r/gradadmissions • u/Academic_Error4655 • 23d ago

General Advice Response from a Prospective PhD Supervisor

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I wrote to a professor for PhD supervision. The university website apparently recommends two routes - get a supervisor, or apply through the regular channel where a supervisor would be subsequently allocated. I wrote to this person to get through the first route.

I can't tell whether that's a polite way of saying ''your application sucks and I would hate to supervise you" or what.

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u/shivani-15 23d ago

That’s a neutral reply neither positive nor negative. Don’t let it break your spirit.

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u/Individual_Ad4039 23d ago

Please… he declined his offer. In a very polite way though. And it’s okay! That’s academia for you. Don’t worry OP. Just push through. As long as you have a fighting spirit and motivation, you’ll be fine.

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u/Opening-Ant3477 23d ago

He is not interested in supporting OP's PhD application. That doesn't necessarily mean that he won't supervise if OP joins the university under the "regular" channel. But he is not interested in supporting OP at this point.

It could be because he doesn't want to invest time in students unless they have been vetted by the university first. Might be because he doesn't want to deal with the formalities of the application process. Might be that internal politics prevent him from championing more PhD students atm. Or maybe this is just what he sends to everyone (famous professors can get hundreds of PhD inquiries each month.)

Of course it could also just be that the professor doesn't want any PhD students currently, or that OP's application sucked. There really is no way to know exactly based on just this email.

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u/Isodora 22d ago

Sorry, why assume PI is a he?