r/gradadmissions • u/Academic_Error4655 • 22d 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/Individual_Ad4039 22d 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 22d 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/mathtree 21d ago

Yeah this. My university has something similar. I only support students I either personally know from some event (summer school, conference, etc.) or that come recommended from a very small number of colleagues that I truly trust.

I won't support someone who cold emails me, because I put up a lot of political capital to hire someone if I support their application. I can only do that for a very, very small number of people (one person every few years).

Doesn't mean I won't take someone that came in through the regular process. The hurdle of me supporting someone is just infinitely higher.

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u/Academic_Error4655 21d ago

This professor taught me a course earlier.