Description

Given that there is no universal definition of a preliminary exam, graduate students often don’t know what to expect when beginning the prelim process. Departments also seem to assume that students already know what it means to write in this genre (e.g., in terms of purpose and audience), even though it’s a task that most students have never done before (and will never have to do again). How can you learn the things you are “supposed” to know about the prelim? How can you identify the specificities of your program’s prelims? In short, how can you figure out your prelim’s grading rubric without actually having one? Join us for a low-stakes, low-pressure discussion about the high-stakes, high-pressure nature of the preliminary exam. We will conclude by developing your own game plan and timeline for the exam process. This workshop is for early graduate students across disciplines.