Not all faculty advisers will share the same mentoring style. In order to assess their mentorship style, think about the following:
The information above is a summary from the University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School mentoring guide. In particular, you may want to check Part 1 Section VI for more information on what to look out for when seeking an adviser.
- Ask about the professor’s time commitments and availability to students. How frequently does this person meet with students? Is he/she on campus regularly, or will he/she be traveling or going on sabbatical? How can you stay in communication with him/her on days when you cannot meet?
- Are you able to communicate with and understand the professor?
- What are the professor’s expectations of his/her students?
- What is the reputation of this professor? Make sure you speak with other grad students and staff members to learn more about the professor’s attitudes.
The information above is a summary from the University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School mentoring guide. In particular, you may want to check Part 1 Section VI for more information on what to look out for when seeking an adviser.