5 Things Your Advisor Wishes you knew
Navigating your relationship with your PhD advisor or your committee can sometimes feel like a hidden curriculum, or an unwritten rulebook — one that you’re somehow expected to already understand.
One very common theme in our conversations with current PhD students is an uncertainty around what they’re able to ask for from their supervisor, which often leads to an anxiety around reaching out to them or sending them updates or drafts. But here’s the secret: your supervisor wants you to succeed, and they want to support you.
The 🔑 key?
Learning how to manage your working relationship in a way that works for you.
Here are five things your PhD advisor wishes you knew
You’re in the driver’s seat.
Your PhD is your project. Advisors are there to guide and support you, but the exciting thing about a PhD project is the fact that you get to shape your own research journey.
2. It’s okay (and encouraged!) to ask for what you need.
Whether it’s more regular check-ins, clearer deadlines, or specific feedback, advocating for yourself is a skill — one that will serve you throughout your PhD, and beyond.
3. You might not always agree — and that’s okay.
Healthy academic working relationships allow for a dialogue. If you have concerns or differing perspectives, listening to feedback and approaching them with openness and clarity will lead to better outcomes (and stronger research!).
4. Boundaries matter — for both of you.
Setting clear expectations around meetings, communication, and feedback timelines can make your working relationship so much smoother.
5. You are not an inconvenience.
Seriously. If you’re feeling anxious about reaching out or ‘bothering’ them, remember: supporting you is part of their job, and your work matters. You are worthy of their support.
If any of these resonate with you, or if you ever felt unsure about how to approach your advisor, please know this is something that lots of PhD students are navigating. Part of working on a PhD is working out HOW to do a PhD, and setting up a healthy, communicative, and supportive working relationship with your supervisors and advisors is an integral part of this process.
