Questions To
Consider In Selecting A Dissertation Advisor
These questions have been adapted from a document
prepared by the Graduate School, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
- .....Is the advisor an
expert in the area of research or scholarship that you intend to pursue?
Is his/her critical or theoretical orientation consistent with yours?
- ..... How much freedom
will you have in your choice of dissertation topic with this advisor?
- .....What is the
reputation of the advisor within the discipline?
- .....How responsive is
the advisor? How long does it take him/her to return written material with
comments?
- .....How accessible is
the advisor for discussion?
- .....Is the advisor
likely to remain on the faculty for the duration of your degree work?
- .....How many students
does he/she advise? If none, why? If a large number, does this affect the
attention that he/she pays to individual students?
- .....How much time does
he/she spend away from campus? Is he/she available during the summer?
- .....How long do
students take to complete their degrees with this advisor?
- .....What proportion of
this advisor's students successfully complete the program?
- .....What is the
placement record of this advisor's students? Where do they get jobs?
- .....Does the advisor
publish with his/her students as first author?
- .....How many
publications does the typical student accumulate with this advisor?
- .....Do the advisor's
students go to disciplinary or professional conferences?
- .....Do the advisor's
students make presentations of their own work at conferences? Do they make
presentations of joint work with the advisor?
- .....How much
interaction is there with other advisees of this faculty member? Does
he/she direct a research group or rather a series of individuals?
- .....How much of the
research is collaborative with the advisor and/or other advisees?
- .....How much
involvement is expected in "group" research projects that are
not appropriate for inclusion in your dissertation? How much of this
contributes to your professional development and marketability?
- .....How is credit for
collaborative work assigned?
- .....Is the advisor
engaged in patentable or saleable work? If so, how does he/she assign
credit to the student? Does this work get published promptly?
- .....Is the advisor's
work funded? What are the guarantees of funding for the advisor's
students? Do the advisor's students get summer support?
- .....Does the advisor
assist his/her students in obtaining their own funding from outside
sources such as fellowship programs?
- .....Does the advisor
have good relations with other faculty in the program?
- .....Does the advisor
have a reputation for ethical behavior?
- .....Are the advisor's
work habits compatible with your own?
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