Hello #academics, I'm a #PhDStudent in need of advice! (#EarlyModern #Theatre)
Context: I’m enrolled in a PhD program, enjoy it, BUT! The academics I listed as potential supervisors retired.
I met with one potential supervisor, liked her input, but our communication styles differ (me: anxious; her: 2 weeks since email, no response).
Program director says thesis director/supervisor can be from another uni.
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Question: what do I do?
Reaching out to academic at other uni seems weird. They have their own students to support!
Basically would like to have your opinions, advice, maybe talk this out in DM. I need to set my brain straight, quiet anxiety, and find a way forward.
@TeamAufidius Forgive me if what I am saying is obvious! I’m sure you’ve been thinking about this for a long time!
1. Make a list of what you need. (Guidance through your program; feedback on particular texts; introductions professionally; a network of academics in the same field; reassurance; etc)
2. Start thinking about what combination of resources you can use to get what you need. Perhaps: an advisor not in your immediate field at your home institution; an involved 3rd reader; (cont)
@TeamAufidius + membership in a reading group at a nearby university; consistent attendance at talks elsewhere; + a class at the Newberry or Folger to build a non-institutional network.
Your solution will look different! But in general, the options seem to me to be either (1) look into transferring or (2) deliberately assemble what you need.
@TeamAufidius This prospective advisor gives good feedback but you have unmet communication needs. That’s a start!
(Also, grad school conflates personal, professional, and social anxieties in a way that I needed a therapist to work through. At no other point are the categories so confused! Figuring out that I had particular mental health needs was a key part of this for me.)
@TeamAufidius reaching out to someone from another uni isn't weird at all. Let them consider their time resources etc (and don't forget having students has its advantages for them)
I would try to approach PhD students who had an outside advisor, though, to make sure it's not a bureaucratic hell or something.
Kim Gauthier
matthewharrison
Nadav Perez-Vaisvidovsky
Ada Palmer