The journey to earning a Ph.D. can often feel like going through a crucible. At times, you may find yourself wondering if you will emerge stronger, having been forged in fire? Or will you be reduced to ash? What happens when the Virgil assigned to guide you through the furthest reaches of the academic underworld goes MIA?
Feeling abandoned by your Ph.D. advisor is a panic-inducing experience that is unfortunately not uncommon in today’s higher education landscape. There are many factors that contribute to a graduate student’s overall sense of wellbeing, and their relationship with their advisor is one of the most significant. When the stakes are so high, a sense of disconnect can feel like the end of the world–or at least your academic career.
Fear not: it doesn’t have to be. While it is natural to be unsettled when you feel like your advisor has cast you adrift, it’s also important to know that you have options. When major problems like this arise during the course of a graduate program, many students tend to further withdraw and eventually quit their program. Before making any major decisions, it may help to get some perspective and try to see another path forward.
These are a few commonly asked questions about what to do when your Ph.D. advisor is ignoring you:
- What should I expect from my Ph.D. advisor?
- Why is my Ph.D. advisor ignoring me?
- What can I do to reconnect with my Ph.D. advisor?
- What can I do if my Ph.D. advisor keeps ignoring me?
What Should I Expect from My Ph.D. Advisor?
The role that a Ph.D. advisor is expected to play varies widely depending on the program. In some programs, advisors reach out to students immediately upon enrollment, they hold multiple advising meetings every semester, and they take on mentoring responsibilities. They are present for every milestone throughout your program, cheering you on from the sidelines. In other programs, the advisor registers you for classes and that’s about it. The difference can be that drastic.
Most graduate student-Ph.D. advisor relationships fall somewhere in the middle. When I was a Ph.D. student, my advisor was knowledgeable, available, and committed to my success in the program. However, he was not a cheerleader or even particularly concerned with my emotional well-being; he was more of a “sink or swim, it’s up to you” kind of guy. That was okay, but only because I was enthusiastically mentored by other faculty in my program.
Why is My Ph.D. Advisor Ignoring Me?
There are many reasons why your Ph.D. advisor may not be as engaged as you would like them to be, whether there are long stretches of silence or they are completely unresponsive. In some cases, you may not be hearing from your advisor because everything is fine; your coursework is going well and you’re meeting faculty expectations: no news is good news.
However, radio silence may also be a sign that something is amiss. While the problem might have something to do with you, it’s also possible that your Ph.D. advisor is simply overwhelmed. Faculty members have a litany of responsibilities, from teaching and service to advising and research. From my own experience as a professor, I can say that it’s a constant balancing act, and sometimes I need a gentle email reminder (or two).
That being said, it’s important to trust your instincts if you feel like something more serious is going on. Your Ph.D. advisor is likely busy and perhaps overcommitted, but they are still responsible for you. If your Ph.D. advisor has stopped responding to phone calls and emails or you don’t hear from them for long stretches of time, it’s a good idea to take action. Early intervention is best; don’t wait an entire semester (or longer) to find out what’s going on.
Reconnecting with Your Ph.D. Advisor
Be proactive. If you are on campus or live near campus, start checking in with your Ph.D. advisor regularly. All faculty, everywhere, hold office hours, whether they are in person or online. Office hours are blocks of time designated specifically for students, not enough of whom take advantage of the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with an expert in the field they’re studying. Make no mistake: facetime outside of class is important.
When it comes to engaging with your Ph.D. advisor, being enrolled in an online or low-residency program can present additional challenges. They are not insurmountable, but more effort on your part may be needed. If possible, try to make the trek to campus and meet with your advisor in person. If not, no worries: technology is better than ever, making it easy to connect with your Ph.D. advisor. Ask your Ph.D. advisor for regular Zoom meetings to check in and make sure you’re on the right track.
What if the Problem Persists?
In my experience, many graduate students blame themselves when their advisor keeps ignoring them. They assume the worst: they aren’t doing well in their program, their research isn’t up to snuff, they aren’t worth their advisor’s time. Hopefully, this isn’t the case. Ph.D. advisors are human, and they are just as subject to personality conflicts as everybody else. If the two of you didn’t hit it off and your communication hasn’t improved, it’s time to consider your options.
If talking to your advisor doesn’t work, reach out to your department chair and see if they have any suggestions. Ask about switching advisors. In some departments, this may be a complicated request because of workload allocations, but the chair should be able to figure it out. See if there is a possibility to work with another faculty member, one whom you’ve gotten along with in previous semesters.
If you are far enough along in your program, you may also consider transitioning to the faculty member who will chair your dissertation committee. Or, stick with your current advisor, but supplement their lack of support by asking another faculty member or two for formal mentorship. Don’t despair: there are other people who will be happy to help you. Find them.
