“I think everyone should have two advisors,” my friend stated. We were walking to campus from the graduate apartments. I had just turned in the keys to my apartment, finalizing my exit. It was a fortunate happenstance, us running into each other. We’re both PhD students in related areas. We were talking about the usual grad student woes — issues with advisors, issues with research, being burnt out from grad school, wanting to leave. He had switched research groups due to issues with his advisor and project. I dreamed about also shuffling groups too, once upon a time, but didn’t have the impetus nor courage to do so.
I mentioned some of my own exasperating incidents, but acknowledged that having two advisors made my situation a bit more bearable. I didn’t agree with him that everyone should have two advisors — just one not-bad advisor would be acceptable. “But, most advisors are bad advisors,” we agreed. Welcome to the joys of PhD school.
Unrelatedly, it’s so refreshing when you can run into an old friend and chat away as if you hadn’t fallen out of touch for years.