If graduate school is in your plans, research most likely is too. In MS and PhD programs, you will propose and conduct independent research under the guidance of a research advisor in your field of interest. As a result, choosing the right research advisor is essential to your success in the program and in your career. Although research isn’t emphasized in MA and professional science master’s programs, advisors can still play a key role.
Choosing a research advisor depends on your scientific interests, your career goals, and—most of all—your personality and preferred working style. Everyone is different, so we thought it best to ask students to describe their individual experiences selecting the right research advisor for them.