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#### How does the EA Global admissions process work? 
:::

To attend an EA Global conference, you will need to submit an application form, which the admissions team at CEA will evaluate. If you're accepted, you will then be invited to register for the conference and buy a ticket. 

If you are accepted to one EA Global in 2023, you can then register for all of the announced 2023 EA Globals, without applying again that year. If you are not accepted, you will still be able to apply again for conferences later in the year. Please note that there are still application deadlines for specific conferences, in order to allow enough time for application processing before the event. 

We have a new admissions system, where users sign up or login to their www.effectivealtruism.org account in order to apply. This system is what allows you to register for multiple EA Global events once you're accepted. It also has other useful features, such as checking the status of your applications, editing travel expense requests and skipping some questions you've already answered. 

EA Global admissions are processed by the events team at CEA. 

Admissions to EAGx conferences have some important differences, as they are events hosted by members of the EA community.

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#### How does the EAGx admissions process work? 
:::
Admissions to EAGx conferences have some important differences, as they are events hosted by members of the EA community.

To attend an EAGx conference, you will need to submit an application form, which the organising team for that event will evaluate. 

We have a new admissions system, where users sign up or login to their www.effectivealtruism.org account in order to apply. This system allows you to check the status of your applications, edit travel expense requests and skip some questions you've already answered. 
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#### Why is there an admissions process for EA Global? What can I do if I disagree with an admissions decision?
:::

We have an admissions system to help us select for applicants who seem most able to help each other pursue their goals. We have found this helps attendees get the most value out of events. 

Our admissions criteria has changed over the years. We are adapting and iterating as the EA community itself grows and changes. Some of our communications had previously been out of date. We are working to improve how we communicate our admissions process. For clarity, __this page is the most up to date source of information on our admissions process__. 

Please read our guidance on what we are looking for in applications, and answer questions as fully as possible. If you feel like we made a mistake with your application, or you need help updating it to include new information, you can email us at admissions@eaglobal.org. 

Having an admissions process means making difficult decisions and trade offs - we don't always get things right. 

If you'd like to submit feedback on admissions you can contact our team at admissions@eaglobal.org  or use CEA's anonymous feedback form [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAuu8qVC_jGNaLF_hIcp7WValy5DlN6kyYeAA3zOkj5W2WJg/viewform).

You can read a lengthy discussion about our admissions criteria in [this forum post](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/dsCTSCbfHWxmAr2ZT/open-ea-global) and its comments. Members of our team have tried to respond to comments where possible. 

**If we do not accept your application to an EA Global event, this is only a reflection of your fit for that conference, not a comment on your fit for other events or within the effective altruism community more widely.**

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#### What are you looking for in my EA Global application?
:::

In general, please write honestly, explain your reasoning and err on the side of writing **more**. The more we understand your reasoning, the more we can tell that you would be a good fit for the conference. 

We’d like to learn whether you have taken (or intend to take) significant actions to pursue your altruistic goals, and whether these choices are informed by key ideas from effective altruism. By “significant action,” we mean things such as:

* Making career or study decisions based on the principles of effective altruism, such as applying for jobs and internships, choosing a [major](https://80000hours.org/articles/advice-for-undergraduates/#which-degree-subject) or field of study, or writing a [thesis](https://effectivethesis.org/) on a relevant topic
* Spending a lot of your time volunteering for a project in effective altruism or in related spaces

Note that the examples we list in various places (like here or in the application form) are **not** the only kinds of actions we will consider.

We also sometimes admit people who are less invested in effective altruism than other applicants, but whose professional background or studies make them well placed to help other attendees at the conference achieve their goals.

For EA Global events, we currently don’t prioritize applications based on location.

EA Global admissions are processed by the events team at CEA. Admissions to EAGx conferences will vary a little, as they are events hosted by members of the EA community. 

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#### What are you looking for in my EAGx  application?
:::

In general, please write honestly, explain your reasoning and err on the side of writing **more**. The more we understand your reasoning, the more we can tell that you would be a good fit for the conference. 

