[How many conference presentations in a year is normal?]

It depends on lots of things, not least of which is how much funding you'll have to attend conferences. I try not to pay out of pocket unless there is a very good reason, though unlike some sciences it's not the case that you can always expect your advisor to pay so you need to decide whether it's worth it. In addition, how long it'll take you to prepare for the conference is another consideration. If you are able to present different aspects of the same project or you can discuss it at different points in its progression, it's different than presenting separate new projects at each conference. Also if it's ongoing and you have a good handle on it, or if it's brand new and requires a lot of prep work. Distance to the conference / travel time is another question, and also who you expect to meet while at the conference. One of the most important aspects of attending is the ability to network. I'd pass on conferences, even if prestigious, if they are in the middle of nowhere and you don't expect many people you would like to network with to attend. I'd rather spend my time and money on a conference that I know will be well-attended, or that's expected to have an audience that I know will particularly appreciate my work.

 

I think it also matters what stage of your career you're in. I don't think anything will happen if you don't attend any conferences in your first year. The time to be visible starts in your second and third years, when I think going to conferences and starting to get your name and work out there is important. I went to 4-5 conferences each year in those years, and that was on the high end. It would have probably been fine to just go to 3. You should continue to have a presence at major conferences in later years, as you approach going on the job market, but in your late third, fourth, and fifth year (assuming you graduate in five, adjust accordingly otherwise) I think it's more important to write projects up for submission to peer-reviewed journals and get actual publications out there. I've dialed back my conference presentations this year and last. Going on the job market, I had less time to travel and I didn't want to give a half-assed presentation as I suspect that would hurt more than help. I went to one major conference early in the year that was around job applications deadlines, which was great, and I went to my field's society conference. I haven't applied to anything in the Spring, and perhaps not for next Fall either. There are too many other things that need to happen. I am continuing to churn out journal papers, though! Also, I have papers that will be presented in conferences in the summer by co-authors, without me having to actually attend. It may be less common in the Humanities and some Social Sciences, but for me it's been a great way to keep a flow to my CV without all the travel. 

like the mod put it conferencing depends

 

i am in social sciences and i try to go to one national, one regional, and one for my particular theme of interest - sexuality, race, and gender.

 

 

BUT I THINK CONFERENCING IS SO NECESSARY! THOSE ARE THE PLACES WHERE YOULL MEET VIPS!!!!!!!!!

[American Studies 2014]

Hi all -- 

 

I've been lurking for a while. Thought I'd come out of hiding to ask if anyone has any updates?

 

 

 

lol. i love your word choice - "lurking"

[13" Macbook Pro vs. 13" Macbook Air]

i have a normal macbook pro 13 inch and an iPad 2. I think tablets are essential for grad school. Instead of having to print out scores of articles, (which wastes paper) you can use adobe on iPad to read them and take notes

[Stanford or Oxford? History Ph.D.]

3-4 days

ugh damn dictation from iPad sucks. i meant to say years! 

[Stanford or Oxford? History Ph.D.]

Is Richard White retiring?

Yes, they are all slowly tranitioning out for the next 3-4 days

[Do doctoral students qualify for student credit cards?]

I have USAA student credit card. It's great but I have a 1000.00 limit, which isn't as much as other credit cards because the interest is low. Seek them out! I LOVE them

[Stanford or Oxford? History Ph.D.]

I think it really depends on your field. If your interested in Latin American History, Stanford would be the best bet. They are shaping up that field to rival UChicago's LA field. If your interested in U.S. history, Stanford is losing all it's major U.S. historians - Camarillo, White, and Freedman.

If you're interested in Imperial history or empire, Oxford is better for the worldwide connections. Many scholars at my undergrad did their doctorates at Oxford

But unless the department is giving you funding, Stanford would be the better bet. The stipend is around 31k a year (26 +5k summer), and TA experience. Plus as an international student, it would look great to get degrees in different nations

[Minneapolis, MN]

!

My partner was just accepted into a PhD program at UMN and we're trying to research good places to live and such.  He and I have a 1-yr old daughter together, but I like to think we're still young and fun (I'm 33, he's 28)…that said, we're over the partying single life, but still like to explore the city and have social lives, so we'd probably want our neighborhood to reflect similar values.  He studies Theatre and I'm an artist and writer.  We also (like everybody else) want to keep rent as affordable as reasonably possible.  He's already visited the city and campus but I won't have the opportunity to before we move and start shopping for rentals.  Suggestions for neighborhoods to check out?  

 

Also, finding some community will be huge for us.  We're living in LA now and that aspect has really been lacking, given that we have a child and he's still only an undergrad (graduating this spring).  LA traffic doesn't help our cause much either.  Ha.  Anyone have ideas or resources for grad students with families?  And what about daycare?

 

If anyone has some good sources (websites or books) for general info on life in Minneapolis, neighborhoods, the city's personality, etc., I'm all ears.  There's so much garbage on the internet…..most of what I'm finding is either your typical tourist stuff or quotes for moving trucks, and the like.  

 

Thanks in advance!

You'll definitely find your niche! The city has so much culture

[What are your 4 dream jobs? Are you qualified for any of them?]

1. Professor in Ethnic Studies, or university administrator

2. Museum Curator

3. Non profit

4. Burger King

[Dating People in Academia]

I am dating a non-academic who has different interests. But, I think it could be fun to date another academic...as most don't have exactly the same research interests, there is always some difference

[How do you fit in time for exercise?]

I find working out (stretching, sit-ups, push-ups, going running) to be easiest early in the morning when it's still cool and before I've eaten yet. After eating I never feel motivated to work out (it even makes me get stomach cramps sometimes), and right after work all I want to do is veg out with mindless internet or reading, then it's dinner and then time to get down to writing. I am a person who usually feels most alert early in the morning, so that might also be why early morning workouts appeal to me. 

i absolutely agree!!!! and i do the same thing. i rotate every 3 days. either i wake up early to drink coffee and write, to sleep in, or to wake up and work out!