Spring usually means a break in academic work for most university students, but for graduate students it seems the work never ends. A thesis or dissertation, indeed, can seem to take over your life! So now that the undergrads are off on holidays and at summer jobs, let's devote a few columns to the academic writing needs of the grad student.
A graduate thesis/dissertation is, of course, the work of the student, but it is in many ways the final product of a team effort, the team being the student and his/her advisor or supervisor. The comments and critiques of the supervisor have a huge impact on the student's research and subsequent "writing up" of that research.
Therefore, it's crucial to choose a supervisor that you can work with, and whose comments you can trust to guide you successfully through the sometimes agonizing process of writing.
Thus, choosing a supervisor is an important "prequel" to writing a thesis.
Here are some pointers on how to choose effectively, especially when you're new in a department and may not know which person is the best one for you to work with.
1. Become familiar with the type of research each faculty member does. This means reading journals, attending conferences (or reading the published papers from conferences), and sitting in on any presentations, colloquia or "brown bag lunch" talks given by various faculty. You will want to choose someone whose research interests are similar to your own, and who uses a research methodology you are comfortable with.
2. After getting an idea of a few professors you'd be interested in working with, make appointments to sit down and talk with them about your research interests. Listen to their feedback, and see which one(s) are the most encouraging and who show the most interest. If they express little or no interest, they may suggest other people to talk to.
3. At the meeting, ask the professors, too, about their availability during your graduate program. Find out how much time they will be on campus for consultations, and whether they will be taking any leaves of absence, sabbaticals or long holidays. It is frustrating to be in the middle of a thesis with a huge problem, only to find that your supervisor is away for a semester at another university!
A graduate thesis/dissertation is, of course, the work of the student, but it is in many ways the final product of a team effort, the team being the student and his/her advisor or supervisor. The comments and critiques of the supervisor have a huge impact on the student's research and subsequent "writing up" of that research.
Therefore, it's crucial to choose a supervisor that you can work with, and whose comments you can trust to guide you successfully through the sometimes agonizing process of writing.
Thus, choosing a supervisor is an important "prequel" to writing a thesis.
Here are some pointers on how to choose effectively, especially when you're new in a department and may not know which person is the best one for you to work with.
1. Become familiar with the type of research each faculty member does. This means reading journals, attending conferences (or reading the published papers from conferences), and sitting in on any presentations, colloquia or "brown bag lunch" talks given by various faculty. You will want to choose someone whose research interests are similar to your own, and who uses a research methodology you are comfortable with.
2. After getting an idea of a few professors you'd be interested in working with, make appointments to sit down and talk with them about your research interests. Listen to their feedback, and see which one(s) are the most encouraging and who show the most interest. If they express little or no interest, they may suggest other people to talk to.
3. At the meeting, ask the professors, too, about their availability during your graduate program. Find out how much time they will be on campus for consultations, and whether they will be taking any leaves of absence, sabbaticals or long holidays. It is frustrating to be in the middle of a thesis with a huge problem, only to find that your supervisor is away for a semester at another university!
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