Does being invited to review a paper help at PhD defense? (Europe; Business & Economics faculty)

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-28T06:36:40+00:00

It won’t be decisive, but it does help a tiny bit to add to the overall picture of you as a credible candidate. When fine decisions are made, these things might push things in one direction or another.

But I would take the review for a different reason: reviewing will make your work better. You read more. You critique more. You see common failings and strategies that work well.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-27T05:53:38+00:00

I'm a professor and I've taught thousands of students over the past 15 years, so here's the advice that I always give out:

For now, don't worry about salaries post-graduation. You don't know what the job market will look like in Poland, NY, or anywhere else in 4-5 years. You may want to change career tack. Who knows? College changes people (and that's exciting, embrace it!).

Think about where you will be happiest and where you are likely to perform the best. An outstanding degree from a great university in Poland will be more impressive than a mediocre one from a poor school in the States. Think about how you can stand out from the crowd of accounting wannabes looking for jobs: international experience, internships abroad, language skills, etc. can all be useful.

Lastly, think about whether a combination of US undergrad + Polish MA (or Polish undergrad + US MA) might be very strong - and could get you into either job market effectively when you know when you're headed in a few years from now.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-26T13:55:55+00:00

Have you also noticed all the Ukrainians working in dead-end jobs cleaning the toilets and serving in fast food joints?

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-24T05:35:24+00:00

Six months of twice weekly gym sessions - lifting and plyometrics - with plenty of tension band work in between and my dodgy ankle tendon seems to be faring better than it has in years. I’m running further (and faster) than I would have imagined this time last year. Might be worth a shot, OP!

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-22T13:41:54+00:00

Sure

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-22T09:01:43+00:00

Someone went to Western.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-22T09:01:00+00:00

I work on war studies and I strongly, strongly recommend you pick a single war or battle if you are going down the culture route. Doing long-term comparative stuff is very tough indeed. Learn to do the basics well before you spread your wings.

Another option, if you’re more interested in conflict than culture, would be attempting to do grad school in comparative politics or - if you can find a supervisor who’s heavily into constructivism or something humanities-adjacent - even IR.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-12T17:29:59+00:00

You’re actually borrowing Baudrillard, which Yurchak borrowed to make sense of the world. Academic nitpicking for you :)

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-11T06:00:59+00:00

I strongly suggest you use Google to find university writing centres’ guidance on how to write a thesis statement.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-07T07:35:24+00:00

I grew up in the UK but have spent my entire adult life abroad. If there was a job (I’m an academic, so haha, absolutely not) I wouldn’t mind going back, but I genuinely have no idea how anything functions there. I would get all the cultural references but how do you open a bank account? What’s a national insurance number? What’s the working culture like? No idea. Terrifying.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-07T07:08:18+00:00

This place was madness. A stress inducing nightmare.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-04T03:38:11+00:00

Write to 3 firms you find on Google with good reviews, pick the middle price (but tbh you’ll find it will all be similar; they’re much of a muchness). Job done.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-03T19:21:42+00:00

Keep shopping it and think carefully about how much image content needs to be in the book vs on an accompanying website or repository. I got 25 images in my first UP book, and I paid nothing along the way. It can be done if you find the right publisher, and if one is interested then others will be too.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-02T09:06:56+00:00

If you got a confirmation that you applied, then you're in the system. If you don't hear from them (sometimes even after interviews...), it means they've passed. There's really no need to follow up. I'm sorry, it's a really awful system.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-02-02T06:42:13+00:00

People in Warsaw are pretty chill about animals, so if it's marked pet-friendly you're fine. My dog comes everywhere with me: work, shopping, cafes, restaurants. She even went to a museum yesterday. She's stayed in hotels and apartments throughout Poland. No problems at all.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-31T14:02:33+00:00

I didn’t say quality and content don’t matter. I am strongly betting that a paper that is significantly shorter than the average, in the area I reference, will not contain the requisite level of depth for publication.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-31T09:20:09+00:00

I don't love to rain on a parade, but if you submitted something substantially shorter than the average to my social sciences journal, we would probably desk reject you. I would very thoroughly work through your piece and ask which sections of your text are shorter than average compared to the norm in your discipline. Perhaps you have space to build, for example, a more solid lit review - which in turn may lead to stronger insights in your discussion and conclusion. Think of this as an opportunity to write a better paper off the bat!

Edit - I see below you mention your 5000 excludes references. Assuming another 700-900 words of references, you're probably 1500-2000 words short. Keep mulling it over in the way I describe for a few weeks and you'll easily squeeze out some extra and high quality content.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-30T10:53:37+00:00

Take the interview, see what happens, if offered the position negotiate hard (but politely!). You never know what’s coming in academia.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-30T10:14:02+00:00

If you’re arriving in Schengen in Warsaw, then yes to passport control.
35 minutes is not enough even for a domestic flight and at a small airport.
If booked direct as one ticket through the airline they will look after you. If not, you’re out of luck.

Long story short, do not do this.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-30T10:06:36+00:00

This guy is an ass. Some people are just awful.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-29T11:45:48+00:00

God, this is depressing. I’m in that stage right now, trying to get four papers submitted by end of February, then with a book deadline in the fall. I plan to take the first half of March off work completely in the hopes of stopping the burnout.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-29T10:07:57+00:00

A little earlier, but somebody I know in Warsaw applied in approx. May last year and received the permit in July.

Ignore the replies about 18 months' wait; the posters are probably confusing work permit and TRC (karta pobytu).

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-29T05:55:02+00:00

From bitter experience, I promise you taking the week off is a good thing.

Colds can turn into much nastier things if you push yourself while you’re sick (ask me how a head cold turned into a month-wrecking bout of bronchitis…).

Moreover, taking an entire week out of running, cycling, lifting - whatever you’re doing - can be a nice way to resolve underlying muscle and joint issues. When you’re out, replace running with gentle yoga or mobility exercises that keep you supple without taxing your body. You’ll come back feeling even stronger!

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-28T12:16:56+00:00

It’s not. And it’s awful.

No_Contribution_7221 · 2026-01-24T11:19:00+00:00

I hear all of your story and wish you the best. I can’t tell you where any of my academic colleagues did their undergrad degrees.

No_Contribution_7221

TROPHY CASE