the academic filter

I have a theory about graduate committees.  They can function in two ways: as an academic filter or as an academic trampoline.  When functioning as a filter a student pours a large amount of ideas and research plans through the filter and the ideas and plans are screened down to a smaller reasonable number.  When functioning as a trampoline ideas and research plans are poured on to the trampoline and the bounce back at the student as different trajectories and velocities.