<p>I apologize if this has been asked before, I searched and couldn't find a similar thread. </p>
<p>How common is it for a humanities undergrad to present a paper at a conference? Two of my SOPHMORE peers have recently presented papers at conferences. Is this normal? Expected? </p>
<p>I suppose my main question is: is one expected to have presented papers at conferences before one applies to humanities grad school? I always thought one simply needed a good writing sample to apply with, but is applying to grad school without conference papers suicide?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>My daughter just successfully completed the grad school applications process (classics) and I'm pretty sure she had not presented a paper at a conference. Her other stats were really good, though. </p>
<p>Edit: I think it helped that she received a grant to learn German at an intensive summer course in Berlin and she worked on the Persepolis Project (I'm not sure how to spell that) at the Oriental Institute for four years. So, even though she didn't present a paper, she did have some solid activities.</p>
<p>In the humanities in general, including classics, it is great to get experience presenting papers at conferences.</p>
<p>Now -- there are lots of kinds of conferences. There are undergraduate conferences, graduate conferences, and the regular scholarly association conferences. Undergraduates RARELY present at the latter two kinds of conferences.</p>
<p>Having said that, if you get an opportunity, present! If you have a good faculty mentor, s/he will keep you apprised of upcoming conferences in your area.</p>
<p>But in terms of graduate admissions, presentations are a plus, but lack of presentations is not a real minus.</p>