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Dissertation Boot Camp

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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.

Register for spring DBC #6 here

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  [email protected]

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. 

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.

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.

Doctoral students “dive into the dissertation” at the Lake Shift

"I will finish writing this dissertation come hell or high waters," says one boot camper to another as they clear the plates after lunch at the Lake Shift. Not only was the expression befitting as participants were near a body of water, but it was also a testament to the determination among doctoral students at the Lake Shift Dissertation Writing Bootcamp. The Lake Shift Dissertation Writing Bootcamp, aka Dissertation-on-the-lake, is a yearly writing retreat organized by Queen's University School of Graduate Studies for doctoral students from across Ontario universities, and is held at the Queens' Biological Station situated on Lake Opinicon.  Supported by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, five University of Waterloo graduate students, Maša Torbica, Sagar Patel, Shefaza Esmail, Stephanie Barr and myself (Jennifer Kandjii) were among the participants of this year's retreat held July 14-19, 2019.

Front to back: Stephanie, Maša, Sagar, Shefaza, and Jennifer at the Lake Shift.

The writing retreat at Lake Opinicon provided a valuable opportunity for structured writing without the day-to-day time-consuming realities of meal-prep, family and work commitments, and university teaching or research assistantships.  The daily program comprised of two writing sessions, meal times, and a group session. Each day, participants wrote their goals on sticky notes, which they transferred from the goal chart to the accomplishment chart, when they achieved the goal. This visual representation demonstrated that as collective, participants were meeting their goals.  

Maša summarized her experience at the Lake Shift as one that "offered a productive balance between structured writing time and social immersion in a scholarly community." As the writing sessions were flexible, writers were able to plan their day to incorporate fun water-based activities such as swimming and canoeing. The hydrophobic could instead hike to Cook island, get an ice-cream at the nearby village, or take a short nap to re-energize. 

Another key aspect of the retreat was providing space for graduate students to network.  With diverse research focuses and social interests, participants talked about their research across disciplines and formed connections over areas of social interest, such as arts and crafts, music, physical fitness, comedy, or simply the latest show on Netflix. These conversations happened over tasty meals prepared by amazing chefs, the nightly campfires, and during the many social activities. Sagar, for example, articulated his experience at the retreat as one that "helped reinvigorate" his balance between "writing and breaks” as well as grant him the opportunity to converse “with graduate students from diverse fields of study." 

Images from left to right: From goals to accomplishments, a visual representation of what Lake Shifters accomplished at the end of the week; Lake Shifters grabbing some ice-cream at a local café at Lake Opinicon; and the nightly campfires were a source of deep conversations, marshmallow roasting, and networking.

Moreover, the workshop sessions covered various useful topics, from writing and editing strategies, to the importance of assessing negative thoughts and their impacts on our behaviour and well-being, and writing barriers and challenges. Participants were able to draw connections across the sessions, as there is an association between writing impediments and perceptions of oneself and one’s work.

Overall, the serenity and pleasantness of the natural environment was instrumental in reducing stress, enhancing relaxation, and improving wellness. Indeed, nature has the power to heal, soothe, restore. Writing near a Lake under these conditions only made the writing process all the more productive and the experience enjoyable for participants. For the University of Waterloo attendees, it was a great opportunity, as Shefaza would say, "to dive into the dissertation."

Seated are all but two participants of the Lake shift dissertation boot camp, with the amazing Colette Steer, organizer and facilitator, laying in the front.

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Dissertation boot camp supports graduate students through the rigors of the writing process

The program, which has been offered routinely since 2010 to doctoral students at UNC-Chapel Hill, asks participants to deliberately set aside time — as much as 15 hours a week — for dissertation work.

Natalia Rebolledo Fuentealba , ’21 (Ph.D.) an international graduate student from Chile, turned to dissertation boot camp , professional development programming offered by The Writing Center and The Graduate School, to improve her writing skills as she worked on her dissertation in nutrition. 

The boot camp, which has been offered routinely since 2010 to doctoral students at UNC-Chapel Hill, asks participants to deliberately set aside time—as much as 15 hours a week—for dissertation work. Rebolledo attended her first week-long session as she began to prepare in 2019; she attended several sessions in order to continue momentum.  

“When I was writing, they shared a lot of tools, like reverse outlining or color-coding. Those tools improved my writing to become more concise.” Rebolledo said. “I’m not a native English speaker, so I needed all of the tools I could get.”  

