Questions to Consider Before Accepting New Students

An interview is highly recommended whenever possible before accepting new graduate students. Questions you might ask yourself before making a decision are:

• Do I have the time, resources, and knowledge to supervise this student?
• Does this student have adequate academic background and experience to be successful?
• Are the student’s goals and expectations consistent with expected outcomes?
• Will I be able to work with well with this student? Do we have compatible communication styles? How might I address any personal, cultural, or structural challenges this student may face?
• Are there adequate programmatic resources to support this student in terms of colleagues who can serve on a committee and opportunities to participate in research, teaching, extracurricular activities, and engagement in a community of scholars?