Rackham Graduate School

Our student bloggers took on the topic of faculty connections this past month. They offered a range of perspectives on this important relationship in graduate school and had some great advice for managing this relationship. Below are some of the highlights of this topic’s posts:

• Faculty can help you get ready for the next step (whatever that next step may be), so they can be great resources for you.
• They are the leaders in their field—tap their knowledge!
• Once upon a time, they were graduate students, too, so their hindsight can be your foresight.
• Try to listen to advice from faculty before you question it.
• Honesty at the outset of the relationship can help clarify expectations on both sides of the relationship.
• Getting to know your advisor’s working style will help you use your time well with him/her.
• Your mentor is a person, too, so be respectful of his/her time. 
• It can be intimidating at first to hold your own, but you’ll learn the walk and the talk in time and with hard work.
• To avoid Graduate Foot In Mouth Syndrome (or “GFIMS”), plan ahead, collect your thoughts, don’t fill the awkward silences, and know when it’s okay to politely excuse yourself!
• Take advantage of extra help from GSIs and academic advisors.
• The power dynamic in the mentor-student relationship can make things difficult at times (but there is support available when times get tough).
• If it isn’t working out with your advisor and you can exit graciously, then do so. If not, try to make the best of the situation.
• Look for mentors who can accelerate your growth as a person.
• Faculty can help remind you of why you are here when times get tough.

To read all of the posts on this topic, visit the Student to Student page. 

Published in: PLAN Articles Student Voices

Keywords: plan phd mentoring masters balance