When the boot camps moved online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebolledo said she continued to benefit from setting aside blocks of time to work on her dissertation.

“During the pandemic, I needed blocks of time to work,” she said. “My advisor graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, and she said the dissertation boot camp was so good and encouraged me to go.”  

During the boot camp, she also learned about other resources offered by the Writing Center and the Learning Center.  

In terms of professional development, Rebolledo said what she learned will benefit her as she continues to write and publish her research. For example, she shared that in written Spanish, sentences tend to be longer than in English. In addition to her advisor noticing improvements in her written word, Rebolledo said her spoken English also improved.  

“The main lesson I took was if you don’t block time to write, writing is not going to happen,” Rebolledo said. “That’s something I need to plan even now. I submitted my dissertation, but I do need to publish papers.”  

Her dissertation analyzes front-of-package warning labels and marketing restrictions on junk food in Chile and how purchase and intake of non-nutritive sweeteners changed. In her dissertation acknowledgment section, she credited the dissertation boot camp with helping her complete her degree, offered by the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.  

As a first-generation Ph.D. student, Rebolledo said boot camps help to demystify graduate school and how to work more efficiently. “You only learn by trying,” she said. “At The Writing Center, everyone is so nice. It’s a very supportive environment.”  

During her time as a Ph.D. student, she also participated in The Graduate School’s Diversity and Student Success programming, specifically, its  Initiative for Minority Excellence.  Connecting with peers and resources on campus can be critical in pursuing graduate education.   

“I wanted to take advantage of everything I could,” Rebolledo said.  

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Dissertation Boot Camp

What is a dissertation boot camp.

Boot camp is a week-long opportunity for students currently writing dissertations to set writing goals, practice disciplined writing habits, learn new strategies, and connect with other dissertation writers. It’s offered several times per year and is intended to help graduate students make significant progress in their writing and their sense of community.

What do participants do each day?

• Set SMART goals for the week before the camp begins and post those goals publicly.
• Arrive physically or virtually a few minutes before their camp begins.
• Spend a few minutes meeting other campers in discussing goals and plans for the day.
• Experiment with the daily writing strategy or explore a resource shared by a Writing Center staff member.
• Enjoy several blocks of uninterrupted writing time.
• Review and update their writing goals for the week.
• Spend a longer time at the end of each writing period reflecting on the process and developing a supportive community of peers.

When is the next camp?

In-person camp: may 13-17 & june 24-28.

• Meets in the Writing Center, SASB North lower level, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Registration capped at 20 participants
• First-time participants have priority registration. Returners should email to be added to the wait list.
• Full commitment is required (no coming and going)
• Registration fee is a non-refundable $20, which includes refreshments and lunch daily

Please note: “First-timer” means it’s your first time at the in-person camp. If you’ve only done the virtual boot camp, you’re considered a “first-timer” for the in-person camp. Click the appropriate link to participate:

• First-timers register here for May 13-17. June registration opens May 20.
• Returners: Join the wait list. You’ll be added in order and will be notified on May 6.

Please be sure that you’re subscribed to the Graduate School Professional Development newsletter for updates about future camps.

Virtual camp:

• June 10-14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Virtual boot camps are open to all and can be repeated as often as you’d like.

Please note : We’re experimenting with a slightly flexible attendance policy for the virtual camps. We realize that some commitments are difficult to move or cover, so if you can commit firmly to the rest of the week, we’ll welcome you. Please register but indicate when you won’t be there on the registration form. That’ll help us organize discussion groups. Thank you!

• Register for the virtual boot camp

What have previous boot campers said?

“I feel like I can actually write this thing, and that it can be good. Not only can I write it, but I can do it in a sane and enjoyable way.”

“I feel positive about my paper again. My brain is actually willing to think about my project without flying instinctively to other thoughts.”

“It was great to be surrounded by other students in the same situation. It made me feel less alone.”

“This was fantastic and by far the best and most useful workshop I have attended as a graduate student. I have already recommended it to all my friends and colleagues!”

You should register for boot camp when you are…

• Actively engaged in the writing phase of your dissertation.
• Ready to spend a total of 15 hours just writing (three hours each day for five days).
• Able to commit to arriving by the starting time and staying until the end on all five days.

