Dissertation Boot Camps

The CGU Writing Center offers weekend dissertation boot camps throughout the year, as well as one annual week-long boot camp during the summer.

Weekend Boot Camp dates for Spring 2013:

January: 12 & 13
February: 9 & 10
March: 9 & 10
April: 13 & 14
May: 11 & 12

What is a dissertation boot camp?

It is a writing retreat for graduate students who must juggle their dissertation writing with the demands and responsibilities of home and work. The CGU Dissertation Boot Camps offer a quiet space with no distractions or interruptions to students who have defended their proposals and are ABD (All But Dissertation). We are a community of writers committed to completing our disserations on schedule, and we support and cheer each other on, share strategies and experiences to help each other navigate the dissertation process with sanity intact!

Weekend Boot Camps

When is it?: Once a month, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Where is it?: The Writing Center House, 141 East 12th Street

Can I come?: Current CGU students who are ABD are eligible to attend the weekend boot camps. Space is limited and registration is first-come, first served.

How do I sign up?: Once the announcment for each month's Boot Camp goes out, send an email to writecenter@cgu.edu to reserve your space. Send us a refundable deposit in the form of a $50 check made out to the CGU Writing Center. The check will be returned to you when you attend or if you cancel before 9 a.m. on the Friday of the Boot Camp weekend.

Please note: If you have left your check at the Writing Center to be kept here and used if and when you sign-up for Boot Camps, you must still RSVP each time you want to attend in order to book your space.

Week-long Boot Camp

When is it?: For seven consecutive days during June (Dates announced in May).

How is it different from the weekend boot camp?: Along with meeting for a whole week, rather than a weekend, summer boot camp participants benefit from a number of other boot camp features. These include guest faculty and peer speakers addressing issues such as the writing process and staying motivated, as well as group discussions, over 35 hours of quiet writing time and a reward for your effort.

Can I come?: Unlike the weekend Boot Camp, there is an application process for the week-long Boot Camp. Current CGU students who are ABD may apply.

How do I apply?: Eligible students must submit an application which includes a brief statement on how you hope to benefit from the Boot Camp, goals for the week set in collaboration with your advisor or chairperson, and the chairperson or advisor's signature. A refundable deposit in the amount of $100 is also required. The check will be returned to you when you attend or if you cancel by a date to be determined by the Writing Center prior to the Boot Camp. Applications will be emailed as part of the announcement for the Summer Boot Camp and will also be available on the Writing Center website.

Deposit checks for either Boot Camp can be dropped off at the Writing Center House or mailed to:
The CGU Writing Center
150 E 10th Street
Claremont, CA 91711

For more information, call us at (909) 607-0012 or email us at writecenter@cgu.edu You can also read about our previous boot camps on our dissertators blog.