already know a lot about your programs of interest! I hope you'll get more thorough advice from other professors and people soon as well lol. By the way, congratulations on your acceptance! You have a bright future wherever you attend graduate school!

Thank you! We are going into a wonderful field, and I have at least 2 training programs that want me, so I feel silly to complain. But it's been so hard to stop focusing on the comment -- like a tooth that's coming out that your tongue is just drawn to wiggle all day.  But I know there aren't explanations for some things in life and I did my due diligence by asking why. I feel better focusing on my current program of interest and not the unexplained conversation. How exciting is it to be going to a graduate program in several short months after so much work. Must focus on that. Good luck to you!

[maurmaur]

I've had professors do something similar in the past. You mentioned that your department is rather political. It's possible she thinks the quality of the program is lower due to that. Or she knows something the students don't and is recommending them attend elsewhere as a hint nudge situation. (Schools can be shady sometimes, yes, they are great institutions, but still) I don't mean to be the crazy theorist. This is just what came to mind when I read it.

While the lack of reasons why may make it feel inappropriate, it's actually pretty common for professors to recommend their opinion especially regarding your future. While it is very hard to do so, I generally assume professors opinions are ground on some facts at least, ideally.

[ktmel87]

I don't think it's strange. My advisor pushed me to go to other schools as well simply because she knows that it's best to go to the school with the most funding. Everyone who gets their Masters gets a job.

[jmk]

I also think professors often have insight on their graduate departments and know the pros and cons of their school. I know for the three NorCal CSU's (San Jose, SFSU, East Bay), I have heard more negatives than positives regarding graduate vs undergraduate level. This is mainly due to budget/funding, less opportunities, disorganization, etc. 

[Crimson Wife]

My suspicion would be that this professor knows about behind-the-scenes turmoil that she can't talk about but is trying to warn you about indirectly. This happens all the time in the corporate world.

[maurmaur]

2 minutes ago, Crimson Wife said:

My suspicion would be that this professor knows about behind-the-scenes turmoil that she can't talk about but is trying to warn you about indirectly. This happens all the time in the corporate world.

This is honestly what I think. I was friends with a couple of professors in college and one was a newly minted PhD, she informed me of all the drama.

If you love the program, go. But take her advice to heart

[kayyyyy_]

20 minutes ago, Crimson Wife said:

My suspicion would be that this professor knows about behind-the-scenes turmoil that she can't talk about but is trying to warn you about indirectly. This happens all the time in the corporate world.

 

18 minutes ago, maurmaur said:

This is honestly what I think. I was friends with a couple of professors in college and one was a newly minted PhD, she informed me of all the drama.

If you love the program, go. But take her advice to heart

I agree completely. If there wasn't something up, she wouldn't be saying something. It's definitely something to consider.. 

[maurmaur]

5 minutes ago, NorCalSLPA said:

Thank you everyone. I thought she may have said it because I am part of a high-achieving, experienced 2nd Bachelor's program that is pretty new and taking most of the graduate-level spots. Since the 2nd Bachelor's program inception in 2015, the department has had to warn many students, "not to apply when the second Bachelor's cohort is graduating" because we take up many spots. So I thought perhaps it was project "redirect the overacheiving second bachelor's students with other options" so that more of their undergrads could get in. (This University is notorious for taking ONLY their own students).

However, this doesn't explain why so many regular undergrads (non-2nd Bachelor's students) are being told to go elsewhere. Now I am wondering whether she tells every student she has a relationship with to go elsewhere as a rule. I am certainly taking your opinions on this forum into account -- she must be warning me about the department, but cannot elaborate on it as a university representative. Thank you for sharing your hunches and insights. It was a confusing conversation to have.

My advice, when you get your acceptance officially, approach her or email her to say you want to talk about the pros and cons of each program to sort out what she thinks as an inside might think of your ideas of pros and cons. Honestly, outside of this specific aspect of your situation, it might just be a good idea in general.

[NorCalSLPA]

5 minutes ago, maurmaur said:

My advice, when you get your acceptance officially, approach her or email her to say you want to talk about the pros and cons of each program to sort out what she thinks as an inside might think of your ideas of pros and cons. Honestly, outside of this specific aspect of your situation, it might just be a good idea in general.

Thank you. That is a good idea.