You should not register for boot camp if you are…

• Not yet actively writing text that you plan to include in your dissertation.
• Seeking a class or workshop about dissertations—what parts they have, what they should look like, step-by-step instructions for writing one, etc.
• Not fully and reliably available on all of the specified dates.

Would you like to run your own boot camp?

We recommend participating in a Writing Center boot camp to get yourself into the groove. After that, connect with other campers (or colleagues who couldn’t make it here) to keep the momentum going in your own self-run boot camps. See this page for tips and tools .

Nuts and bolts

• To be notified when boot camp registration opens, join the Graduate Student Professional Development list by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with “subscribe gradevelopment” in the body of the message, leaving the subject field blank.
• For questions about registration, contact Vanessa Dorriot Anderson at the Graduate School.
• For questions about boot camp activities, contact Gigi Taylor at the Writing Center.

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Dissertation Boot Camp was created in 2005 to help students progress through the difficult writing stages of the dissertation process. By offering an environment and support for intense, focused writing time, the Camp provides participants with the structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the dissertation process. 

The Grad Center's Navigating the Academy programs, including Dissertation Boot Camp, are funded in part through a generous grant from  GAPSA . Dissertation Boot Camp is co-facilitated by the Grad Center, Weingarten Center, and Provost Graduate Degrees Office.

Dissertation Boot Camp is a two-week program designed to help advanced doctoral students meet goals and deadlines towards completing the dissertation.

Program Structure 

We typically hold at least two boot camps each year, corresponding with official university break periods.

Participation is limited to 20 students and includes group meetings, individual writing support, and 3-7 hours of focused writing each day. 

Summer and Winter Boot Camps run for two weeks, with required group meetings and individual writing sessions each weekday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, as well as optional writing sessions from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

Participation in Boot Camp requires a $20 program fee. This cost covers basic writing supplies, snacks, and two lunches during the program. Those with significant financial need can request a fee waiver by emailing Grad Center Director Meredith Wooten (mwooten@upenn).

An additional fee of $50 will be charged to participants who fail to comply with program requirements or drop out of the program without advance notice. This fee is charged via the participant's Penn student account. 

Who Can Participate? 

Boot Camp is designed for students who have an approved dissertation proposal, have completed at least initial stages of their research, and who are actively working on drafts of a dissertation chapter or section. 

Because Boot Camp is limited to 20 students, priority is given to students who have not participated in a boot camp before. If you have participated in a previous two-week Boot Camp, you can request to be placed on a wait list and will be able to register if seats are available one week before the camp begins.

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during Boot Camp.

How to Apply

All participants must apply in advance. A complete application includes:   

Online application (link will only work during open application cycles).  

Submit payment in person at the Graduate Student Center. The $20 payment may be paid by CASH or CHECK only at the main desk in the Grad Center Common Room (first floor). See building hours here .   

Students selected to participate will be notified on a rolling basis. You will receive additional guidance and are expected to discuss your goals for the program with your dissertation advisor(s).

Students who are selected are expected to attend all required sessions of the Boot Camp .

Boot camp meets on weekdays over a two week period.

Each day will include required group check-ins and individual writing sessions from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Participants have the option to stay until 4:30 PM. Weekends are off.

Each participant will have an assigned work station, and must follow all Grad Center and Boot Camp Rules, which will be discussed during the orientation session of the Boot Camp.

Boot Camp participants must bring their own laptops and all materials (e.g., books, data) that are necessary. These items can be secured in the Grad Center for the duration of Boot Camp.

During the orientation session, we will have a rules discussion followed by a group workshop on organization and writing offered by the  Weingarten Center . We encourage students to attend one advising session with a Weingarten Advisor at some point before the boot camp or during the two weeks of Camp.  Students can bring drafts of their work, discuss topic and structure, future publications and work, etc. Weingarten staff will remain available on an on-call basis throughout the program for additional appointments, to help students overcome any habits or problems standing in the way of success.

All participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program. To encourage this sustained commitment, we charge $50 fee to participants who do not abide by the rules or complete the program.

All extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of Camp. If  your circumstances would cause too much absence or disruption, we will forfeit your seat to another student and refund your supply fee. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this issue before registering. We will discuss pre-noted and emergency absences in detail during the orientation. As a general rule, we suggest that all students make-up their lost time during the afternoon optional time period.

We are happy to explain our policies and discuss the program with you. Please contact us here or call 215-746-6868.