EAGx conferences are primarily for people who are:
- Familiar with [the core ideas of effective altruism](https://80000hours.org/articles/effective-altruism/)
- Interested in learning more about what to do
- From the region or country where the conference is taking place (or living there)

We consider people familiar with the core ideas of EA if they have completed an [EA introductory program](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/virtual-programs/introductory-program/) or have engaged with [EA content](https://www.eaglobal.org/ea-conference-reading-list/) at an equivalent level of depth. We encourage everyone at or above this level to apply to attend EAGx conferences. 

__You can apply for a free online introductory program [here](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/virtual-programs/introductory-program/).__

If you want to attend but are unsure about whether to apply, __please err on the side of applying.__

Note that the examples we list in various places (like here or in the application form) are **not** the only kinds of actions we will consider.

We also sometimes admit people who are less invested in effective altruism than other applicants, but whose professional background or studies make them well placed to help other attendees at the conference achieve their goals.

Admissions to EAGx conferences will vary a little, as they are events hosted by members of the EA community. 

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#### When will I have a decision about my application?
:::
Applications are processed on a rolling basis. Generally, most applications will receive a response within 10 working days - however, sometimes during peak periods this can be longer. When you submit an application, you will be informed of the specific (latest) date by which you can expect a response. 

Please let us know if you need a response earlier, for instance if you would need a visa to attend the event or have an alternative reason.
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#### How does applying to _an additional_ event affect my chances of getting accepted to other events _I’m applying to_?
:::
It doesn’t. Each event has its own admissions team, which will independently review your application and assess how it fits their target audience profile. We aren't asking for your preferred ranking of events, as each event will accept you if they think you fit their profile. 

**If there’s a reason you’d like to specifically go to a conference that’s not in your region, please make this explicit in your application.**

We do sometimes suggest that an application for a given event might be a better fit for one of the other events. For EAGx event applications, for instance, we tend to prioritize applicants for whom the given event is the closest (of the events in that year’s schedule). So if you’re from the UK and you apply to EAGxBoston, we may suggest that you attend EAGxOxford, instead. If you’re from Egypt, the most accessible event may be EAGxPrague or EAGxOxford. 

For EA Global events, we currently don’t prioritize applications based on location.
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#### What if I’m early in my career or still figuring out what I want to do?
:::
That’s fine! You don’t need to have a long impactful career behind you or a polished plan for impact to be admitted to an EA Global or EAGx conference. Some of the strongest applications are from people who are too early in their careers to have taken many “significant actions.” These applicants were unsure about many things, but what we appreciated was that they explained their motivations and uncertainties in a thoughtful and transparent way.
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#### How much effort should I spend on the application?
:::
We receive a lot of applications, and the admissions process can be competitive. We recommend that you fill out as many fields as possible, and in particular all the fields in the “Your involvement with effective altruism” section of the application. If you provide a comprehensive account of your background, experience, motivation, and general approach to doing the most good, we are more likely to accept your application.

However, this doesn’t mean you should write an essay in every text field! How polished the text is doesn’t matter to us at all. There are also probably aspects of your background that aren’t very relevant; rather than writing up everything you can think of, consider taking a few minutes to reflect on which aspects of your experience and life philosophy you most wish to highlight.

We occasionally accept applications that are quite sparse. This is usually because the applicant’s background strongly demonstrates their commitment to the principles of effective altruism or that their skills or experience make them particularly well-placed to help other attendees.   
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#### Who sees my application? Do you pass along any information?
:::
Only the admissions team and approved individuals (e.g. people at the Centre for Effective Altruism who are processing payments) will see your application unless you consent to sharing details with other EA organizations for the purpose of connecting you to collaborators and opportunities. If you consent to this, we may pass along information to EA organizations who are looking to hire, searching for people to invite to themed events, etc. 

