1) If your institutional online presence accurately telegraphs your interests, I recommend triaging around these. E.g., I signal psychometrics and dyadic in social; secondary data analysis in clinical. Applicants who don't engage with those themes usually don't move forward - ThreadSky

About ThreadSky

johnsakaluk.bsky.social • 77 days ago

1) If your institutional online presence accurately telegraphs your interests, I recommend triaging around these.

E.g., I signal psychometrics and dyadic in social; secondary data analysis in clinical. Applicants who don't engage with those themes usually don't move forward

Comments

johnsakaluk.bsky.social•77 days ago

2) I used to approach supervision as it was my duty to facilitate students pursuing their unique interests, and I've learned the hard way that (for me) that's not the way. I'm less able to help identify what's important or not, heat-check bad plans, identify efficiencies, etc.

johnsakaluk.bsky.social•77 days ago

Now? If it's not heavily psychometric, dyadic, and/or research synthesis in flavour, I'm probably not going there. Not an indictment on the student, their ideas, or interests; just a recognition that I don't feel adequately positioned to support them.

johnsakaluk.bsky.social•77 days ago

3) When I look back at all students at all levels, the feature that stands out as unifying the students I've worked best with is psychological maturity. Often (not always) this involves students who have had a taste of the "real world"--worked, gap year, career change, etc.--and come back.

johnsakaluk.bsky.social•77 days ago

I think there's some heavy growth that occurs when one walks away--even tentatively--and chooses to come back. That clarity of purpose seems to help to boost focus, initiative, resilience (and many other qualities) in programs later.

johnsakaluk.bsky.social•77 days ago

Of course, YMMV. I think both that A) I am a strange supervisory cat; and B) I have had a "messier" early-career stage that shapes my (post-hoc) views of grad student selection.

dpmoriarity.bsky.social•77 days ago

This is all EXTREMELY helpful, John. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!

Posting Rules

Be respectful to others
No spam or self-promotion
Stay on topic
Follow Bluesky's terms of service

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply