help with how to deal with teacher?

Question

okay I am having a slight problem with teacher for my thesis project. I already have done so much work for my thesis (masters degree) I started doing full time research on my project last april and still am doing this project full time. I want to get done and work on my paper, but he has given me more work. It just doesn't end. I feel like he keeps giving me more work, to make me believe that my previous research that I have done is not enough and I need more data, when in reality it is more than enough. In some way I think he is taking advantage of me, because he is never in his lab and uses me for free labor to take care of the lab when he is not around, you know help with students, wash glassware etc. It never ends, I just feel terrible, this is the worst academic experience I have had. when I express to him that I want to get done, he assures me that I am almost done, But no way am I near done with all the work that is still involved. It is really hard to deal with. any ideas?

Answer 1

LOL Welcome to grad school!

This is the way it is. Just be glad you're not a PhD student. Or worse - a postdoc!

Depending on how your school works, this may be completely legit. For example, Cornell lets advisors pile on as much work as they want and change graduation requirements at-will. State schools usually have a committee you can turn to. Go to the department head and see what can be done. If your proposal and graduation requirements don't include tutoring or lab maintenence (they should hire a staff tech), stop doing it. Don't let the prof walk all over you. They will take advantage of you while they can.

Don't forget, they publish or perish, and you're the main source of data for papers. You do the work, they get their name on the paper. The more they can use you and make you stick around, the more prestige and grants they're awarded.

Answer 2

Maybe he is a control freak and takes great pleasure in watching people like you grovel and cringe. It's too late now and you will have to adhere to his every demand, in the academic sense that is, because you have been doing all this for so long now. Hang tight because you are almost done.

Answer 3

i had a teacher tell us in the class (i'm only working on my bachelors, but it should still be the same) that there is a chain of command. talk to that teacher first. get no results, go to one step higher, department head. if he is the department head, go one higher. never go to the higher levels right off the bat, because then you have lost all credibility. try to ask fellow classmates if they have had the same problem with their thesis. maybe you aren't the only one.

Answer 4

no one can be taken advantage of without YOUR permission.
Your teacher is trying to prepare you for the real world.You
may very well encounter situations where peoples lives depend on your ability to work through what your teacher is preping you
for right now.Don't be suprised if you go back to that teacher several years from now and thank him.

Answer 5

This is grad school, my friend!

Do what he asks you to do. It's the old game of jumping through hoops to please the profs- especially those who are deciding your fate so to speak.

If you are still frustrated, ask to speak to the Dean of the department. He/she may be able to give you some guidelines.

Chin up. You can do it!

Answer 6

Ask another prof for their opinion. If they agree with you, talk with the head of the department. If they agree with your prof, suck it up and know it will all be over eventually.

Answer 7

I am sure there is a reason for it. He may see something in you that he doesnt in others and that is why he is working you so hard.

I'm sure you may thank him someday. =)

Answer 8

Punch him in the face! That oughta teach him! Or put Ex-Lax in his coffee one day!

Answer 9

its called grad school dear, good luck