Graduate Student Center University of Pennsylvania 3615 Locust Walk Philadelphia PA 19104 215-746-6868

[email protected]

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Dissertation Boot Camp

Dissertation Boot Camp is a free-of-charge, all-inclusive weekend program designed to assist doctoral scholars enrolled in any proposal or dissertation course. Services include research, writing, and statistical assistance , along with opportunities to receive individualized guidance. Camp cohort sizes are strategically limited to give campers intentional and focused experiences.  

Dissertation Boot Camp is an ACCOUNTABILITY and SUPPORT program only . Attendees are expected to have basic knowledge about research, writing, and statistical processes. Please consult with your dissertation chair and/or committee before applying.  

Accepted campers must be able to commit to BOTH FULL DAYS of camp. Please make timely accommodations with your personal and/or professional schedules before applying to camp.  

C amps occur near the middle of the fall and spring semesters . Selected students are expected to attend all camp sessions on both days.

S tudents must be currently enrolled in a SHSU doctoral program and complete an application. Faculty members are also encouraged to nominate students. Nominations must include students’ names, Sam IDs, and email addresses, and should be emailed to the Graduate School’s academic support coach at [email protected] . Camp seats are limited and awarded based on need and availability.  

If you or someone you know would benefit from this program, please contact your advisor, chair, or another SHSU graduate faculty or staff member.  

Camp curricula are designed based on the specific and collective needs of selected campers. Each camp ’s schedule of events is vastly different from that of the next . Some topics are delivered as whole-group, general sessions, while others are conducted as one-to-one consultations.   

Below are themes addressed in former camps :  

Accountability & Time Management   Dissertation Committee Relations   Dissertation Mapping   Formatting and Style Review   Institutional Review Board (IRB)   Library Resources   Literature Reviews   Proposal Preparation & Defense   Publishing   Reading , Writing , & Editing Strategies   Statistical Programs & Data  

Registration for Spring 2024 is CLOSED!

Spring 2024 Date : Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23   Time : All day   Location : Zoom  

Summer 2024 Date : TBD   Time : TBD  Location : TBD 

Thesis Boot Camp

Thesis Boot Camp is a comprehensive event designed to facilitate master’s students’ research and writing progress. Thesis Boot Camp is currently held over 1.5 days and supports scholars in all programs, departments, and academic colleges. Direct services include research, writing, and statistical assistance , along with opportunities to receive individualized guidance. Camp is available to those completing traditional and non-traditional theses, capstones, portfolios, and internships.  

To attend camp, students must use the registration link provided by The Graduate School. After registration, selected campers will be notified via email. Seats are filled on a first come, first served basis. Please do not wait to register.

• Camp will be hosted via Zoom.
• Campers must be able to ensure they have reliable internet access.
• Campers must be able to commit to BOTH camp days.

Registration TBD

Summer 2024 Date : TBD Time: TBD Location: TBD

Additional Support Services

We encourage you to attend academic and career and professional development events. Academic Support Seminars ,  KATCH Sessions , and Professional Wednesday Series  presentations are great ways to connect with our office.

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Dissertation Boot Camp

The Dissertation Boot Camp is back!

This week-long camp is a focused writing workshop where you will spend time working on your thesis alongside grad student peers. Snacks will be provided, alongside writing support from Student Academic Success Services.

This semester, the DBC is being run as a hybrid event - students can attend the camp in-person at the 1923 Reading Room in Douglas Library, or join on Teams!

Registration is now open!

Matador Original Series

These 7 Palaces in Moscow Are Straight Out of a Fairy Tale

M oscow’s past is inextricably linked with the tsars and their favorite people, who, because of their status, did not live in communal flats but in incredibly fancy palaces. The palaces of St. Petersburg are world-famous, but Russia’s capital also has its fair share of magnificent noble residences, most of which are now museums. All the palaces impress with their beautiful architecture and equally beautiful interiors, as well as with their tumultuous histories. We have selected seven of them for you to add to your Moscow itinerary .

1. Tsaritsyno

Photo: Sergey Dzyuba /Shutterstock

In 1776, Tsaritsyno was built on the order of Catherine the Great who fell in love with the pastoral beauty of the area; however, she never lived here. The empress did not like the creation of Vasily Bazhenov, so his work was torn down. A second attempt by architect Matvey Kazakov got cut short — Catherine the Great died before he could finish the 20-year enterprise. The building was abandoned until it was beautifully renovated between 2005 and 2007.

