Dissertation Boot Camp

Welcome to Academic Year 2020-21!

Registration for DBC Session 7 running from May 10 – May 21 (weekdays), 2PM - 6PM opens on April 26 at 10AM. 

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 two "one week-long" camps we will run this 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 11:00 a.m. We are happy to note that based on feedback from previous Dissertation Boot Campers, we are also offering a few sessions that begin at 1 and 2 p.m. Please review all dates below.

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 (Online)

• Registration is available via a Google form link on this web page at 10 am two weeks before each camp begins, except when noted.

• Online Boot Camps are limited to 26 participants.

• Camps are filled on a first-come, first serve basis. Preference is given to participants who have not attended a previous Boot Camp.
• We will provide a wait list via the Google form once registration meets capacity.
• You will receive an email a few days before the Boot Camp begins to confirm your space.
• If you have any questions regarding Dissertation Boot Camps, please email humecenter@stanford.edu

Registration Process (In-person once all regular Hume activity resumes back on campus)

• 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 each camp begins. Registration runs for one week ONLY from Monday to Friday.   *PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS REGISTRATION PROCESS
• We recommend that students come to the Hume Center (Bldg. 250) in person to register and complete a Student Participation Fee Agreement (see description of the Agreement below) 
• Preference is given to participants who have not attended a previous Boot Camp and who have completed the Fee Agreement
• You will receive an email a few days before Boot Camp begins to confirm your space
• If you have any questions regarding Dissertation Boot Camps, please email humecenter@stanford.edu

Monetary incentive* 

*Applies to the in-person DBC only and not the online DBC.

We collect a Fee Agreement to encourage Boot Camp participants to complete the program. Consequently, students complete their registration by filling out a Student Participation Fee Agreement.  This agreement authorizes the Hume Center to charge $100 to participants' Stanford University bill if they do not fully attend the 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 2019-2020. 

2020-2021 Schedule

Fall

Dissertation Boot Camp —session 1

Registration begins: Septmber 21 at 10 AM

Camp:  October 5 – October 16 (weekdays), 9 AM-1 PM

Dissertation Boot Camp “Before Dawn”—session 2

Registration begins: October 26 at 10 AM

Camp:  November 9 – November 20 (weekdays), 7-11 AM

Winter 

Dissertation Boot Camp —session 3

Registration begins: January 11 at 10 AM

Camp:  January 25 - February 5 (weekdays), 8 AM-12 PM

Dissertation Boot Camp “After Dark”—session 4

Registration begins: February 8 at 10AM (one week registration)

Camp:  February 16 (Tuesday) - February 26 (weekdays), 5 PM-9 PM

Spring Break

Dissertation Boot Camp —session 5

Registration begins: March 1 at 10AM

Camp:  March 15 – March 26 (weekdays), 9AM-1 PM

Spring

Dissertation Boot Camp —session 6

Registration begins: March 29 at 10AM

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

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 7

Registration begins: April 26 at 10AM

Camp:  May 10 – May 21 (weekdays), 2PM-6PM

Summer

Summer Camp 1

Dissertation Boot Camp —session 8

Registration begins June 7. 

Camp: June 21 – July 2 (weekdays), 8 AM-12 PM

Summer Camp 2

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 9

Registration begins June 28.

Camp: July 12 – July 23 (weekdays), 10 AM-2 PM

Summer Camp 3

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 10

Registration begins July 26 (one week registration). 

Camp: August 2 – August 13 (weekdays), 9 AM-1 PM

Summer Camp 4

Dissertation Boot Camp—session 11

Registration begins August 9 (one week registration). 

Camp: August 16 - August 27 (weekdays), 1 PM-5 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.

Dissertation Boot Camp Starter Kit

If you are interested in starting your own Dissertation Boot Camp in a department or program, please email the Hume Center for our Dissertation Boot Camp starter kit.