Appropriate time for Profs to give feedback on thesis approval

[Marissa4usa]

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Hi,
I am currently in my 2nd semester of a master program in experimental psych. I am in the process of writing up the proposal for my thesis. Since it's a relatively small school, there is are only few professors and only one with my specific research interest. Unfortunately this professor is known for being quite slow with everything, let is be responding to email or getting back in a timely manner about important issues regarding paperwork.

I am aware that the thesis process is not supposed to be easy and that I need to put many hours in to be successful. I, however, consider myself hard-working and driven; traits that should allow me to graduate within the typical two years, given...(and here comes the problem) that your professor is on the same page. From students who have previously had or currently have this professor as their thesis chair, are all more than unhappy. Like I said, it's a small department and there is no way for to switch, simply because no other prof would be able to be my chair.

I am thinking that if I clearly state my intentions (i.e. finishing in two years and going to a PhD program) I can somewhat sugar coat her. However, obviously, this only works, if she gives me regular feedback on my proposal drafts. I was considering to come with something along the lines of a timeline and a "contract" where we both agree to stick to certain dates...officially it would be more for me but obviously she needs to do her part in order for me to stick to my deadlines.

Question: what is an acceptable time-frame to expect feedback from a professor on your proposal (my proposal wont be much longer than 25-30 pages)? How quickly did you submit revisions? and how many drafts did you have your prof look at until they approved? I realize that it is different for everyone but I am just trying to get feel for how realistic my own goals and hence timeline is.

Thanks!

Note: Title should be "proposal", not "approval"...sorry, it's late.

 

[manko7]

Hello Marissa,

I need to get some of your perspective on this issue- What would happen if your professor did not meet your timeline?

The thing about this field is that it tends to espouse a mentorship approach instead of a class approach. This means that you will be forming close relationships with a limited set of professionals in order to hone your clinical and research skills. The folks you are studying under probably came from a PhD background so they too trained as an "apprentice" under a peer-reviewed "expert." So you mentor is probably your patron and you want to handle this issue tactfully.

Trying to enforce a contract may or may not be the best way to approach this issue. It really depends on the outlook of your mentor and whether he/she is receptive to this coercion. Remember that your adviser is pretty busy as well.

That being said I understand you concerns about being a perpetual student. No one wants schooling to be indefinite and we have all heard horror stories of 7+ years of graduate school. But you may require more than 2 years to get your masters and I'm not sure you can mandate 2 years (but by all means communicate your hopes to your professor.). You may have a high opinion of your skills, but in the end, its your patron's, er...adviser's call. If you need 3 years, well, that's just what it takes.

Some of your peers may advance faster than you. But I encourage you to work at your pace, and not engage in strict social comparison.

When it comes to drafts the number can be indefinite. Why? Because no experiment is perfect and any level of criticism can be amplified or minimized by your adviser. I know this may be frightening, but work with your professor and be sure to keep the lines of communication open. Lastly, please be patient when working with your adviser. If you irritate him/her it's not a good thing at all.

 

[Marissa4usa]

What would happen if your professor did not meet your timeline?

Do you mean, if she didn't agree to it or if she couldn't stick to it. I guess, either way, I'd have to deal with it.

So you mentor is probably your patron and you want to handle this issue tactfully.

I am very well aware of that. That's why I have talked to other students in my department (including those working with her) and why I am seeking advice here.

Trying to enforce a contract may or may not be the best way to approach this issue. It really depends on the outlook of your mentor and whether he/she is receptive to this coercion. Remember that your adviser is pretty busy as well.

Well, I can't enforce a anything if my prof does go along with it 🙂.
And yeah, I know profs are busy, however (correct me if I am wrong) they should not be so busy that they can't handle their graduate students' theses in a timely manner. they shouldn't take students on if they are too busy with other things

That being said I understand you concerns about being a perpetual student. No one wants schooling to be indefinite and we have all heard horror stories of 7+ years of graduate school. But you may require more than 2 years to get your masters and I'm not sure you can mandate 2 years (but by all means communicate your hopes to your professor.). You may have a high opinion of your skills, but in the end, its your patron's, er...adviser's call. If you need 3 years, well, that's just what it takes.

I couldn't agree more. There are many reasons why it could take longer, e.g. my writing skills, lit review not sufficient, methods section lacks, however, it should not take longer, because a prof takes forever to give you feedback every single time. This is not about my skills but simply a time issue which is why I am asking what an acceptable turn around time frame is for the "average busy professor" that I can ask for?
I'm in a (what is advertised as a) 2 year masters program, so the attitude I am having that as the "average grad student" (i.e. willing to work hard) I should be at least in theory be able to finish in two years, but obviously that requires that my professors have the same outlook. Again, that does not account for various other factors, but at least prof, in my opinion, should not actively work against this 2 year "deadline".

When it comes to drafts the number can be indefinite. Why? Because no experiment is perfect and any level of criticism can be amplified or minimized by your adviser. I know this may be frightening, but work with your professor and be sure to keep the lines of communication open. Lastly, please be patient when working with your adviser. If you irritate him/her it's not a good thing at all.

I am very well aware of this as well. I certainly don't think of myself as an extraordinary student who hands in their first draft and pretty much believes it to get approved right away. I've heard many numbers from 3 to 30. Again, this is more to not look like a total fool by coming up with ridiculously low number of possible revisions.

Thanks for any advice how to do this whole thing tactfully!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]