Physics GRE Discussion Forums

...outside the lab or academic life in general? For example, one of my colleagues used to go to a private Karaoke Bar just next to the Nuclear Agency with his Research Adviser (and the other professors! Apparently, even the professors have their own gang.... ).

Jorge Cham with his PhD also has his own idea about grad students having some fun with their Thesis Adviser:
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=630
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=631
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=632
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=633
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=636
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=637

What about you then? Have you ever done something fun (or crazy! ) with your very own Adviser? What happened in the end?

It would also be interesting if the professors could share what kind of fun you ever had with your very own grad students.... Perhaps admissionprof or astroprof, if you don't mind? What have you done with your grad students?

FNR wrote:What about you then? Have you ever done something fun (or crazy! ) with your very own Adviser? What happened in the end?

It would also be interesting if the professors could share what kind of fun you ever had with your very own grad students.... Perhaps admissionprof or astroprof, if you don't mind? What have you done with your grad students?

Well obviously it depends very strongly on what that 'something' is I won't tell you what I thought this thread was going to be about when I read the title, I'm sure you can imagine.

Advising/mentoring PhD students, at its best, is the process of turning students into colleagues and friends. In that respect, I don't think it is unreasonable at all to spend time with them, occasionally, outside of an academic setting.

I went to a strip club in Prague with a professor once (which used to be my prospective advisor.) To justify this, I have to say that we actually went for a beer to a bar which looked really normal, and all of the sudden there were two girls dancing in the pole (that we didn't notice in the first place)...

Not only would doing 'something' fall into the category of "*** awesome", but probably is also a sign of a strong relationship. If you're comfortable enough doing 'something' then you're comfortable enough to ask the tough questions and have an open relationship. This is far better than having the kind of relationship where you avoid the person at all costs.

I got boozed up with my undergrad research advisor on a weekly basis. He was a super young professor and I was old for an undergrad, so whatever. We also played intramural soccer together. It was great.

I wouldn't settle for the cold/professional relationship that a lot of my colleagues seem to have with their advisors. Grad school should be fun.

twistor wrote:Not only would doing 'something' fall into the category of "*** awesome", but probably is also a sign of a strong relationship. If you're comfortable enough doing 'something' then you're comfortable enough to ask the tough questions and have an open relationship. This is far better than having the kind of relationship where you avoid the person at all costs.

exactly....when I was in undergraduate this professor was hitting on me but how could I??...I mean she was fat, ugly and had freckles all over her face...she was nice though...and also blond......some may think I am shallow but hey I am nice too but no one's admitting me into grad school....