CEA respects your privacy and will use your information in accordance with its [privacy policy](https://www.centreforeffectivealtruism.org/privacy), which also sets out your rights.
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#### I heard some people already got invited directly to the event. Why is that?
:::
We send direct invitations to some people we know we are going to accept. We don’t currently have systems to capture everyone for whom this is true, but we use some proxy measures that allow us to cut down on a lot of unnecessary work. Some proxy measures we’ve used in the past include:  working at EA organizations; receiving past invitations to highly selective events; or working on things like EA community building on a grant from CEA or EA Funds.
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#### If my group leader recommends me for the conference, does that guarantee I’ll be accepted?
:::
Not really. 

We sometimes reach out to group organizers with whom we have a history of communication, and ask them to refer group members they think are a good fit for the event. While we treat the fact that you got referred as some information about your application, the application is still the key part of the decision, and we sometimes decide not to admit someone despite a recommendation.

If you are a group organizer and we ask you for referrals, please remind everyone, including the group members you refer, that they should write comprehensive applications in order to be accepted.
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#### Can I get rejected because CEA disagrees with my beliefs?
:::
No. We don’t reject people for disagreeing with CEA or for expressing controversial ideas.

We might reject someone’s application for things like:
- Expressing disagreement in a destructive or irresponsible way
- Advocating for or taking actions that we see as harmful (like calling for violence, or encouraging projects with a lot of irresponsible downside risk)

We also don’t penalize people based on whether or not they favor any prominent EA approaches to cause prioritization. However, we do scrutinize their stated reasons for their cause prioritization, and we do update negatively if people are focused on areas that people in the community don’t currently prioritize __without giving some thoughtful reasons__, as this is sometimes a sign that people are dogmatic about their cause prioritization.
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#### If an application is rejected, does CEA provide feedback about why?
:::
Unfortunately, we usually can’t elaborate on our admissions decisions. If you would like answers to a question about a rejection, however, you can email us at [admissions@eaglobal.org](mailto:admissions@eaglobal.org) and we will do our best to reply. 
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#### What does a rejection mean?
:::
Rejection only means that the admissions team for this particular event didn’t think that your application demonstrated your fit for that event. A rejected application is **not a judgement about the value of your work or your potential impact in effective altruism**. Rejections do not signal to funders or potential employers that they shouldn’t collaborate with you. Or that you are somehow not part of this community. We do not share information about rejected applications with anyone who doesn’t need to know it.

The admissions process narrowly considers your fit for a conference, and even then, the process is imperfect; we are aware of times when we rejected someone we realized later we should have accepted. 

If you’re rejected from a conference, you are absolutely welcome to apply to other conferences in the future. 

If your application is rejected and you don’t think it should have been, please email [admissions@eaglobal.org](mailto:admissions@eaglobal.org). 
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#### What can I do if my application was waitlisted or rejected, and I don’t think it should have been?
:::
If there's information that wasn't included on your original application that you think might be relevant to our decision, you or a friend can contact us at admissions@eaglobal.org and provide any information you think we should know. We will consider the new information and get back to you.
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#### Why did someone with similar qualifications or interests to mine get accepted when I did not?
:::
We understand that some of our decisions may seem arbitrary, but we often have to make decisions with incomplete information, and there may have been aspects of the other person’s application that stood out, even if your backgrounds are quite similar. Feel free to let us know via email if you disagree with a judgement we’ve made. 

We also think it’s valuable for local EA groups to have at least some members attend EA Global in order to bring back news and ideas to other members of their group. This means we try to accept representatives from a variety of groups.
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#### What reasons might cause CEA to reject an application?
:::
**The most common reason for rejecting someone is that we think they would not be a good fit for the event.** Each event is designed with a specific audience in mind, and we try to select for people who will get the most out of the conference they are applying for.

**Occasionally, we reject applications because we’re mildly concerned about the applicant’s past behavior at an event.** This could include a record of overconfidence, excessive self-promotion, or rudeness that negatively impacted other attendees. We likely won’t go into detail about this when responding to applicants, but we will look for evidence that these behaviors have improved when we consider someone’s future applications. We’ve seen people we were initially concerned about change over time and be admitted to EA Global conferences after getting rejected for this sort of reason.

