Undergraduate thesis - is this normal?

Undergrad here too, so experience limited. I've heard from faculty members that some dissertation supervisors assign undergrads the same project each year, so it's not like your project has to be anything new or groundbreaking that you alone have done. I wouldn't worry about it being your own project just yet, it's the quality of what you write with the research you did that matters. As for taking advantage of you, if they're making use of your research, that's fine so long as they include your name on any publications.

However- a student who has been offered a publication is more likely to put up with shitty practices on the part of their supervisors. I regret falling into that trap. If you recognise this happening to you, it may be worth asking to start a new project under someone else next year. Don't hope it stops/improves before you finish, I ended up needing extensions because of it.

/r/labrats Thread