While my advisor isn’t offering much support, I also feel I’m not performing up to par. Any ideas on how to tackle this?

I'm nearing the end of my fourth year in a math PhD program. I passed coursework and exams easily, but struggled to find an advisor—my top choices were unavailable or left the department. Eventually, I joined a highly respected professor in a challenging field, but he advises ten students and his students often take 9–10 years to graduate.

After two years with him, I still don’t have a research topic or preliminary exam done. Our meetings are conversations—he answers my questions but doesn’t guide me toward independent research. He admits he’s not good at suggesting problems and says finishing will take me at least three more years.

I enjoy our discussions, but I’m not learning how to do research. The area I love isn’t his strength, and the topics he suggests feel out of reach. He told me to talk to others, but those professors weren’t interested in advising me and aren’t eager to mentor casually.

I’ve published nothing and don’t know how to find or solve a research problem on my own. I’m not asking to be handed results, but shouldn’t I expect more guidance?

I worry I’m not cut out for this—but my advisors have been supportive, and I’ve put in serious work. I’m 27 and want to start a real career by 30. Spending another 5–6 years feels unsustainable.

So: Is the issue me, or my advisor? Is switching advisors (and fields) now worth it after four years? And if finishing takes too long or may not happen—should I even continue?

I'm going to be blunt: your advisor is failing you. Ten students? 9-10 years to graduate? That's not mentorship, that's a labor model. He's collecting students without having capacity to actually advise them. The fact that he admits he's "not good at suggesting problems" and tells you to talk to others is him admitting he can't do his job.

You're not the problem here. You're a talented student who got stuck with someone who doesn't have the time or skills to help you succeed.

Here's what I'd do: talk to your department's graduate coordinator. Be honest. Say your advisor is supportive but not providing the research guidance you need. Ask about switching to someone with more capacity or a different mentoring style. It's not too late. Four years is a lot, but another five years of misery is worse.