Finally, if you meet with a faculty member who is unable to advise you, ask him or her to suggest other faculty who might be appropriate. Assuming you have prepared carefully for your project, there are still many valid reasons why faculty members might not be able to serve as advisers. Some will be on leave, others may have a heavy teaching commitment for the next year, and still others may have already agreed to advise several theses. It is important not to become overly discouraged if someone declines to advise you. Finding the right adviser is as important as writing a strong proposal, and it often takes as much planning, time, and effort.
Most students find an adviser at the beginning of the second semester.
But it is never too early to begin your search. You might profitably spend the first semester of your junior year speaking to various faculty as you refine your topic. By doing this, you will already have met several potential advisers. Once you have an adviser, you should attempt to find two readers. A reader participates in your prospectus meeting and grades your written thesis.