Ripley, PhD, a psychology professor at Regent University.
Remember the big picture ... To succeed in grad school,
shift your mindset from getting good grades to getting a good
education. “Students need to realize as soon as possible that
their competition is with the world, not just those in a class
contributing to a curve,” says Bryan Fantie, PhD, a psychology
professor at American University. So don’t complain to your
advisor about that “B” in stats, says Gillespie. Instead, raise
concerns about whether you are getting the knowledge and
skills you need to be a top researcher, clinician or both.
... but don’t forget about the diploma. Completing
coursework, passing your comprehensive exam and writing
your dissertation proposal all need to come before extra clinical
placements and research collaborations, says Schlosser. “I
have students who want to get involved in a gazillion research
projects,” he says. “That’s great, but you have to prioritize or
you’ll end up an ABD (all-but-dissertation).”
Be aware of department politics ... If you can figure out
Dear Advisee, continued from page 72
students,” she says.
Be open-minded. If your student wants to try a new
statistical technique or
data-collection method, don’t dismiss it without consideration.
“Advisors can be very resistant to new ideas,” Eli says.
Additionally, advisors may not appreciate how quickly students
can conduct literature reviews, collect data and complete
statistical analysis with PsycINFO and other Internet-age tools,
says Miriam, a developmental psychology grad student. “They
think if you do something fast, you couldn’t have done it well,”
she says.
Provide clear, constructive feedback. Few things are more
discouraging than when an advisor writes, “Do you even want
to be here?” or “You aren’t taking this seriously enough” on
papers, says Sophia. “Never question a student’s motivation,”
she says. “Instead, try to provide objective feedback on the
content of the paper.” Advice on APA style and other small
edits are certainly appreciated, adds Miriam, but don’t forget to
Dear Advisor, continued from page 73
which professors have ongoing feuds, you can avoid becoming
a pawn in their power games, says Paul Wong, PhD, a professor
emeritus at Trinity Western University, in Canada. “Don’t put
someone on your thesis committee who hates your advisor
because that person will tend to be unfairly critical of your
work,” he says.
... but stay out of them. Be nice to everyone, especially
department staff, says Thomas Capo, PhD, a psychology
professor at the University of Maryland University College. They
will help you navigate the university bureaucracy so you can get
paid on time, access the equipment you need and, ultimately,
graduate on time, he says. “They always know who to contact
and, if they like you, they’ll be happy to help with your problem.”
One way to win them over is to become a regular at department-sponsored events, says Jessica Hill, PhD, a psychology professor
at the University of Florida. “Grad school isn’t just an academic
experience, it’s a social experience,” she says. “Everyone notices if
you skip that department party.” n
address big-picture questions. “I don’t just want to hear about
my writing style, I want to know if I’ve homed in on the right
theoretical model or used the right methodology,” she says.
Keep up with changes in the job market. Advisors need to
make peace with the fact that many of their students will go
on to have careers very different from their own, says Sophia.
“I am going to do research for a nonprofit,” she says. “I want
a job that isn’t going to consume my life like academe does.”
Even within the ivory tower, expectations for new professors
are changing, with funding going to scientists who can translate
their findings into programs that benefit the world and who
can communicate their work to the public, says Miriam. “Being
able to write about your research in an accessible way is a
really important skill,” she says. If you don’t have the expertise
to help your students learn new skills like these, help them
find someone who does, Eli adds. “Keep in mind the field is
changing all the time, and sometimes we know about what’s
going on before you do,” he says. n
74
Quiz: Discover what aspects of your advisor-advisee
relationship may need work by taking the “Advisory
Working Alliance Inventory” by Dr. Lewis Schlosser,
of Seton Hall University, and Dr. Charles Gelso, of the
University of Maryland.
