How to Apply For Your First Conference Presentation
Presenting at academic conferences is a valuable opportunity to share your work, receive feedback, and build your network. Many of our members have expressed interest in taking this important academic step but aren't sure where to begin 🤔 Whether you're an undergraduate, graduate student, or early-career professional, the application process can seem daunting at first.
✨ That's why we've created this guide to help you navigate the application process for your first presentation with confidence and clarity!
Conference Basics 🧑🏻💼
Academic conferences generally fall into four categories:
Undergraduate conferences: Designed for bachelor's degree students
Graduate conferences: For master's and doctoral students
Professional academic conferences: For the presentation of research in a specific topic or subfield
Symposia and special interest conferences: Often organized by departmental faculty, these intimate meetings and workshops offer scholars an opportunity to present their work in a small group of experts and discuss their findings
Your Conference Preparation Homework 👨🏻💻
Homework Item #1: Find Your Conference Match
Identify 2-3 conferences that align with your academic level, field of study, and schedule
Consider asking professors or mentors for recommendations specific to your discipline
Homework Item #2: Select Your Presentation Material
Review your existing work (class projects, thesis chapters, research projects)
Ensure your research is substantive and can be presented within the time limit (typically 15-20 minutes) specified by the organization
Homework Item #3: Align with Conference Themes
Read the conference's Call for Papers (CFP) carefully
Draft a short paragraph explaining how your research connects to the theme
Have a colleague review your connection statement
Note: some conferences may require you to apply with a panel so plan ahead and reach out to scholars in your subfield to see if they know anyone else who may be interested in partnering up
Homework Item #4: Secure Travel Funding
Contact your department about available travel grants
Check with your school's graduate student association
Note ALL application deadlines in your calendar!
Confirm what expenses are covered and how funds are distributed
Share your Journey!
Connect with fellow Accepted Society members by sharing your conference application process, asking for feedback on abstracts, or finding others attending the same events. You never know what valuable insights you might discover or which conference buddies you’ll meet in our community!
We’re here to help you navigate this process with confidence! Whether you are presenting at undergraduate, graduate, or professional conferences, many aspects of the application process can be challenging. But you are not alone!
