On that subject, from 24 years ago:

  > I need from you a few paragraphs describing your personal interests,
  > advising style or philosophy, background and professional interests.
  > ... I'm preparing a document to give the freshman for them to use to
  > select an advisor.  I need to receive your info by early next week.

  I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, majored in mathematics and Computer
  Science at Yale University, and I got my PhD in Computer Science at CMU. I've
  lived in Paris, Hong Kong, Peking, and New Jersey.

  I tend to look for weak, uncertain students and feed off of their
  insecurities; by preying on their poor self-images, I manage to temporarily
  assuage my own feelings of inadequacy and failure. I've also found
  undergraduate advising to be a terrific vehicle for venting a lot
  of my own pent-up rage and frustration. 

  I'm not sure if this counts as a philosophy, but it's the closest thing I've
  got to an "advising style."

  > Thanks again for volunteering to advise!

  My pleasure.