**In rare cases, we have serious concerns about an applicant’s past behavior** (examples include harassment or fraud). We reject applications from people about whom we have these kinds of concerns. 
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#### How can I check to see if you have concerns about me, my behavior, or my organization?
:::
If you want to know whether we have concerns about your behavior, email us about this and we will let you know. (In most cases, the answer will be 'no'.) 

If we do have concerns, we will share them if we can. However, because we must respect the confidentiality of people who report issues at our conference, we will sometimes only be able to tell you the broad nature of the problem.
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#### What does it mean if I expressed interest in presenting and I’m not selected to present?
:::
Because we generally focus on the networking benefits of our events, we are unable to have many sessions (talks, workshops, etc.) at EA Global conferences. If you were not selected as a speaker, it’s most likely that the topic you suggested is not a good fit for this event. It could also be that we’ve already selected a speaker for a similar topic. 
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#### How can I contact the EA Global team?
:::
Please email us at hello@eaglobal.org.
::::

Admissions FAQ


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#### What is EA Global?
:::
EA Global is a conference series for members of the effective altruism (EA) community, that is organised by the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA). EA Global conferences typically last around 3 days and involve talks, workshops, discussions, and many chances to connect and network with people in EA. 
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#### Who should attend an EA Global conference?
:::
EA Global and EAGx events are designed to help members of the effective altruism community make progress on the world's pressing problems, by sharing new thinking and research as well as starting or coordinating on important projects. We have an admissions system for EA Global and EAGx events, to help us select applicants who seem most able to help each other pursue these goals. 

You can read more about what we’re looking for in the admissions section of the FAQ, but in short: 

EA Global is mostly aimed at people who have a solid understanding of the core ideas of EA and who are taking significant actions based on those ideas. Many attendees are professionally working on effective-altruism-inspired projects or working out how best to work on such projects.

This may sound like a high bar, but we sometimes admit people who view themselves as less experienced. We also sometimes admit people who are less invested in effective altruism than other applicants, but whose professional background or studies make them well placed to help other attendees at the conference to achieve their goals.  

**If you want to attend but are unsure about whether to apply, please err on the side of applying!**
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#### What are you looking for in my EA Global application?
:::

In general, please write honestly, explain your reasoning and err on the side of writing **more**. The more we understand your reasoning, the more we can tell that you would be a good fit for the conference. 

We’d like to learn whether you have taken (or intend to take) significant actions to pursue your altruistic goals, and whether these choices are informed by key ideas from effective altruism. By “significant action,” we mean things such as:

* Making career or study decisions based on the principles of effective altruism, such as applying for jobs and internships, choosing a [major](https://80000hours.org/articles/advice-for-undergraduates/#which-degree-subject) or field of study, or writing a [thesis](https://effectivethesis.org/) on a relevant topic
* Spending a lot of your time volunteering for a project in effective altruism or in related spaces

Note that the examples we list in various places (like here or in the application form) are **not** the only kinds of actions we will consider.

We also sometimes admit people who are less invested in effective altruism than other applicants, but whose professional background or studies make them well placed to help other attendees at the conference achieve their goals.

For EA Global events, we currently don’t prioritize applications based on location.

EA Global admissions are processed by the events team at CEA. Admissions to EAGx conferences will vary a little, as they are events hosted by members of the EA community. 

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#### If I was rejected from EA Global this year, can I reapply?
:::
If you were rejected from an upcoming EA Global before the application deadline for that event, you will not be able to reapply for that same event. Once that event deadline has passed, you are welcome to reapply for the next EA Global event. 

For example, if you applied to EA Global: 2023 before the Bay Area deadline and were rejected, you may reapply for an upcoming EA Global event (in this case, London and/or Boston) once the Bay Area deadline has passed (i.e. after 8 Feb 2023).

