<p>I'm currently working and am planning on attending graduate school next year. I really don't like my job and would like to go to grad school as soon as possible which would ideally be in May. </p>
<p>I've scoped out a great supervisor (Prof #1) but he will be out of the country until mid-July. He said I could start my masters in May doing literature review but the best time for him would be starting in Sept. </p>
<p>I found another Prof (Prof #2) who would be at school in April and he is interested accepting me. Prof #2 is willing to work with me for the summer and let me make a decision around July but Prof #1 wants a decision by the end of April at the lastest. </p>
<p>At this moment, I'm pretty sure I'm going with Prof #1. The project I'd do for Prof. #2 would help me greatly with my thesis for Prof #1 and if things go well I can get a conference paper out of this.</p>
<p>The way I see it, I have a couple of options here</p>
<p>1) Keep working until July and then work for Prof #1.</p>
<p>I don't really like this idea because i I'm not learning anything at work and really don't like it. </p>
<p>2) Work for Prof #2 from April until August and then work for Prof. #1 in September.</p>
<p>I'm leaning towards this and being upfront with Prof #2. I'd ask for a strictly summer contract. I'm worried about offending Prof. #2 here...its a small department and I will be taking his graduate level course. </p>
<p>3) Start with Prof #1 in May</p>
<p>I don't like this because it would be tough to get started with my supervisor away. There are no summer courses I can get out of the way either. </p>
<p>Whatever you do, don’t deceive Prof #2. I notice that wasn’t even on your list of options, so that’s good.</p>
<p>Assuming Prof #2 is a rational person (and assuming you need both a thesis advisor and a second reader), I’d approach him and say something like “Prof #1 is really doing work that is more in line with my ultimate career goals. However, I’m very interested in what you are doing this summer. I was hoping there is a way for me to work with you this summer, and perhaps have you serve as my second thesis reader.”</p>
<p>I think it would be great for me to work for prof #2 in the summer and prof #1 starting in september. </p>
<p>do you think he’d be offended if i tell him i’m only interested in working with him for the summer? I’m worried cause i have to take his grad class.</p>
<p>The only real issues will be funding. He may not want to just dump money into your account only to lose you after a summer. If you could start out being paid by Prof #1 but just help out in Prof #2’s group for the summer until Prof #1 returns, that would probably be the ideal situation. If they are at the same school in the same department and same research area, they will know each other anyway and can hopefully work something out.</p>