Hello, I posted something similar in the school and study forum but this one is much busier, and I need some advice.

When dealing with professors how much should I explain? I am trying to improve my communication with my thesis advisor, so I am drafting a semester timeline with goals and a general outline of what I have now, what I need to do, etc. I am wondering if it is wise to let him know that I really need some form of acknowledgement/communication from him, whether it's just taking an interest in my work, even if I am aware it is not his specialty.

When he doesn't take an interest in my work and spends the time talking about his hobbies, I just let him talk because I don't want to force my thesis on him. And yes, maybe I am jumping from "he talks about his hobbies" to "he doesn't care about me," but this combined with some drama and gossiping over me in the department makes me feel very unsafe, like I am back at home dealing with parents and father. The professors had been showing a very rough draft of my proposal around and saying that this was why I should not do a thesis. It was really a brainstorming email to my advisor. Incidentally, my 'rents also have had me "sectioned" twice. As such, I don't feel safe showing my work to my thesis advisor, but will try to this semester.

These things combined are hindering my work to the extent that the biggest challenge is not academic, but doing the work in this department.


I am wondering if I should let him know I feel this way (unsafe, reminds me of the past, frozen). If I do, he would listen to me more instead of shrugging. But he might just say, as he has before, that "everyone has problems."

Or, should I simply give him the semester outline and say I will communicate with him weekly over weekly goals and accomplishments and ask that we both have scheduled days where we will email each other? I really don't feel comfortable in this situation, but it would be stupid if I had to give up due to personal, not academic, issues.

How should I approach this? If I should not tell my thesis advisor about my bad feelings, how can I get over them?

Thanks.