...Doctoral students assume that "if they just do their work, the cream will rise to the top," says Gene C. Fant, Jr., chairman of the English department at Union University, in Tennessee. "And, yes, that does happen, but it's also helpful to have the dairymen come in and scoop the cream off the top and make sure it goes where it needs to go. Almost no one is completely self-made"... (more)
The "dairymen" the prof in the above quote is referring to are dissertation advisors.
I know this is a very touchy topic in graduate education. And do read the rest of the article (as well as other grad school resources, such as this one I discussed in a previous post) for additional caveats and context. But. There is no escaping the importance of the "right" dissertation advisor for a graduate student who has designs on a research-intensive academic career.
I've joked before about the type of advisor and committee member I really need. But all joking aside, I have reaped--and continue to reap--many benefits from making the correct-for-me choices in this area. Too many grad students, in my opinion, do not make such good choices--Or they have this idea that once they make a choice they have to stick with it, even if it's not working out. (I had one student actually say to me that s/he did not want to hurt the advisor's feelings by "dumping" her/him...)
In my area and at my university, we are fortunate that we get to make that choice--I understand that in some contexts your advisor is either assigned, or pretty much assigned by default (for example, because she is the only person on the planet with access to the data or equipment you need). I also understand that "choosing" goes both ways, and that some students can make better choices because they are in turn more choose-able as advisees by potential advisors.
Anyway. A difficult subject, but a very necessary one to address.
*******Update********
Fortunately for me, this is not a subject I need to personally address. Part luck, part skill: my current advisor and committee situation is a very good one. But the closer I get (fingers crossed!) to the point where I might myself be called on to be someone's advisor, the more I realize how little formal knowledge I have received about being in that role. Researcher? Check. Instructor? Check. Author/co-author? Check. Manuscript reviewer? Check.
Advisor? No...I'll definitely be winging that--at least for a while. And it's too bad since this is one of the most important roles faculty members in higher ed play...
Posted by perry032 at July 2, 2005 06:53 AM | TrackBackWell, I for one can definitely relate to your posting! In my oral prelim exam, my very own advisor told me that I have yet to convince him that the theoretical construct I am working with is even valid! That's definitely caused me to reconsider our relationship. But on the other hand, there are so many factors that go into the relationship.
Anyway, you say that it's a necessary subject to address. Are you potentially changing advisors?
Posted by: Laurene at July 1, 2005 04:20 PM