Meeting with Potential Advisors
As a prospective graduate student, it is important to thoroughly research and carefully choose a graduate program and advisor that align with your academic and career goals. One of the best ways to do this is by reaching out to potential advisors and having a conversation about their research and the program.
When reaching out to a potential advisor, it is important to have a clear understanding of their research interests and how they align with your own. Some questions to ask a potential advisor include:
Can you tell me more about your current research projects and how they align with my interests?
How would you describe the graduate program and what kind of support do you provide for graduate students?
How many graduate students do you currently advise and what is your typical advising schedule?
Can you tell me more about the resources available to graduate students in the program?
Can you tell me about any funding opportunities available for graduate students in the program?
In addition to asking questions, it is important to be prepared to discuss your own background, research interests, and goals. Potential advisors will likely ask about your previous research experience, publications, and any relevant coursework.
During the conversation, potential advisors may also ask about your career goals and how the graduate program and their research will help you achieve them. It is also important to be prepared to ask about the advisor's expectations for graduate students, such as how much time is expected to be spent on research, coursework and other activities like attending conferences, seminars, and field work. Be sure to convey what is important to you as well. This is just as much a process of you interviewing them as it is them interviewing you.
Overall, talking to potential advisors is an important step in the graduate school application process. It allows you to get a better understanding of the program and research opportunities available, as well as gauge whether the advisor and program align with your academic and career goals. It is important to be prepared and to ask thoughtful, relevant questions.
