Choosing a graduate school advisor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your academic career. A qualified, well-respected advisor can help guide you through your graduate career by giving you advice and offering assistance as you try and navigate your way through your graduate school experience. Good mentorship is pivotal for career success. Before you leap into selecting a graduate advisor, consider these key points.
How to Find an Advisor for Graduate School
Find an Expert in Your Interests
Choosing an advisor who knows a lot about the field you’re interested in is important. If you have a specific area of study that you want to pursue in graduate school, then you’ll want to choose an advisor specializing in that area. For example, if the area you want to focus on is administration and leadership, then find someone who specializes in that. Research any articles or publications that they’ve written on the topic; this will help you see if your views align with theirs. If you find they don’t, you can either keep looking for another advisor that’s better suited for you or you can use that advisor to help challenge you academically.
Finding an advisor that is an expert in the field you are pursuing will be vital to your success. Because your interests align, they will understand your challenges and be able to give you advice and support to help you get the experience with more ease.
Ensure They Have Time
You want to select a grad advisor that has time in their schedule. As you go through the selection process make sure you ask them how much time they have to spend on each graduate student they advise. You want an advisor who you feel comfortable with and who will get back to you promptly. If you find that the perfect advisor is overloaded with work or travels a lot, then maybe you should consider a different one. Find someone who has enough time and isn’t stretched too thin.
Many of us are guilty of taking on more than we can handle. Graduate advisors are not immune to this. Make sure the person you ask to be your graduate advisor has the time to dedicate to you. As you progress through your program and internship, you will have many questions and often. You want to have an advisor that has the ability to get back to you promptly, and you do not want to feel you are “bothering” your advisor when you need to reach out. Feeling uncomfortable or annoying to your graduate advisor can certainly have adverse effects on your experience and could potentially turn you off to a career in that field. Your graduate advisor is really your “window” into that particular career path, so this experience will really impact your viewpoint.
What’s Their Reputation?
To find a well-respected advisor in the field you are pursuing, consider asking past or present students about the potential advisors you’re interested in interviewing. Asking around campus or searching for reviews of them online can help you get honest feedback. Ask how their communication skills are, how often they were available to meet, what their approach to advising is, and about their work style and research interests. Knowing all of this information will help you better gauge what kind of advisor they will be to you.
Finding a trustworthy and knowledgeable advisor can not only help you get through this important academic experience but also can help you make connections that may potentially get you a job in the future. Here are a few things to look for in a potential advisor.
Look for someone who is:
- Well-respected
- Trustworthy
- Inspiring
- Knowledgeable in their field
- Has the time
- Motivational
- Passionate
Through this experience with your advisor, you will get to network with many different people in the field, and you can gain so much knowledge from not just your advisor, but from their circle. You may make connections that could potentially help you obtain a job in the future. The possibilities are truly endless.
Do They Understand Your Career Path?
Your advisor is there to help guide you on your career path. To do this, they must understand what your career path is. To get the most out of your experience with your graduate advisor, they need to understand what your goals are for graduate school and beyond. If your long-term goal is finding a different job right after graduation, then make sure to communicate that. Professors have a lot of connections and may be able to help you network and get an interview right after you graduate. Use this time with them to discuss your goals.
Ask Lots of Questions
Graduate school is a huge commitment. To ensure you are making the right choice, it’s important to ask a lot of questions. Remember, a graduate advisor’s job is to advise you and help you pursue your goals. A great way to find the perfect fit is to interview a variety of potential advisors. Here are a few questions to ask in an interview.
- What are your credentials?
- How many graduate students are you currently advising? What is the men/woman ratio?
- What are your research interests?
- How many graduate students have graduated under your advisement?
- What is your mentorship style?
Pursuing a graduate degree is a journey, but you don’t have to do it alone. That is what your advisor is there for, they are there to help you, support you, and make sure you are on the right path. To make the best decision that is right for you in finding an advisor for grad school, take the time to research potential advisors. Ask around, do your research, use your network, and don’t be afraid to ask them the relevant questions. If you communicate your goals, it is their responsibility to help you succeed the best they can during your time in graduate school.
As John Maxwell said, “Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.” Your graduate advisor has the ability to empower you and give you the confidence, knowledge, and skills necessary to succeed!
Interested in continuing your education? Check out our education graduate programs and take your next step today!