Similarly, if you are rejected from EA Global: 2023 before the London deadline, you may reapply to Boston once the London deadline has passed (i.e. after 5 May 2023).
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#### How can I contact the EA Global team?
:::
For general enquiries, please email us at [hello@eaglobal.org](mailto:hello@eaglobal.org).

For admissions related questions please contact [admissions@eaglobal.org](mailto:admissions@eaglobal.org).

For anonymous feedback, use CEA's form [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAuu8qVC_jGNaLF_hIcp7WValy5DlN6kyYeAA3zOkj5W2WJg/viewform).
::::


EA Global FAQ


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#### What is EAGx?
:::
EA Global conferences are not the only events for people interested in effective altruism! _EAGx_ conferences are locally-organized conferences designed primarily for people: 

* Familiar with the core ideas of effective altruism
* Interested in learning more about what to do
* From the region or country where the conference is taking place (or living there)

An EAGx event takes place over 1-2 days and will typically involve: 
* Talks and workshops on [pressing problems](https://80000hours.org/problem-profiles/) that the EA community is currently trying to address and ideas to help the community achieve its goals
* The opportunity to meet and share advice with other EAs in the community, including meet-ups for people who share interests or backgrounds
* Social events at and around the conference
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#### What’s the difference between an EA Global and EAGx?
:::
Both EA Global (EAG) and EAGx events are quite similar; they are opportunities for people interested in effective altruism to make connections, exchange ideas, and attend talks and workshops over the course of a few days.

Just like there are [TED and TEDx conferences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)#TEDx), there are EAG and EAGx conferences. The 'x' indicates that this is a community organised EAG event. 

EA Global conferences are organized by the Centre for Effective Altruism, and people from all over the world attend these. The team at CEA is responsible for choosing the content, processing admissions, and production of the conference. 

EAGx events, on the other hand, are mostly community-organized (with some support from the EA Global team). The target audience for EAGx events is broader than EAG, but tends to have a more regional focus.  CEA provides funding and support to EAGx events (eg. access to our event app), but the local community organisers are responsible for choosing content, processing admissions, and the production of the conference. 

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#### Who are EAGx conferences for?
:::
EAGx conferences are primarily for people who are:
- Familiar with [the core ideas of effective altruism](https://80000hours.org/articles/effective-altruism/)
- Interested in learning more about what to do
- From the region or country where the conference is taking place (or living there)

We consider people familiar with the core ideas of EA if they have completed an [EA introductory program](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/virtual-programs/introductory-program/) or have engaged with [EA content](https://www.eaglobal.org/ea-conference-reading-list/) at an equivalent level of depth. We encourage everyone at or above this level to apply to attend EAGx conferences. 

__You can apply for a free online introductory program [here](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/virtual-programs/introductory-program/).__

If you want to attend but are unsure about whether to apply, __please err on the side of applying.__

There are also [EA Global conferences](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ea-global). These conferences are for people who are knowledgeable about the core ideas of effective altruism and are taking significant actions (e.g. work or study) based on these ideas. You can attend both EAG and EAGx conferences.
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#### Why is it called EAGx?
:::
Just like there are [TED and TEDx conferences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)#TEDx), there are EAG and EAGx conferences. The 'x' indicates that this is an community organised EAG event.
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#### Where are EAGx conferences happening?
:::
View our [upcoming events](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ea-global/events) to see what's currently in the works.
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#### Can I organise an EAGx conference?
:::
Yes! If you are interested in organising an EAGx conference yourself, please [apply here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9oue1arul-YQ0RB3MUCSbBXMEFyhIp573Zf6FCgx4khtVHA/viewform) and contact ollie@eaglobal.org with any questions. 
::::

EAGx FAQ


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:::summary
#### What are EA Global and EAGx Events?
:::
EA Global (EAG) and EAGx are a series of conferences for members of the effective altruism (EA) community.

