25 Years New Table——2025 Graduate Advisor Contact Sharing
Recently it’s time to choose advisors, and I saw a link 2024 Graduate Institute Advisor Contact Sharing (recommended to check this version 20240810 Archived 24th Grade). The table for the 19th grade basically copied my last year’s Archived 23rd Grade Long-Term Advisor Occupancy Sharing
Advisor list hasn’t changed at all (because this year’s version will be released in September)
Added a column for open opinions, which is an improvement
Pointing out the Prisoner’s Dilemma
First of all, this is undoubtedly a good thing, which allows quick understanding of each advisor’s general situation. I help everyone, and everyone helps me. But today I saw a senior complaining that she found someone arbitrarily marked an advisor as fully recruited (maybe her advisor was marked this way). So I want to remind everyone of something —— the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Everyone should have heard of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, so I won’t explain it again. I’ll directly present the overall optimal solution in this case: based on your own experience encountering dead ends, truthfully inform others that professor X is already full, so no one wastes time. Meanwhile, believe others’ information and don’t waste energy contacting already full advisors, and prioritize those not full.
Everyone for me, I for everyone, nothing is better than kindness!
But unfortunately, the Prisoner’s Dilemma reveals a dark personal optimum: If I were a 19th grade student, what is the best choice for me? Mark all my preferred advisors as fully recruited. Anyway, others don’t know if they are full or not. Students who only look at this table will be deceived, and my pressure will be greatly reduced!
How shady! Seriously shady!
When I released 2018 Long-Term Advisor Occupancy Sharing last year, I realized this point, but I honestly believed most students were relatively kind, and such behavior should be rare. However, since it was pointed out this year, I decided to be straightforward and open about it.
With increasing experience, I increasingly feel society is cruel and unpredictable. One must not have harmful intentions but must be cautious. I think my article will certainly reduce the credibility of this document. Unless future people find some optimization, those who see this article probably won’t trust or want to fill the document anymore. Of course, I may be underestimating our pure and honest university students and the excellent and simple campus culture, so I am not that sure of this result.
Breaking Free from the Prisoner’s Dilemma
I am bluntly throwing out this problem now, breaking the little trust left among everyone. Is that good? No. I should also provide some solutions.
The reason for the Prisoner’s Dilemma is decreased trust. If there is a way to firmly believe others—that if someone says full, then it is really full—then we can get rid of the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Specifically, for example, by involving seniors—genuine upper-class students who clearly understand the current advisor recruitment situation—and let them authenticate and certify the advisor’s current situation online with real names. Is this difficult? Yes. You have to contact each senior one by one. But difficult does not mean impossible.
- This is beneficial to seniors as well. As far as I know, some excellent advisors may still fail to recruit students due to information asymmetry. Others think that they have no quota, advisors worry about it too, and in the end can only wait for the graduate office’s allocation (there are some understandable reasons why some advisors finally find no new students—won’t elaborate here). Seniors are worried too. Without excellent juniors to share the workload, it’s very tiring!
- Also, class leaders, class committee members, students doing work-study at the graduate office, here is a real opportunity to do something practical that all students need! Not only will you earn your classmates’ praise, but also gain attention from seniors and advisors, and have a significant highlight in your resume—optimizing the student-advisor selection process (or similar).
- And is it really that hard? Divide the work! There are only about 540 advisors, Qihuang 1 + Zhongba 2 + Jinghua 1 + Pediatrics 1 + Zhongwu 6 + Zhongshi 2 + Zhenwu 3 + Zhenba 1 + Rehabilitation 1 = 19 classes (maybe I miscounted, let’s say 20 classes for now), with two class leaders and two class committee members each, 20×4=80 people. Mobilize some volunteers, easily reaching 100 people. A few people grouped by hospital+department, each person contacts five senior students familiar with the advisors. Even if a student has no friend circle, there are seniors who do. Edit messages and send in batch: “Do you know any students of Professor XX?” That’s how you find them
. With more seniors participating, other seniors who cannot find students for their advisors will know and come forward directly to verify.
Of course, there are more methods; see How to solve the Prisoner’s Dilemma in game theory?. But like my above solution, there is no simple and effective way. Otherwise, I would have done it last year 
. Students of the 19th grade, think and act actively and independently! (I’ve been busy with studying and gaming recently with no extra energy to help you, so go for it! There are always more solutions than problems, and there’s still time.)
Beyond the Prisoner’s Dilemma
Besides this table, there are many other ways: contacting seniors to recommend advisors, directly talking with advisors, or having other teachers recommend advisors… don’t just rely on this one table! Also, even through these channels, be cautious of others’ falsehoods.
In summary, choosing an advisor is no less important than choosing a major and a school in the college entrance examination. A good advisor can make your journey smooth, and a bad one can make you question life. Everyone, work hard and don’t regret it three years later.
Message from a senior alumnus: Better not to pursue graduate study than to randomly choose an advisor. Finding a good advisor is really important.
More content can be found in Shitu Zhong about advisors
You are also welcome to register an account and share both good and bad experiences
Other Reminders
- Don’t let your guard down before signing; even if the advisor said they want you, they might still choose others in the end.
- Based on point one, prepare backup plans. If this advisor fails, go find another.
Finally
Say something radical: If you often deceive people, you will often be deceived. The cause and effect are too mysterious to elaborate, but just say “birds of a feather flock together.” If you are an upright person, you will naturally have upright people around you. If you are a cunning person, your friends will mostly be cunning too. If I cheat you today, and you cheat me tomorrow, isn’t that everyday life?
I advise everyone to chill out and reflect seriously!