How to graduate without burning bridges
July 25, 2011 8:48 PM Subscribe
How do I solve this sticky situation with regards to my Honours thesis?
For reference, I am in Canada and I study in a combined major subsection of science that is booming but nonetheless small. I am in my fifth year of doing my undergraduate program, which I no longer have much real interest in, and just want to graduate already.
I found my thesis advisor in November of last year because I was extremely keen about setting up my work for the summer. I was really interested in what he was studying and wanted to work with him a lot. However, in January my mother passed away and my winter semester was thoroughly derailed. My thesis advisor was my professor for one of my classes and was very supportive throughout my difficult semester, complete with accomodations for all of my assignments. He had originally asked me to submit some things with regards to thesis work but I didn't manage to get them in on time, sending him emails to explain the situation and he seemed very understanding.
In the second week of July, I sent him an email updating on my situation and asking what I could do to get my thesis back on track. He responded that he had replaced me for the upcoming year as he had assumed I was no longer interested. He then said he no longer had funding for me and I would have to find a new advisor. I asked him if he knew who still had room in their labs in the department and he said he did not know.
I am left feeling very confused about how to deal with this. I feel very angry that I now have to email various faculty and discuss my sensitive situation while feeling like a failure. My thesis advisor is also department undergraduate advisor, so I don't have anyone else I can really go to for counsel or information. Is this something I should take to Equity Services (I don't have documentation with Student Counselling with regards to this, but I do have an off-campus therapist who can vouch)? I'm tempted to ask my thesis advisor to find a place for me with another faculty or his own lab as I didn't really have control over my situation but I feel this will reflect poorly on myself.
We don't have an essay stream, otherwise I would just go to this. I want to finish my degree this year so I can move on and do other things with my life (and I would like to have my degree completed so that I can apply to do my B.Ed. and put it on resumes).
For reference, I am in Canada and I study in a combined major subsection of science that is booming but nonetheless small. I am in my fifth year of doing my undergraduate program, which I no longer have much real interest in, and just want to graduate already.
I found my thesis advisor in November of last year because I was extremely keen about setting up my work for the summer. I was really interested in what he was studying and wanted to work with him a lot. However, in January my mother passed away and my winter semester was thoroughly derailed. My thesis advisor was my professor for one of my classes and was very supportive throughout my difficult semester, complete with accomodations for all of my assignments. He had originally asked me to submit some things with regards to thesis work but I didn't manage to get them in on time, sending him emails to explain the situation and he seemed very understanding.
In the second week of July, I sent him an email updating on my situation and asking what I could do to get my thesis back on track. He responded that he had replaced me for the upcoming year as he had assumed I was no longer interested. He then said he no longer had funding for me and I would have to find a new advisor. I asked him if he knew who still had room in their labs in the department and he said he did not know.
I am left feeling very confused about how to deal with this. I feel very angry that I now have to email various faculty and discuss my sensitive situation while feeling like a failure. My thesis advisor is also department undergraduate advisor, so I don't have anyone else I can really go to for counsel or information. Is this something I should take to Equity Services (I don't have documentation with Student Counselling with regards to this, but I do have an off-campus therapist who can vouch)? I'm tempted to ask my thesis advisor to find a place for me with another faculty or his own lab as I didn't really have control over my situation but I feel this will reflect poorly on myself.
We don't have an essay stream, otherwise I would just go to this. I want to finish my degree this year so I can move on and do other things with my life (and I would like to have my degree completed so that I can apply to do my B.Ed. and put it on resumes).
Response by poster: Sorry for forgetting such crucial information! I have not begun anything. I am not supposed to begin anything until September, as far as I understand. Some advisors require some kind of proposal (which is what I failed to get to my advisor), others do not; most just tag you onto an existing masters or phd student. We are not a very research heavy university so funding is limited.
posted by buteo at 9:00 PM on July 25, 2011
posted by buteo at 9:00 PM on July 25, 2011
Best answer: I am so sorry for your loss.
Please take the initiative in approaching professors you may want to work with. This always reflects on you better than having an advisor "place" you.
Don't wait too long - labs will fill up fast and faculty don't want to deal with undergrads needing last-minute placing. Respect their time by contacting them soon. Stop by the lab if you can and if that is ok with their particular lab culture. Have a resume of some sort that lists your skills and bring a copy of your transcript.