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Today, Tsaritsyno is a museum within a large, 1,000-acre park. Tsaritsyno is located south of Moscow, a 40-minute metro ride from the city center to the Tsaritsyno metro station and a 10-minute walk to get to the gate. The palace is in the middle of the park, so you’ll have to walk for another 10 minutes to access it, but the greenery, and the fountains and bridges that dot it, are a sight to see and well worth the extra footwork. The palace complex is closed on Monday, but you can access the park daily, from 6:00 AM to midnight.

2. Kolomenskoye

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As early as the 16th century, Kolomenskoye was the summer residence of the tsars. In the 17th century, Tsar Alexei Romanov built a great wooden palace on the royal estate, which was unfortunately torn down on the order of Catherine the Great in the late 18th century. The current magnificent wooden palace in Kolomenskoye was built using drawings of the one that stood on the estate so long ago.

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Today, the Kolomenskoye estate is comprised of 17 architectural monuments on 990 acres, including the 16th-century Ascension Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site ; 17th-century wooden fortresses; and a 400-year old wooden Orthodox Church. The open-air museum is opened for visitors daily, except Mondays. To get there is a 50-minute metro ride from the center of Moscow to Kolomenskaya station.

3. Petrovsky Palace

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Built as a station on the tsars’ journeys from St. Petersburg to Moscow by order of Catherine the Great, the red and white Petrovsky Palace is the work of the famous Russian architect Matvey Kazakov (and, as such, bears a resemblance with Tsaritsyno).

Today, the palace is used as a four-star hotel , so visiting it is not an option unless as part of a rare guided tour. The edifice is also used as the House of Receptions of the Government of Moscow since 2009. To get to the Petrovsky Palace, located in the northwest of Moscow, travel on the metro to the Dinamo station and walk for fewer than 10 minutes.

The huge Kuskovo complex was built between 1740 and 1780 by the wealthy and noble Sheremetev family to be used as a holiday residence. Besides the palace that was intended for receptions only, and which remains exactly the same as it was in the 18th century, the complex includes the Dutch House (a pavilion modeled on a 17th-century Dutch townhouse), Italian House (built in the style of 17th-century Italian villa), the Grotto, the Menagerie, the Hermitage and other structures in a large park with fountains, ponds, canals and a formal garden.

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The superb ensemble is a museum of 18th-century manor life that contains 50,000 pieces such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, and artistic furniture. The complex is also the host for the State Museum of Ceramics, where works of porcelain, glass, and ceramics are displayed. Kuskovo is a 35-minute metro ride from the city center to the Novogireevo metro station and a 15-minute walk to the complex.

5. Grand Kremlin Palace

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The Grand Kremlin Palace is the largest building in the Kremlin, a fortified complex of cathedrals and palaces located in the heart of the Russian capital. The Grand Kremlin Palace was built between 1837 and 1849 and used to be the tsar’s residence; nowadays, it is the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Although the outside may seem fancy, it is nothing compared to the lavish interior. With its intricate domed ceilings; huge, sparkling chandeliers; and gold -covered everything, it’s even fancier than Versailles . It is possible to visit the beautiful palace, but the only way to do it is by booking a two-hour tour .

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One of the most beautiful estates in Moscow, Bykovo — also known as Marino — unfortunately sits abandoned. The complex is comprised of the incredible Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin, built in 1789 and said to have been designed by famous Russian architect Vasily Bazhenov; a palatial manor rebuilt in 1856, which served as a tuberculosis sanitarium after the Bolshevik Revolution; and a rotunda by large pond, all of which sits on an overgrown, forested park.

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Because the estate is neglected, it is not possible to visit the interior of the manor; however, you can walk around and enjoy the architecture from the outside. In winter, the long slope in front of the manor serves as a tobogganing spot for local kids. Unlike the rest of the estate, the church is currently being renovated. It’s a bit of a trek to get to Bykovo by public transport, but if you have a vehicle or can afford a taxi ride, it’s only a 50-minute car ride from the center of Moscow.

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The Marfino estate is a unique and prime example of Gothic architecture in Moscow as it’s an ensemble where every building is of the Gothic style. After being burned down by the French in 1822, it was later rebuilt by famed architect Mikhail Bykosvky. The ensemble is comprised of a large park, large ponds, a beautiful bridge, stone gates, sculptures, the Nativity Church, a rotunda, a pavilion, and, of course, the red and white manor.

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