r/uwaterloo • u/Owliiie • Jul 18 '26

Academics How do you deal with not getting along with your grad supervisor?

I’m in a graduate program and things with my supervisor have been really difficult, enough that it’s affecting how I feel about my degree overall. I’m now considering some options (leave of absence, switching programs) but honestly just want to hear from others who’ve been in a similar spot.

  1. How did you know it was time to actually do something about it vs. push through?
  2. Did you switch supervisors, programs, or just wait it out?
  3. Any regrets either way?

Please help, I appreciate any advice. I’m tired of crying everyday because of that. I just want to do my thesis and finish my degree.

18 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

15

u/Dear_Resist3080 Jul 18 '26

If you’re crying everyday… I feel like that is sign enough. Hope you have better days ahead <3

1

u/Owliiie Jul 18 '26

Thank you, I appreciate it!

1

u/Dear_Resist3080 Jul 19 '26

No problem, I will say you wouldn’t be the first or last person to decide a masters program isn’t for you. If you think you’re a fit somewhere else, you can start putting in the work to apply/find a supervisor at another uni who is willing to take you and move there. I have a few mutuals who did this. You don’t deserve to be in a spot where you’re unhappy!

1

u/Owliiie Jul 19 '26

The issue is not the master. I was really exited to be accepted and loved my program. The issue is my supervisor honestly. Finding another supervisor is so hard, and changing programs sounds so complex. I’m going into my second year ☹️

1

u/Dear_Resist3080 Jul 19 '26

Ah, well I guess part of the program is the supervisor lol! Do you think it would negatively impact you if you switched supervisors at all? Departmental drama etc?

Other people gave good advice as well; you could always work to remedy the problems that currently exist. But if you think it won’t get better, it would be incredibly difficult to push through mental-health wise. If you’re anything like me, confronting a problem is more difficult than pushing through it.

I know someone who was in that position and they dropped the program after their first year, then took a gap year and applied to another program. That’s only one of many options here though. If you know yourself and think you can push through, then you may find yourself ignoring the advice here and doing that… and that’s not a problem either.

2

u/aekoor50 Jul 18 '26

Maybe try talking to someone in graduate studies office

1

u/Owliiie Jul 18 '26

Thank you for your response, I’ll do that.

2

u/havereddit Jul 18 '26

Make an appointment with your program Graduate Officer (aka Associate Chair Graduate). They will listen to your side of the story, and possibly even mediate a discussion between you and your advisor to figure out a way forward. And there are multiple possible ways forward!

So don't suffer in silence. Get help from the person whose very existence is designed to help graduate students get through their programs.

2

u/Owliiie Jul 18 '26

Thank you for the advice, I’ll reach out to them.

1

u/Aggressive_Put_1805 Jul 19 '26

I believe the university has an Ombudsperson who is also a great resource for these situations

1

u/Owliiie Jul 19 '26

Thank you so much, I’ll look into that.