I’m going to be finishing up my undergrad in the next year, and was thinking of applying to grad school. The school I did my undergrad yet has a very good Masters program as well. One of the professors I know has done a lot for me throughout the years; he helped me get into a program that a very well-known company sponsors at our school (and that he runs on the school’s side), helped me get an internship position and also helped me with the project I was working on during that internship. I’ve also taken a couple of classes he’s taken as well, so we know each other pretty well! His topics of research are areas I’m very interested in also.
Would it be acceptable/ a good idea to ask him to be my Masters adviser?
I don’t think there would be anything wrong with approaching him and telling him that you’re thinking of applying to the grad school he’s affiliated with and that you’ve valued the guidance and support he’s given you so far. The question I have as I read your post – and that you might want to discuss with him – is what the role of your advisor in grad school will be. You could ask whether he would be the best person to provide that or whether he would recommend someone else. In some fields, it’s very important to be aligned with someone who has funding for whatever you’re working on, whereas in others, the moral support and interest in your topic may be enough.
I was never in the position to ask someone to be my advisor prior to being accepted somewhere. Is that customary at your school?
Get accepted first. But, by all means, ask the professor for a letter of recommendation. As an insider, he will be able to speak to your qualities and his opinion will carry weight.