advisor change?

[clinicalgirl]

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I have a problem that I could use some insight on from those of you who have been around department politics for a while. I came to my school to work with a specific professor but now that I am here it turns out he's really not doing his job at all. He cancels meetings constantly, cancels class, gives no feedback, promises the world but follows through with nothing and sees a number of private practice clients. Any student I talk to says get out now. The other labs that I am even a little interested in would require me to give up my current research direction which isn't appealing but neither is the possibility of struggling to get through with no pubs and interships sites that may not want me because they dislike my advisor. Is there a professional way to handle this, are there questions to ask, things I may not have considered, options others have done?

 

[scienceisbeauty]

🙁 Seems like a fairly ****ty situation.
I would say, there must be a department head or something. They may be able to better help you sort out things if you explain the situation to them.

Not the greatest advice...but I have an exam tomorrow and I am just here, of course, procrastinating. I thought I'd try and be a little useful with my procrastination.

 

[positivepsych]

It can (and has) been done.

1) Do you really want to do this? Can the problems with your professor not be reconciled in a civil discussion? Nobody likes to be confrontational, but most professors are willing to get feedback if you put it in a way that this would make it more conducive for your to get your work done.

2) If no, speak to all the graduate students involved in the other labs and to their professors to really understand what's going on. Even speak to alumni of the lab to understand their (less-biased) experiences and job prospects.

3) Make the leap of faith, if satisfied with the answers you get. You wouldn't believe how many people I know switched advisors (including my own advisor!)

4) Don' worry, be 'appy! 🙂