Should I apply to be advisee of my master's thesis advisor in the PhD program?

[xyzpsych]

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Guys and Gals,

I'm currently a master's student in a counseling program applying to PhD programs in counseling psych. I have a difficult situation here and hope some one can give me some pointers. I somehow chose the wrong advisor for my master's thesis--well, he actually lets me graduate, but the problem is that he has no interest in the progressing of my research or professional development and is highly unavailable. It's been strenuous trying to pull it along but gladly I'm about to finish (if everything goes as planned, finger crossed)!

In hindsight I totally consider the decision to work with him a result of innocence and naivety 😕 for I hadn't realized I needed to ask him for references (which I assume is not going to be superb since he doesn't care much) and he was going to affect my chances of staying in the program for my doctorate (which is very ideal for me, I like my program A LOT except this person).

As I'm working on my statement of purpose for the program, the question came as to whether or not I should list him as one of the faculties I'm interested in working with. Of course I honestly don't want to keep working with him--at least not in significant ways--but I don't know if not stating his name would joepardize my chances of being accepted. If I do, however, will he have an important say in my admission decisions (well if I pass through the first screening)? He is one of the professors with a personality that I just cannot read, so I don't know how he thinks of me and I feel probably not exceedingly positive. Actually, I wonder if his opinion will be the most important factor to the admission committee even if I don't indicate an interest in continuing to work with him in my statement.

I will apply to a few other programs but I want to try to maximize my chances of getting in whichever program I'm applying to. I hope someone can give me some insights especially I'm not fully knowledgeable about the admission process or how faculty politics can affect my admission.

Thanks in advance!

 

[futureapppsy2]

Guys and Gals,

I'm currently a master's student in a counseling program applying to PhD programs in counseling psych. I have a difficult situation here and hope some one can give me some pointers. I somehow chose the wrong advisor for my master's thesis--well, he actually lets me graduate, but the problem is that he has no interest in the progressing of my research or professional development and is highly unavailable. It's been strenuous trying to pull it along but gladly I'm about to finish (if everything goes as planned, finger crossed)!

In hindsight I totally consider the decision to work with him a result of innocence and naivety 😕 for I hadn't realized I needed to ask him for references (which I assume is not going to be superb since he doesn't care much) and he was going to affect my chances of staying in the program for my doctorate (which is very ideal for me, I like my program A LOT except this person).

As I'm working on my statement of purpose for the program, the question came as to whether or not I should list him as one of the faculties I'm interested in working with. Of course I honestly don't want to keep working with him--at least not in significant ways--but I don't know if not stating his name would joepardize my chances of being accepted. If I do, however, will he have an important say in my admission decisions (well if I pass through the first screening)? He is one of the professors with a personality that I just cannot read, so I don't know how he thinks of me and I feel probably not exceedingly positive. Actually, I wonder if his opinion will be the most important factor to the admission committee even if I don't indicate an interest in continuing to work with him in my statement.

I will apply to a few other programs but I want to try to maximize my chances of getting in whichever program I'm applying to. I hope someone can give me some insights especially I'm not fully knowledgeable about the admission process or how faculty politics can affect my admission.

Thanks in advance!

Do you have legitimate research matches with any of the other faculty in the program?

 

[Psychadelic2012]

Seems like you're realizing the potential difficulty of applying to a doctoral program where you got your masters--it's definitely political. I'm not sure you can know what your chances are based on any of the factors you mentioned. You'll also want to consider that, after you're accepted and you're in the program, the politics will likely continue--other students will not believe you were accepted based on merit, etc. You'll also have to continue dealing with that prof, probably much more heavily than in the masters program. I'm not sure if there's some way to be open with this prof and ask him about applying to the program, while also mentioning him briefly in your statement (to maintain a good face)?

 

[paramour]

As psychadelic mentioned, I would perhaps mention him briefly in your statement (something along the lines that you've enjoyed the experience you've gained from working with Dr. X), but over the years, as your research interests have continued to develop, you've recognized that your research interests are more appropriately aligned with Drs. Y and Z (if as futureapppsy mentioned, you have legitimate interests with others in the program).... Obviously much more refined and elegantly stated (and without the Drs. X, Y, and Z! 😀