Choosing your PhD supervisor
Plus, the Music Highlight
Photo by Tim Alex on Unsplash
Are you thinking of doing a PhD? Well, that’s great!
A lot of programs ask you to find the supervisor on your own - except if you choose an already funded topic, with an already chosen supervisor.
If you have to choose your supervisor on your own, and you don’t know where to start, you can read this past post of mine:
Getting into a PhD program
Even before I applied for my Masters program, I knew I wanted to do a PhD.
Do you have any additional tips or personal experiences to share?
The Music Highlight
Have you ever not really liked a song or artist and then as you got older you liked them? Well, as an avid 80s fan, when I was little, I didn’t really like (I’m ashamed to say) Joe Jackson’s music. I honestly don’t know what was going on in my little head, because the following is a smashing track! I LOVE it now!
Vicky, this is an important message to prospective doctoral students! You will spend a lot of time with your supervisor (sometimes called thesis/dissertation chair or mentor.) It is a good idea to learn about their style as well as their expertise before settling on the person who will guide you through your doctoral journey. Keep in mind it is a two-way relationship and in the best situations you are both learning!
I am a former doctoral mentor - 30 people who worked with me are now Dr. Someone. I am still in touch with many of them and am very proud to see how they have used their degrees to move forward in their lives and careers.
My own experience was decidedly mixed, with excellent mentors and a horrible one! I've written about what I've learned through all these experiences, see: Mentoring and Being Mentored https://wp.me/peZSGu-7L