Selecting Your Graduate Thesis Advisor: Crucial Decisions for Success
A student at Princeton University, currently engaged in writing a senior thesis, shares their strategies for finding the ideal advisor to guide them through this significant academic journey.
The student's favourite classes were SPI340: Psychology of Decision Making and Judgment, and PSY338: From Animal Learning to Changing People's Minds. These courses sparked a passion that led them to pursue a thesis in related fields.
When it comes to finding the perfect advisor, the student recommends starting early and exploring interests to identify faculty whose research aligns with your evolving passions. This allows more time to build a relationship before the thesis process begins.
Another important factor is seeking faculty with appropriate expertise and a style that suits your needs. Whether you prefer regular detailed feedback, encouraging independence, or collaborative brainstorming, finding an advisor whose style matches yours is crucial.
The student also suggests consulting upperclassmen and department resources to gain insights into faculty members' accessibility, supportiveness, and effectiveness. Departments often provide lists or profiles of faculty available for thesis advising.
Considering availability and compatibility is also essential. Good thesis advising requires time and commitment from the faculty member, so verifying that the potential advisor's current workload and priorities allow them to invest in your project adequately is important.
Attending department events and classes can provide a better sense of faculty interests and mentoring styles. Once you narrow down prospects, discussing your thesis ideas and expectations candidly to ensure mutual clarity on goals, feedback frequency, and deadlines is crucial.
The student recommends devising a plan with a potential advisor to understand their communication style, deadlines, and frequency of meetings. They also suggest thinking back to a favourite class at Princeton to brainstorm for a thesis idea.
The student met with their departmental adviser, Elizabeth Choe, who served as a mentor and provided recommendations for potential advisers. They also sought advice from Professor Eldar Shafir, who taught SPI340 and is known for his work in the behavioural policy field.
The student aims to share their thesis journey through a series of blog posts to help others feel better about their own theses. There is a blog post titled "Looking Back on Undergraduate Research: Dumpster Diving with Alex V. Barnard '09" in the blog archives.
Despite the challenges, the student has found the process of writing the thesis enjoyable due to their passion for the topic. They believe that finding an advisor who conducts research on topics that the student is passionate about and believes will help them reach their goals is key to a successful thesis experience.
The student emphasises that all advisers at Princeton are amazing, but finding the one who best suits your needs and interests is essential for a fulfilling and successful senior thesis. By combining these approaches beyond the general tips given by Social Sciences Correspondent Andrea Reino, you can identify an advisor at Princeton best suited to guide you through a rewarding and successful senior thesis.
- The student's senior thesis journey, driven by a passion discovered through undergraduate courses, underscores the importance of finding an advisor whose research and mentoring style aligns with personal growth and learning, as this significantly impacts education-and-self-development.
- In addition to seeking an advisor with the right expertise and availability, the student advocates for open discussions about thesis ideas, goals, and expectations, emphasizing that a good advisor should foster a learning environment that encourages personal growth and contributes to the success of the senior thesis.
