A Graduate Student Guide to the MLA Annual Convention
The MLA Annual Convention, a dynamic gathering of scholars in language and literature, enables students to interact with peers from other fields and to hear and participate in conversations on the state of the profession. Sessions cover a range of topics, from pedagogy and teaching trends to professional service to new developments in scholarly research. The convention also offers many opportunities for networking.
The Committee on the Status of Graduate Students in the Humanities (CSGSH) has provided the following monthly calendar as a guide for graduate students unfamiliar with the convention and as a reminder for those already familiar with convention procedures (also see the convention calendar).
Graduate students who are MLA members are also encouraged to activate their accounts on MLA Commons, where they can join groups for convention attendees and for graduate students, read blogs related to sessions, find roommates, and more.
September
- Members can register for the MLA Annual Convention and make hotel reservations in early September.
- Graduate students who are current MLA members may apply for travel assistance to the MLA convention online beginning in early September. The deadline for applications is 1 November.
- Should you wish to attend the MLA cultural excursions, register early.
October
- Early registration for members ends.
- Nonmember convention and hotel registration begins.
- The Program for the convention is available in print and on the MLA Web site.
December
- The registration rate for the convention increases.
- MLA members attending the convention can sign up to “chat with an editor” who is a member of the Council of Editors of Learned Journals (CELJ), an allied organization of the MLA. The service gives scholars the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an experienced editor to discuss any aspect of the publication process. For registration information, visit the CELJ Web site.
- As you prepare for the MLA Annual Convention, be sure to do the following:
- Construct a personalized conference schedule by logging in to the online program. When organizing your schedule, be sure to consider roundtables, panels, business meetings, and social events. A list of sessions of interest to graduate students will be available on the CSGSH Web page.
- Bring your Program, registration badge, and business cards to the convention.
- Consult the maps in the Convention Guide to determine locations of convention venues and sessions.
- If you will be interviewing at the convention, consult Dos and Don’ts for MLA Convention Interviews.
- If you are presenting, print everything out (presentation, handouts, etc.) before arriving at the convention. Be sure all audiovisual aspects of your presentation are complete, and test them ahead of time. Ensure your session is accessible to all attendees by reviewing Access Guidelines for MLA Convention Session Organizers and Presenters.
January
- At the MLA Annual Convention:
- Expect to be asked about the following by most everyone you meet: your name, school, research interests, and academic standing (“Are you on the market?” “What are you working on?”).
- Attend sessions and meetings outside your immediate field of research. The MLA convention is a great opportunity to learn about the state of the profession.
- Take advantage of job counseling, by appointment only, in the MLA Career Center. Appointments can be arranged through staff members on duty in the interview area.
- Visit the exhibit hall. Many books and services are discounted throughout the convention.
- Use the graduate student lounge (see the Program for location) to regroup between sessions, meet other graduate students, and have a snack.
- After the MLA Annual Convention:
- Follow up with the people you met.
- Search for more jobs; more academic jobs are posted after the convention (see the 2016–17 JIL Report).
- Renew your MLA membership.