Negotiating with a Supervisor

Heh, I don't think you should worry too much about this eventuality. Whatever happens, I don't think that anything you say/do will become the knowledge of anyone outside this particular faculty.

I know what you mean about struggling to communicate with some members of faculty. Some people are just three-hole sockets and I have a two-pin plug (metaphorically speaking). I think that you should at least try to explain your project in simpler terms to this particular staff member. I don't think you should worry too much about seeming "patronising", since you've been asked to express the idea again in more basic language. And surely you'd rather be considered condescending or whatever (not that I think that will happen) than be misunderstood?

If a simpler explanation still leaves her blank, then I'd consider moving on to another member of staff. Or, if this university isn't one of your top choices, then just let it be and chalk it up to experience.

Wow you've started applying already! That's really efficient! I haven't even finished writing a proposal yet!!!

Hi all,

Basically I have written up a PhD proposal and sent this off to various supervisors, and submitted applications etc. All the supervisors that I have been in touch with have been very happy with the proposal and commented positively about it and overall I was looking positive about the whole thing.

However, one supervisor continues to email saying that she doesn't understand the rationale behind the proposal. I sent her an email trying to make it a bit clearer, and she only responded with "I still don't understand what you are getting at? Could you attempt to explain again". I have done this again, but it is nearly a cut and paste of the previous explanation I sent, because I think if I made it any simpler I would sound condescending to someone who is after all, more knowledgeable in the subject than I am.

To be honest, I am not particularly keen on the University in question, or the supervisor really. Do you think it is viable to approach another potential supervisor from the same university in a similar research area and start to tout them as a supervisor as opposed to this individual, and if I do this, should I explain the issue with the other supervisor? What I don't want is for word to get round that I am a rude person and I then get black-listed by every supervisor and University I have applied to .

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Just to give a differing opinion - have you thought about whether the potential supervisor who you've contacted and has answered with these questions is actually subtly telling you that you're not expressing your ideas and proposal as best you could? Something which could actually damage your chances of getting an offer and possible funding.

I assume the person you contacted knows the field of research so perhaps they're asking because your proposed research may well have already been covered by others etc. The fact that they don't get your 'rationale' for the proposal suggests all of that to me, especially if you're having to explain it more.

Don't take this personally but if I had an email like that, I'd take it very much that I wasn't expressing my ideas properly and if a supervisor isn't getting the idea through a quick email in probably a more basic form than a proposal ever will be - it would spark alarm bells, not of their ability as a supervisor but my own writing ability and ideas. Your proposal needs to be bang on as it will be read by people who's speciality will not be your research area. So if a specialist isn't getting it, how do you expect the admissions tutors to do so?

That's just me though

Well, if you're so certain that it can't be the proposal, then maybe she's just not the best person to supervise your project?