Edition#5: Extracting Constructive & Timely Feedback From Your Supervisor
Because Feedback Is Fuel For Your Research Journey.
Hello!:)
Before we dive in, if you have just joined this journey, Welcome! Am glad you are here:) Each edition of this newsletter explores one quiet but powerful theme of the PhD experience and is your reminder that you are not alone in this journey:) From dealing with isolation to finding purpose beyond publications, we talk about it all! If you haven’t had a chance yet, take a moment to browse through the previous issues, you might just find the words you have been needing.
And now to this week’s theme.
Somewhere in the quiet corridors of academia, too many PhD students are stuck waiting for meaningful and timely feedback, for clarity, for some sense of direction. But here's a hard truth many of us learn too late: feedback isn’t a reward you receive; it’s a conversation you must initiate!
Supervisors are not mind-readers. Their silence doesn’t always mean indifference. It may mean they are overworked, unsure how to help, or unaware that you are struggling. And while we hope for mentors who naturally check in, the reality is that ownership of your academic progress lies largely with you.
Extracting constructive, timely feedback is an active process. It means preparing clear questions, scheduling purposeful check-ins, and learning how to filter criticism from confusion. It also means recognizing when vague comments need follow-up and learning to say, “Could you help me understand this better?”
Sharing a few thoughtful ways to invite constructive, timely feedback from your mentor or guide without feeling overwhelmed or pushy.
📚 Connect Regularly
Don’t wait for crises to happen to take feedback. Establish a pattern & rhythm of regular meetings and connects, don’t just walk in one day only to disappear again for months.
📚 Ask Specific Questions
Avoid vague requests like ‘Is this okay?’. Keep your questions specific and pointed like
‘Does this structure work for the argument I’m building?’ ,‘Is this literature review comprehensive enough?’, ‘What should I focus on improving in this section?’
Specificity invites clarity.
📚 Value their time
They are busy and mostly caught up. Book meetings in advance and show up. Come prepared with what you want to discuss, what feedback are you seeking. Keep your questions structured like ‘Does my literature review cover important perspectives?’, Are my arguments well structured?’
📚 Don’t just handover a 20-page draft and ask ‘is this okay’
Be clear on what you want feedback on. Section 4.5, the methodology? Makes it easier to review! If sending by mail, highlight the key sections where you need their comments.
📚 Follow up on feedback
Don’t resist the feedback, seek more clarity on it if you need to and work on it! After receiving feedback, briefly summarize what you understood:
’Just to confirm, you’re suggesting I revise the introduction to make the research question sharper?’ This shows you’re engaged and helps avoid miscommunication.
📚 Maintain a feedback log
Document whole feedback that you get time to time. Will help you manage the supervisor expectations better. You don’t want to repeat the same mistake in 6th meeting that your supervisor pointed in 2nd meeting! Also, documenting verbal feedback reference trail and helps track your growth.
📚 Know when to seek feedback
Define the most critical points of your journey and seek feedback on it.
📚 Give them enough time to review
You cannot just send drafts last minute for review and blame your supervisor for not giving feedback!
📚 Know when to follow up
If you haven’t received feedback after sharing a draft, it’s okay to send a gentle reminder. Supervisors are busy. A polite nudge is completely okay
📚 Make sure you don’t stand still while awaiting feedback
Keep making progress alongside, planning for next steps as you wait for feedback.
📚 Stick to timelines as much as possible
Slippages are unavoidable in PhD due to factors beyond your control. However, try to moderate frequency & length of slippages. Too many of them can affect the trust of guide on your willingness and capabilities.
📚 Respect Boundaries, But Advocate for Yourself
Feedback is part of your academic right. If you're being constantly ignored or dismissed, escalate respectfully. Consider speaking to a co-supervisor or departmental advisor or a student support body.
Your mental health and progress matter!
A strong supervisor- student relationship apart from trust and mutual respect is also built on proactive engagement! Make sure you pursue it to avoid sleepless nights later:)
Your supervisor is a guide, not a gatekeeper. The more confidently and clearly you engage in feedback conversations, the more empowered your PhD journey becomes. At the heart of it, feedback is not just about improving your thesis, it’s about building a dialogue where you feel seen, heard, and supported!
If this edition resonated with you, consider sharing it with a fellow researcher who might need this:).
And if this space resonates with you, would love to have you join in:)
Wishing you clarity in your questions, courage in your conversations, and compassion always for yourself. You are doing better than you think.
Warmly,
Mridul