Presenting at University -You- Rejected

[Between Fields]

So, there is a graduate student conference in my field, in my sub-area at a university and department that I was admitted to and didn't attend. Would it be awkward to submit a paper? Has anyone ever had the experience of being on a campus you declined, in the context of presenting? I'm pretty confident I could write a passable abstract, but is the vita line worth possible side eye?

[TakeruK]

Unless this school has a really weird dynamic, no one should even care! If they remember, they might even be happy to have you come. Maybe they will tease you a bit about making the "wrong choice" but it should be all in good fun. And if the other grad students, for some weird reason, want to give you trouble, then that's highly unprofessional and well, at least you know who to avoid in the future!

[fuzzylogician]

Weird thing I learned being on the job market: the places you applied to and didn't end up going to have a way of remembering you in a positive light. As if to say "we knew you were good way back when, glad to see you're still going strong." Even before then, I had multiple occasions of presenting at schools I declined, and not once was there any weirdness. Strong applicants routinely get accepted to more than one school, and schools are used to getting declined for some set of competitors. Unless you were outrageously obnoxious when you turned them down, you have nothing to worry about. 

[lewin]

I've met lots of potential students who ended up going elsewhere. Declining in itself doesn't create a negative impression.... the only ones I remember negatively are the ones who made bad impressions in other ways (e.g., egotistical, dim, verbose, socially awkward) and who I was usually happy they ended up somewhere else.

 

If someone gives you side-eye just because you went to another program, that reflects poorly on them, not on you.

 

Frankly I would be more concerned about whether it's worth your time. Graduate student conferences are fine for the experience, but almost worthless for your vita.... so do you want to give a practice talk? Then go for it.

[dr. t]

the only ones I remember negatively are the ones who made bad impressions in other ways (e.g., egotistical, dim, verbose, socially awkward) and who I was usually happy they ended up somewhere else.

 

.... crap.

[rising_star]

What fuzzy and lewin said. I do remember people that visited but it's rarely in a bad light unless they said or did something asinine during their visit. I wouldn't worry about any serious side eye, though you're likely to get people making jokes and whatnot about how you made the wrong decision. Now, whether it's worth it or not is an entirely different matter. I've never presented at a grad student conference because I don't really see the point.

[lewin]

.... crap.

 

haha. Would concrete examples allay your concerns? I remember these...

 

- I asked candidate, "What kind of research are you interested in?"   Candidate: "I don't know."   Me, "I don't need specifics, just what do you like?"  Candidate: "I really have no idea."  [Me thinking: How did you get an interview!?] 

 

- Candidate who spent 95% of student meeting talking about how great their current lab is insteading asking ANY questions about our program. Current students couldn't get a word in edgewise. Candidate decided to stay in current lab.  Current students weren't surprised or disappointed.

 

- Candidate who said their undergrad school "Wasn't very good for [their discipline]," and, "I'm a way better writer than most of the other students I know."

 

- Candidate who looked bored and was checking their phone the whole time I was giving them their department tour. Later I talked to a grad student at another place where candidate had also applied--same thing had happened there.

 

- In a meeting, a candidate who told a faculty member [not their POI]: "It's too bad nobody here studies X and Y."  Said faculty member studies X and Y, was probably one of the biggest junior scholars in that area.

 

 

 

I've never presented at a grad student conference because I don't really see the point.

 

This. I've only done it when the conference had ipads as prizes for top poster etc.   That said, my program had pretty good resources for travel to real conferences, but if one didn't have those opportunities then a grad student conference might be the only chance at practice that one gets. It's CV cruft though.

Edited August 9, 2015 by lewin

[fuzzylogician]

This. I've only done it when the conference had ipads as prizes for top poster etc.   That said, my program had pretty good resources for travel to real conferences, but if one didn't have those opportunities then a grad student conference might be the only chance at practice that one gets. It's CV cruft though.

 

In my first and second year, I presented at a couple of grad student conferences that happened either at my school or another one in town, so I didn't have to travel. They were good practice and mainly a good hard deadline to get something done by. They are long gone from my CV, but they were still good practice for "real" conferences, which I started going to in my second year. 

[dr. t]

haha. Would concrete examples allay your concerns? I remember these...

 

- I asked candidate, "What kind of research are you interested in?"   Candidate: "I don't know."   Me, "I don't need specifics, just what do you like?"  Candidate: "I really have no idea."  [Me thinking: How did you get an interview!?] 

 

- Candidate who spent 95% of student meeting talking about how great their current lab is insteading asking ANY questions about our program. Current students couldn't get a word in edgewise. Candidate decided to stay in current lab.  Current students weren't surprised or disappointed.

 

- Candidate who said their undergrad school "Wasn't very good for [their discipline]," and, "I'm a way better writer than most of the other students I know."

 

- Candidate who looked bored and was checking their phone the whole time I was giving them their department tour. Later I talked to a grad student at another place where candidate had also applied--same thing had happened there.

 

- In a meeting, a candidate who told a faculty member [not their POI]: "It's too bad nobody here studies X and Y."  Said faculty member studies X and Y, was probably one of the biggest junior scholars in that area.

 

Oh dear. That's... special.