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Advisor Relationship Navigator
Reflect on your advisor dynamic and plan constructive conversations
Reflect on your advisor dynamic and plan constructive conversations. Takes about 5 minutes.
Communication
How openly and clearly you and your advisor communicate
Reflection prompts
- Do you feel comfortable bringing up concerns?
- How often do you meet, and is it enough?
- Are expectations around response times clear?
Feedback Quality
How useful and timely the feedback you receive is
Reflection prompts
- Is feedback specific enough to act on?
- Do you receive feedback in a reasonable timeframe?
- Does your advisor acknowledge what's going well?
Autonomy vs. Guidance
The balance between independence and support
Reflection prompts
- Do you have enough freedom to explore your own ideas?
- When you're stuck, can you get help without judgment?
- Is the level of direction appropriate for your stage?
Aligned Expectations
Whether you're on the same page about goals and timelines
Reflection prompts
- Are degree milestones and timelines explicitly agreed upon?
- Do you both share the same vision for your research direction?
- Are publication expectations clear?
Emotional Safety
How psychologically safe you feel in the relationship
Reflection prompts
- Can you admit when you don't know something?
- Do you feel respected as a person, not just a worker?
- Are boundaries around work hours and personal time respected?
What is going well?
Acknowledging the positive helps you approach conversations constructively
Advisor Relationship Summary