Abstract
One of the most impactful decisions made by graduate students during their time in graduate school is that of selecting an advisor. Advisors serve many crucial roles in the graduate school experience beyond just as dissertation chair, typically assisting their students in learning the social and professional norms of the discipline. This chapter provides guidance for graduate students in selecting their advisor, outlining the many positive and negative factors for students to consider. The chapter will encourage students to seek additional mentors from among other faculty and colleagues. Lastly, the chapter examines the role that race, gender, and other lived experiences play in the mentoring process, seeking to expose and combat inequities often reinforced by the advisor/mentor relationship.
“This manuscript is part of Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond, a forthcoming volume for those interested in pursuing graduate education in political science (Fall 2022 publication).”