Questions to Ask an Advisor
Strategic questions that help you maximize your relationship with your advisor, understand their expectations, and get the most from your academic or professional guidance.
1What are your expectations for our working relationship?
Click to see why this works
What are your expectations for our working relationship?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their expectations helps you align your approach and ensure you're meeting their requirements for the advisor-advisee relationship.
2How do you prefer to communicate and what's the best way to reach you?
Click to see why this works
How do you prefer to communicate and what's the best way to reach you?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their communication preferences helps you maintain effective contact and ensures you can reach them when needed.
3What are your research interests and how do they align with my goals?
Click to see why this works
What are your research interests and how do they align with my goals?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their research interests helps you assess whether your goals align with their expertise and whether you can benefit from their guidance.
4What's your approach to mentoring and how do you support your advisees?
Click to see why this works
What's your approach to mentoring and how do you support your advisees?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their mentoring approach helps you understand what support and guidance you can expect from them.
5What are the key milestones and deadlines I should be aware of?
Click to see why this works
What are the key milestones and deadlines I should be aware of?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding key milestones helps you plan your work and ensure you meet all requirements and deadlines.
6How do you handle conflicts or disagreements with advisees?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle conflicts or disagreements with advisees?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their approach to conflicts helps you know how to address any issues that may arise in your working relationship.
7What are your expectations for my academic or professional development?
Click to see why this works
What are your expectations for my academic or professional development?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their expectations helps you focus on the areas that are most important to them and your development.
8How do you provide feedback and what's your approach to evaluation?
Click to see why this works
How do you provide feedback and what's your approach to evaluation?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their feedback approach helps you know how to receive and respond to their guidance and evaluation.
9What are the opportunities for collaboration and how do you work with other students?
Click to see why this works
What are the opportunities for collaboration and how do you work with other students?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding collaboration opportunities helps you assess whether you can work with other students and benefit from group projects.
10What's your approach to work-life balance and how do you support your advisees' well-being?
Click to see why this works
What's your approach to work-life balance and how do you support your advisees' well-being?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their approach to work-life balance helps you assess whether they support your personal and professional well-being.
11How do you handle different learning styles and what's your approach to teaching?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different learning styles and what's your approach to teaching?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their teaching approach helps you know how to work with them and what to expect from their guidance.
12What are the opportunities for professional development and career guidance?
Click to see why this works
What are the opportunities for professional development and career guidance?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding professional development opportunities helps you assess whether they can support your career goals and development.
13How do you handle different levels of experience and what's your approach to skill development?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different levels of experience and what's your approach to skill development?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their approach to skill development helps you know how they'll support your learning and growth.
14What are your expectations for my contribution to your research or projects?
Click to see why this works
What are your expectations for my contribution to your research or projects?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their expectations helps you know what you'll be expected to contribute and how you can add value to their work.
15How do you handle different types of projects and what's your approach to project management?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different types of projects and what's your approach to project management?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their project management approach helps you know how to work with them on different types of projects.
16What are the opportunities for networking and professional relationships?
Click to see why this works
What are the opportunities for networking and professional relationships?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding networking opportunities helps you assess whether they can help you build valuable professional relationships.
17How do you handle different types of challenges and what's your approach to problem-solving?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different types of challenges and what's your approach to problem-solving?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their problem-solving approach helps you know how to work with them when challenges arise.
18What are your expectations for my independence and how do you balance guidance with autonomy?
Click to see why this works
What are your expectations for my independence and how do you balance guidance with autonomy?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their approach to independence helps you know how much autonomy you'll have and when to seek guidance.
19How do you handle different types of feedback and what's your approach to continuous improvement?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different types of feedback and what's your approach to continuous improvement?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their feedback approach helps you know how to receive and respond to their guidance for continuous improvement.
20What are the next steps in our working relationship and how can I best prepare?
Click to see why this works
What are the next steps in our working relationship and how can I best prepare?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding the next steps helps you know what to expect and how to prepare for your ongoing working relationship.
Maximizing Your Advisor Relationship
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Be Proactive and Prepared
Come to meetings with specific questions and be prepared to discuss your progress, challenges, and goals. This shows you're serious about your development.
Communicate Regularly
Maintain regular communication with your advisor and keep them updated on your progress, challenges, and achievements.
Be Open to Feedback
Be receptive to feedback and guidance, even when it's challenging. Use their input to improve and grow in your field.
Question Sequences
The Working Relationship Sequence
The Development and Growth Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Wait for Them to Initiate
Don't wait for your advisor to reach out to you. Be proactive in maintaining communication and seeking guidance.
Don't Ignore Their Feedback
Take their feedback seriously and use it to improve. Ignoring their guidance can damage your relationship and hinder your development.
Don't Skip Regular Check-ins
Maintain regular communication and check-ins. Don't let long periods go by without touching base with your advisor.