Sezzabella

Thanks for your help rising_star - I agree, I need to spend a considerable amount of time preparing a great SOP and writing sample. So it won't look bad that there will be a significant gap between my last conference and now? I have an opportunity to submit a conference proposal this year but I am worried about the time I will need to commit to this presentation. Many thanks

Hello, I'm applying to film and media PhD programs (to start Fall 2017). I have quite a few conference presentations on my resume but I am lacking in publications. I know I need to address this and I am now working on the publication side of things. In doing so I'm not sure I can present at a conference this year - due to the time it may detract from my publication pursuits, plus the PhD application process itself (its also more money as I am an independent scholar and have to fund myself). This means that when I submit my resume as part of my PhD application, while I may have an extra publication, it will show that I haven't presented work at a conference for just over a year. I wondered if this would look bad? Should I really try to present at another conference. I am planning to attend a conference on a specific topic that is very closely aligned with my research interests but not presenting. Many thanks for any advice you can give.

Thank you sjoh197, its good to have some reassurance that the timing of these visits should be okay.

Hi there, I am from the UK and I would like to apply to some cinema and media PhD programs in the USA, to start Fall 2017. I am planning to visit the USA in October for a conference and to visit some friends and I also thought I could visit the institutions I would like to apply to. My question is that given that this will be October, the applications would already be open (and I would have started putting together the materials), so would this visit seem a little late to the Faculty there? I obviously want to make a good impression as well as gaining a better understanding of the institution and its surroundings so I am just wondering how the timing of this visit might be perceived by the Faculty. I hope that makes sense. Many thanks for any insight you can give.