Steve Tippins describes how some advisors bully graduate students instead of mentoring them. When a student pushes back, the advisor takes it personally, feedback turns cold, and the student's confidence crumbles. Tippins calls this ego dressed up as academic rigor.
Some faculty don't mentor students, they bully them. And the cycle is always the same: the student pushes back and the advisor takes it personally, so the feedback turns cold and then the student spirals. They might lose confidence or even pack up and quit. So let's call a spade a spade. This is not academic rigor. This is just ego dressed up as high standards. And it's not always loud. Sometimes it's just dismissive silence or public takedown packaged as critical feedback. Students shouldn't be torn down so the professor can feel taller. They're supposed to be mentored. That's the professor's job. Comment "help" and we will send you the link to our free dissertation help community. You've got this!
