Dissertation Boot Camp

Dissertation Boot Camp: What is it? Why does it work?

The Dissertation Boot Camp is a free program that gives graduate students a chance to make serious progress on a dissertation, master’s thesis, or other graduate writing project. Students show up, ready to write; the Hume Center provide snacks, supplies, and a highly productive work environment.

With the exception of a week-long camp we will run next summer, all camps provide students with a total of 10 writing days. "The Classic" Boot Camp runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm, while the "After Dark" and "Before Dawn" Boot Camps are designed for graduate students who have classes or other obligations during the day and want to write in the evening or early morning. "After Dark" Boot Camps run from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. "Before Dawn" Camps run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Dissertation Boot Camp helps students learn to write more productively, and often to produce better writing, by providing four critical elements : 1) space with minimal distractions; 2) writing regimen/routine; 3) peer motivation and support; and 4) expert writing consultants. While the program focuses on helping students improve writing productivity, we also hope that students will take away with them writing habits and strategies that will aid them in writing projects in the future. To learn more about what to expect in a Dissertation Boot Camp, and for information about our policies, please download our Boot Camp handout.

Registration Process

Boot Camps are limited to 16 participants
Camps are filled on a first-come, first serve basis
Registration starts at 10:00 a.m., in person, two weeks before camp begins.
We recommend that students come to the Hume Center (Bldg. 250) in person to register and submit a check deposit (see description of the deposit below)
Preference is given to participants who have not attended a previous Boot Camp and who have submitted their check deposit
If you have a question regarding Dissertation Boot Camps, please email the Hume Center
You will receive an email a few days before Boot Camp begins to confirm your space

Deposit incentives

We collect deposits to encourage Boot Camp participants to complete the program. Consequently, registrants must complete their registration with a $100 check deposit. Checks should be made out to "Stanford University" and will be returned in full on the last day of Boot Camp.

Feedback

Once you have completed a Boot Camp, we collect your feedback in order to improve our program. Please help us by completing this Boot Camp Survey for 2015-2016.

2015-2016 Schedule

Fall

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 1

Registration begins: September 28

Camp: October 12 – October 23 (weekdays), 9 AM – 1 PM

Dissertation Boot Camp “Before Dawn”—session 2

Registration begins: October 26

Camp: November 9 – November 20 (weekdays), 7-10 AM

Winter

Dissertation Boot Camp "After Dark"—session 3

Registration begins: January 11

Camp: January 25 – February 5 (weekdays), 5-9 PM

Spring Break

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 4

Registration begins: February 29

Camp: March 14 – March 25 (weekdays), 9 AM - 1 PM

Spring

Dissertation Boot Camp "Before Dawn"—session 5

Registration begins: March 28

Camp: April 11 – April 22 (weekdays), 7-10 AM

Dissertation Boot Camp —session 6

Registration begins: April 25

Camp: May 9 – May 20 (weekdays), 8 AM – 12 PM

Summer Camp 1

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 7

Registration begins: June 6

Camp: June 20 – July 1 (weekdays), 9 AM – 1 PM

Summer Camp 2

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 8

Registration begins: Tuesday, July 5

Camp: July 18 – July 22, 9 AM – 4 PM

Summer Camp 3

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 9

Registration begins: July 11

Camp: July 25 – August 5, 8 AM – 12 PM

Summer Camp 4

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 10

Registration begins: August 1

Camp: August 15 – August 26, 9 AM – 1 PM

Additional Resources

Establishing an Effective Academic Writing Group: Starter Kit

This kit is useful as a guide for any student interested in starting up an effective writing group that will last! There are three basic types of writing groups: feedback groups (reviewing student writing), "writing job" groups (meeting just to write), or goal-setting groups (meeting to set goals and report). We strongly recommend that every member of a new writing group read the kit and use the worksheets to establish a writing group that works best for the group.