Never underestimate the power of a Ph.D. advisor.
Some think that picking an advisor is about picking someone famous - who can help them place in a great job, push papers, and maybe learn something along the way.
There is truth to that thought.
However.
There is more to picking an advisor than simply a career trajectory.
There is picking an advisor for their value system.
An awful lot of whom we become as scholars depend on the academic DNA shared by our advisors.
I've known advisors who were sketchy - their students? Sketchy.
I've known advisors who were balanced - their students? Balanced.
I've known advisors who were only about research - their students? Prolific.
While there is variance, for example, many prolific advisors have less-than-prolific students, an amazing number of students turn out like their advisors.
I know, because my advisor and I are more similar than not.
We value raising independent students.
We value doing research the right way.
We value teaching well.
Most of all, we value candor - you know exactly where you stand - which has not always made it easy.
From what I understand, his advisor was known for brilliant research, teaching, & raising independent students.
As I've matured, that academic DNA has only become more pronounced.
And I've noticed that my students show similar traits.
My early students have become independent & are not afraid of speaking their minds.
Many have won teaching awards.
All have tenured.
My recent students are on track for the same.
Developing their own ideas.
Willing to chase difficult ideas.
Committed to teaching.
While none of them are like me in their private lives, most are a lot more balanced, all of them show signs of sharing my advisor's, and his advisor's academic DNA.
Who trains use shapes who we become.
So, when picking an advisor, do a gut check.
Ask yourself, do you respect their value system? Do you respect how they do research? And do you respect how they treat students?
More than a path to success, your advisor will shape what you view as important in your career - which will shape your decisions in the years to come.
Make sure that you pick one that sets you on the path that you want or that you need.
I was lucky to pick on that set me on the pat that I needed - but that is another post!
Best of luck.
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