Tips for securing, retaining, and managing the relationship with your thesis supervisor:
- Although your thesis timetable will differ based on your department, in general you should have secured a thesis supervisor no later than the 2nd semester of your junior year. For some majors, especially the sciences, thesis research arrangements should be made by the end of your sophomore year or very early in your junior year.
- Use the steps in the suggested timeline to learn what faculty members in your department or related departments are working on.
- Request a meeting to discuss shared interests and determine if the partnership is a fit. This in-person meeting is critical; don’t ask someone to be your thesis supervisor via email. Learn more about the best ways to connect with faculty.
- During or after the meeting, confirm with the faculty member that they are willing to serve as your thesis supervisor. A faculty member who agrees to work with you on “Honors research” has not necessarily agreed to supervise your thesis!
- Create a timeline with your thesis supervisor and set expectations for how often you will communicate and meet, as well as any internal deadlines.
- Stay in touch with your thesis supervisor throughout the process. Stick to deadlines, but communicate and seek help when you need it.
- Ask questions about your thesis, your field, and their journey in the field. Make the most of having this mentor.
For more information, contact: Honors at honors@uconn.edu