Visiting Graduate Programs

College seniors are now making their visits to institutions they've been admitted to for graduate school.  At a visit, invariably these students have meetings scheduled with an array of faculty members. And, invariably students rarely know what to ask these faculty members.  So graduating seniors, this post is for you.

Believe it or not, the first questions you pose are not to a faculty member, but to yourself.  The Ph.D. is something you pick up on your way to putting your full dent in the universe.  So the million dollar question you must ask yourself is: "What the hell do I want to do AFTER I get the Ph.D.?"  For some of you, I'm sure, this can be answered without thinking. However, I'm willing to bet that for most of you, asking this question will produce no meaningful answer.  Hence, for the rest of you, the hundred thousand dollar question you must ask yourself is: "What the hell do I NOT want to do AFTER I get the Ph.D.?"  Although it's possible that you may not arrive at a definitive answer, this 2nd question at least narrows the answer space to viable alternatives for the 1st question.

Once you've answered one of the above questions, read the faculty members' websites.  You'll often find that faculty members actually have advice for students looking to work with them on their Websites.  So please, please, take notes on all faculty members you'll meet based on their Websites. Review your notes before the meeting.  Your preparation should show in your meeting.  Beyond earning you brownie points, it may earn you a Research Assistantship (among other things).                

Ask if there are any current students you can speak with.  Notice that I say "students" and "speak." Not "student" and "email."  Talking to students is critical because one student's opinion can vary dramatically from another student's.  You never know what underlying drama may be present. So by talking to as many students of a faculty member as possible you increase your chances of discovering the truth.  Speaking to these students is critical because graduate students are busy (or at least think they are) and can very well ignore your emails.  It's far more difficult to ignore a living, breathing human being standing in front you.  Lastly, when speaking with someone, you can detect physical ques that may clue you in to things that "just don't smell right." 

Do NOT forget to ask if there is anyone they've graduated that you can talk to. It may not be possible to speak with these folks, but if you can, absolutely talk to them!  Why?  THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO LIE TO YOU.  They already have their Ph.D.s.   You see, professors usually have contracts that require they produce some artifact.  And this artifact tends to the be the result of their students' effort.  If the faculty member has no students coming in to work with him/her, the member may "HOLD ON" to their current students (i.e., postpone current students' graduation timeline).  This creates an incentive structure where students may be less than forthright with you if it might mean you not working with their advisor. 

Although these are not all the things you should do and ask, they should give you a hell of head start!  Good luck!