Regional PCA/ACA Worth it?

[NOWAYNOHOW]

Anyone have thoughts on the worth of presenting at a regional PCA/ACA conference?  I am trying to build my CV for applications and could use the practice.

[Roquentin]

Go for it. Why wouldn't you? If you haven't presented much and need the experience, then don't be afraid to go to smaller gatherings. They'll support your applications, they'll prepare you for bigger conferences (and teaching), and they'll provide you with opportunities to meet others in your field (including potential supervisors or other peeps who might end up reviewing your grad school apps). So yeah, thumbs up from me!

[NOWAYNOHOW]

Go for it. Why wouldn't you? If you haven't presented much and need the experience, then don't be afraid to go to smaller gatherings. They'll support your applications, they'll prepare you for bigger conferences (and teaching), and they'll provide you with opportunities to meet others in your field (including potential supervisors or other peeps who might end up reviewing your grad school apps). So yeah, thumbs up from me!

 

Roquentin, I think I am hesitant just because I'd be coming from one region to another and it doesn't seem like a lot of people from outside the home region tend to present.  I may send a similar abstract to my regional conference and see what happens, or I may just apply for some travel grants and make it to St. Louis for the MPCA/ACA...thanks!

[One_Mind]

Anyone have thoughts on the worth of presenting at a regional PCA/ACA conference?  I am trying to build my CV for applications and could use the practice.

 

Did you end up going? I'm supposed to be presenting at this conference in April, and I was wondering what the overall environment was like. Did you find it to be welcoming, or otherwise?

[NOWAYNOHOW]

Did you end up going? I'm supposed to be presenting at this conference in April, and I was wondering what the overall environment was like. Did you find it to be welcoming, or otherwise?

 

No -- I was accepted to a national meeting for another association better suited to my interests, so I went there.  Sorry!

[One_Mind]

No -- I was accepted to a national meeting for another association better suited to my interests, so I went there.  Sorry!

 

Okay, thanks for replying.

[engphiledu]

Did you end up going? I'm supposed to be presenting at this conference in April, and I was wondering what the overall environment was like. Did you find it to be welcoming, or otherwise?

I attended the MPCA at St. Louis last year, and I would say that it was a great experience, especially for new presenters. Everyone was very welcoming, and though I was only an undergraduate, all the grad students and professors genuinely valued what I had to say. I would definitely attend MPCA again or any of the other PCA/ACA regional conferences. I don't know if it was just at MPCA or if they do it with all the regional conferences, but their mentorship program was also a great way to get involved. My mentor really helped me feel welcome, and I walked away from the conference with a great deal more experience and lots of contact information from a variety of people from different subject areas. I had no complaints, besides that they scheduled so many great presentations at the same time, so it was hard to choose which ones to listen to!