Dissertation Boot Camp

Welcome to Academic Year 2023-24!

DBC Session 6 will run online from April 8th - April 19th (weekdays only) from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration will be online with a link on this page starting April 1 and will be open until April 4 at which point participants will be contacted.

Planning ahead? View the full year schedule

What is it?

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 provides snacks, supplies, and a highly productive work environment.

With the exception of one "week-long" camp we will run this summer, all camps provide students with a total of 10 writing days. The "Classic" Boot Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are happy to note that based on feedback from previous Dissertation Boot Campers, we are also offering a "Before Dawn" session beginning at 8 am and a few sessions that begin later at 10am. Please review all dates on the DBC Annual Schedule.

Why does it work?

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

Registration is available via a Google form link on this web page at 10 a.m. two weeks before each camp begins, except when noted on this page and on the schedule. You will be asked background information and preferences, as well as to agree to a fee if you do not attend (in-person only, discussed below).
In-person Boot Camps are limited to 16 participants, whereas Online Boot Camps are limited to 26.
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

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. 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 2023-2024.

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.