You are correct that you would come off poorly if you made this situation the responsibility of your former advisor. This is a chance to start establishing yourself as a professional. Your career has already begun, actually. Even if you change fields, the faculty you research with can be a work reference for you. This is about so much more than your thesis.
Best of luck!
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:32 PM on July 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
Please take the initiative in approaching professors you may want to work with. This always reflects on you better than having an advisor "place" you.
Don't wait too long - labs will fill up fast and faculty don't want to deal with undergrads needing last-minute placing. Respect their time by contacting them soon. Stop by the lab if you can and if that is ok with their particular lab culture. Have a resume of some sort that lists your skills and bring a copy of your transcript.
You are correct that you would come off poorly if you made this situation the responsibility of your former advisor. This is a chance to start establishing yourself as a professional. Your career has already begun, actually. Even if you change fields, the faculty you research with can be a work reference for you. This is about so much more than your thesis.
Best of luck!
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:32 PM on July 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
It would be next to impossible to 'place' you - those positions need to be funded in advance (and are filled quickly, as you can see). You could offer to volunteer - that would eliminate the need for funding, you would have access to the research you need to work on your thesis, and you can still work with the type of data you are interested in. Check with the adviser's office - we have 4 full time employees (not faculty), year round, to help with things like this.
posted by blackkar at 9:43 PM on July 25, 2011
posted by blackkar at 9:43 PM on July 25, 2011
Response by poster: Halogen, considering that is the ONLY credit I will be missing to graduate with Honours I would be incredibly annoyed with myself if I didn't go through with it. Especially since I changed programs to get into this one, prolonging my undergrad by a year.
posted by buteo at 12:15 AM on July 26, 2011
posted by buteo at 12:15 AM on July 26, 2011
I'd follow Knowyournuts's advice then, and find out ASAP what your options are as far as securing your own funding goes that you could then bring to any lab – you'd be a much more appealing candidate that way. Does your department's honors program have discretionary funds you can apply for? Even if it's not an official program, it might be worth it to ask around. Is there a university-wide honors research program that might be able to fund you? It might be worth it to talk to coordinators even if you've missed deadlines, you might be surprised (worked out very well for me as an undergraduate).
As far as finding a lab goes, are you friendly with any graduate students that are doing interesting work? You might have better luck getting into a lab if you already know someone who is willing to introduce you to research and bring you up to date.
posted by halogen at 1:06 AM on July 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
As far as finding a lab goes, are you friendly with any graduate students that are doing interesting work? You might have better luck getting into a lab if you already know someone who is willing to introduce you to research and bring you up to date.
posted by halogen at 1:06 AM on July 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Don't get mad at the professor. It's not his fault. It is fair for him to simultaneously care about your situation and care for all the other students who are interested in your position. That's his job.
Knowyournuts's advice is excellent. It's your responsibility--even though you just got hit hard with your mom.
These kinds of situations need constant, in-person, shepherding. Don't leave this up to someone else. Make the meetings. Go out of your way. This will impress the decision-makers and is your best defense.
Strategy consideration:
If you press the issue of personal grievance, your professor will/should suggest taking a break. If your professor is professional--and he sounds like it--then he'll have too much respect for the degree you're earning and the process of earning it to suggest any compromises (AKA: doing less work or having a easier time because of personal events--even really hard ones like you're going through). If you want to graduate, then I recommend focusing on graduation issues with this and other professors, not personal ones. Save the personal issues for your friends, family and therapist. Professors are sometimes like friends, but remember: their primary responsibility is towards shaping you into what your school's mission dictates--bank on them taking that seriously.
posted by Murray M at 3:42 AM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Knowyournuts's advice is excellent. It's your responsibility--even though you just got hit hard with your mom.
These kinds of situations need constant, in-person, shepherding. Don't leave this up to someone else. Make the meetings. Go out of your way. This will impress the decision-makers and is your best defense.
Strategy consideration:
If you press the issue of personal grievance, your professor will/should suggest taking a break. If your professor is professional--and he sounds like it--then he'll have too much respect for the degree you're earning and the process of earning it to suggest any compromises (AKA: doing less work or having a easier time because of personal events--even really hard ones like you're going through). If you want to graduate, then I recommend focusing on graduation issues with this and other professors, not personal ones. Save the personal issues for your friends, family and therapist. Professors are sometimes like friends, but remember: their primary responsibility is towards shaping you into what your school's mission dictates--bank on them taking that seriously.
posted by Murray M at 3:42 AM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:58 PM on July 25, 2011