Advisors, sigh
Sept. 3, 2004
I've been down lately. As avid readers (ha!) of this site know, I failed my qualifying exam last semester. I did well enough to earn another chance, but some other surrounding issues made this undesirable. Foremost, I've been extremely frustrated trying to find an advisor. I spent all last year looking, thought I found one, but didn't. I found another possibility in a new hire, but he went to Stanford instead. Dr. Ramos thankfully agreed to sign my advising form, at least on a temporary basis so I could take the qual, until I could find a permanent one.
Over the summer, I did some deliberation and discovered that I really don't need to be in theory. I've been frustrated with my lack of research progess since entering grad school. I wonder if I would have been better of back at the University of Florida. After all, there I had an advisor with whom I had weekly meetings and even published a paper. In fact, given the current organization of the department, I could better meet my research goals (primarily game theoretical applications to communication networks, but other things as well) in the systems and networking area. With this new bit of self-knowledge, I decided to see about changing my area. Of course, this meant also changing the area of my qual.
Unfortunately, I forgot all about the temporary advisor problem. Not so much forgot, as didn't realize it would be so important. The department academic advisor, informed me that I would need an advisor in my new area before I would be allowed to take the qualifying exam this semester. This left me with 2 weeks to find an advisor, or face possibly leaving the program. Remember that I had spent an entire year looking for an advisor, and never found one. How could I find one in two weeks?!
Somehow, I came close. After several meetings, a new faculty member agreed to work with me on some research problems this semester and, if it goes well, sign my advising form for next semester's qual. I think that this has a lot of promise. He seemed very interested in my ideas, and I enjoyed the problems he showed me. Finally, I've found something that might work, but it might be short lived if I'm required to leave with a Master's degree at the end of the year.
I'm hoping I can take the qual without an official advisor and, if not, take it next semester. I'll need some pity from the department, something I'm not sure they have. I'll also need all the prayers, well-wishing, and support I can get from my family and friends. Here's to hoping.