next »

[pasaule]

Hi all,
Thanks for reading this:)! I am (quite) new to the USA, so I would appreciate some advice from "insiders".
I am writing a Master's Thesis and although I swore to my adviser that I will finish on time, but now I have to ask for a second extension in a row as some health problems popped up. I am wondering:
1. do advisers get some troubles here if their grad students cannot finish on time?
2. If I am going to work with the same prof as a PhD student (I have been already admitted), is it possible that he may refuse to supervise me and give me an RA because of my health problems (i.e. he would think like "I don't need a student who may take another sick leave later")?
3. what would be the best way to tell him about that?   
I would appreciate any answer!

[polly_mer]

Let's take your points one at a time.

1) If your advisor cannot get a majority of students graduated under the timelimits, it can be a problem.  However, just one graduate student missing the target because of health problems is unlikely to cause any difficulties for an advisor.  The exception to this would be if you were an integral part of an externally funded project with firm deliverables that will now not be done.

2) Yes, it's possible.  We don't have enough information to know whether it's likely.  I know a man who did his entire graduate work while undergoing chemotherapy.  Yes, it took him longer than normal to finish, but he became his advisor's star and is now a tenured full professor at a very good school.  I have known several women to have their graduate time extended because of childbearing with the full support of their advisors.  The big question is: what is your relationship with your advisor and how is your work otherwise?  Excellent work combined with unfortunate circumstances result in a good probability of continuing your graduate studies under the same advisor.  Average work combined with being a "problem student" is not likely to work out well.

3)  It's unclear to me what you mean by "the best way to tell him about that".  If you mean "I need another extension on my master's thesis because my health is poor again", make an appointment with him and tell him straight out.  Do it as soon as you can because putting it off will not gain you anything and will annoy him.  While you are there, ask about continuing onto the Ph. D. and how this second extension will affect your plans.  The only way to find out how he will react is to ask him.  If he says "You have to find another advisor", finding this out early means that you have time to line up another advisor.

I hope your health improves and good luck with your advisor.

[pasaule]

polly_mer, thanks a lot for your advice!:)
for point 2) I completed course work with high GPA, but had some difficulties meeting deadlines with the thesis work (now I see that my working ability dropped because of my condition). your examples sound reassuring, as I was afraid that he'll view my condition as a threat to the future productivity as a student/RA.

for point 3) - I did not tell my adviser about my health problems before, and I was just wondering, whether I should explain my situation in detail, or just present him with the doctor's notice and ask how the extension is affecting his plans. I guess the latter is better.

[polly_mer]

for point 2) I completed course work with high GPA, but had some difficulties meeting deadlines with the thesis work (now I see that my working ability dropped because of my condition). your examples sound reassuring, as I was afraid that he'll view my condition as a threat to the future productivity as a student/RA.

Well, unfortunately, course work is NOT thesis work.  They are two completely different animals.  It's good to do well in your classes, but a Ph. D. student needs to be able to do research and write.  The thesis work would demonstrate that ability.  Missing deadlines in the thesis work is not good thing.  Needing to push back the defense because, for example, you spent a month in the hospital, is probably not a problem.  Getting an extension because you can only work 4 hours a day, 3 days a week may not be a problem.  However, having a history of seldom meeting a deadline will be a problem.  I hope you fall into one of the first two categories.

for point 3) - I did not tell my adviser about my health problems before, and I was just wondering, whether I should explain my situation in detail, or just present him with the doctor's notice and ask how the extension is affecting his plans. I guess the latter is better.

Not telling your advisor about your health problems causing the need for the first extension was a mistake, but nothing can be done about it now.  You haven't said what your health problems are (and we don't need to know), but keep in mind that some conditions are viewed in a more positive light than others.

It sounds like you do not have a close relationship with your advisor.  You don't need to show him the doctor's notice (unless he gets really adversarial and requires it) and you don't need to give him a lot of details about your condition, but you do need to be upfront with a realistic timeline and amount of work that you can do.

For example, he doesn't want to hear that you vomit five times a day, but he does need to know that you only have the strength to work for about 4 hours a day and this will continue for at least six months, according to the doctor's best estimates.

I hope these clarifications help.

[pasaule]

Thank you again, polly_mer!
Now I see what I should tell him. :)

[polly_mer]

Great!  I hope it works out for you, Pasaule.