I am extremely frustrated with my advisor. She comes to office only when she needs to take a class. She does not respond to my emails, phone calls, text messages. The only way I can get hold of her is to catch her during time. And she clearly tells she is busy and asks me to come other time. She gives a meeting time and always late or completely misses the meeting. I have submitted draft like a month before and she has not given any comments yet. I am in my 5th year of my phd and I now think I have ended up with a very bad advisor. I once submitted a paper for her to review and she took over a year to review it. I have a job in had. But I want to get my phd. Since I have invested so much time and energy. But I feel I am wasting my life struggling with this advisor. I really need some opinions on how to deal with this.

Next time you have a meeting, why don't you explain your frustrations and try to find out what the problem is. Is she too busy, or maybe she just can't be bothered? Tell her that you need more from her and see what happens. If it doesn't improve then you need to go to the appropriate person in your department for assistance.

My advisor also took over a year to review my paper. However, she admitted that she has difficulty understanding my paper.

However, the reviewers seem positive with my paper. It is under major revision now.
My suggestion is "As a PhD candidate, you should be independent".
But it is sometimes even more beneficial to ask other phd candidates around us for help rather than the advisor...

hi viju_gb
I really feel for you because my previous supervisor was like that. You can't let this situation remain like this because then you won't get anywhere in the long run. Furthermore you are in the 5th year. I would try to set up an appointment with her and speak to her directly about this. Make a list of things to say first, so that you don't get distracted. If that doesn't work, you'll need to see someone else in the department or school, or someone from the graduate research school. There are procedures to cope with situations for example--student not up to standard, supervisor not up to standard etc.

oh yes the important items for your list should also include:

--dates for submitting thesis draft to her--and can she look at it in time
--date for submission on thesis
--if she can work together with you to achieve this--

Be brave, go out there and be heard.

love satchi

Oh yes. My supervisor was also unable to give timely feedback for my thesis.
Even when she gave me feedback, it might not be reliable...

However, she presented her opinion professionally...
Perhaps universities should insist on having a co-supervisor, and yearly meeting with graduate program co-ordinator etc...

On your last point, I'm amazed there's any UK university that doesn't these days. OP I just wondered as you said advisor rather than supervisor whether you were in the US rather than the UK. If you are, could you speak to someone else on your committee to try to move the process forward?

Actually, I did have two supervisors. However, the other tried not to interfere...

Anyway. this is viju's thread. As the word 'advisor' was used, i tried to follow.
But somehow i still revert to 'supervisor'...