Both EA Global and EAGx conferences typically last around 2-3 days. They involve talks, workshops, discussions, and many chances to network with people interested in effective altruism. The conferences can range in size, from several hundred to over a thousand attendees! 

Although the events are very similar, there are some differences between EA Global and EAGx events. For example, EA Global is organized by the Centre for Effective Altruism, while EAGx is organized by members of the EA community, with support from the EA Global team. See below for more information.
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:::summary
#### What’s the difference between an EA Global and EAGx?
:::
Both EA Global (EAG) and EAGx events are quite similar; they are opportunities for people interested in effective altruism to make connections, exchange ideas, and attend talks and workshops over the course of a few days.

Just like there are [TED and TEDx conferences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)#TEDx), there are EAG and EAGx conferences. The 'x' indicates that this is a community-organised EAG event. 

EA Global conferences are organized by the Centre for Effective Altruism, and people from all over the world attend these. The team at CEA is responsible for choosing the content, processing admissions, and production of the conference. 

EAGx events, on the other hand, are mostly community-organized (with some support from the EA Global team). The target audience for EAGx events is broader than EAG, but tends to have a more regional focus.  CEA provides funding and support to EAGx events (eg. access to our event app), but the local community organisers are responsible for choosing content, processing admissions, and the production of the conference. 

::::
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:::summary
#### Who should attend an EA Global or EAGx conference?
:::
EA Global and EAGx events are designed to help members of the effective altruism community make progress on the world's pressing problems, by sharing new thinking and research as well as starting or coordinating on important projects. We have an admissions system for EA Global and EAGx events, to help us select for applicants who seem most able to help each other pursue these goals.

You can read more about what we’re looking for in the admissions section of the FAQ, but in short: 

EA Global is mostly aimed at people who have a solid understanding of the core ideas of EA and who are taking significant actions based on those ideas. Many EA Global attendees are already professionally working on effective-altruism-inspired projects or working out how best to work on such projects.

EAGx conferences are primarily for people who are:
- Familiar with [the core ideas of effective altruism](https://80000hours.org/articles/effective-altruism/)
- Interested in learning more about what to do with these ideas
- From the region or country where the conference is taking place (or living there)

**If you want to attend but are unsure about whether to apply, please err on the side of applying!**

We sometimes admit people who view themselves as less experienced. We also sometimes admit people who are less invested in effective altruism than other applicants, but whose professional background or studies make them well placed to help other attendees at the conference to achieve their goals.

__You must be 18 or older at the time of the event in order to attend EAG and EAGx events.__ In the past, we allowed under 18s to attend with a chaperone but this is no longer allowed, due to our current insurance policy.
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#### Should I volunteer? How do I sign up to volunteer?
:::
Volunteers are crucial to the success of our conferences. Volunteers sign up to work a minimum number of shifts and attend volunteer training before the event starts, but besides these times, participate in the conference as all attendees do. This is why we require you to be accepted to the conference as an attendee before you can offer to volunteer.

Volunteers help the conference run smoothly in a variety of ways, such as liaising with speakers, welcoming attendees, managing the content rooms and helping attendees navigate the venue.

In the past, volunteers have found connecting with each other and the conference organizers to be extremely valuable, and we view this benefit as a crucial aspect of the volunteering process. 

We think volunteering is particularly useful for: 

* Attendees who want to try their operations or event-running skills
* Attendees who would like to help out with the conference
* First-time attendees who don’t expect to be completely booked with meetings
* Attendees who would like to meet other volunteers for a given reason

To volunteer, simply express interest in the application for the event itself. 
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#### How much are tickets? Is there financial aid?
:::
Ticket prices vary depending on the event — EAGx organizers set their own ticket prices. 

For EA Global, the default ticket price is £200 GBP, but we have various options available. CEA already subsidizes ticket prices (it costs us significantly more than £200 per person) so attendees can choose to contribute more than the default ticket price. We also offer further discounts for those who might need them — such as for students, and an early-bird option. You can enter the relevant information to receive these discounts as part of the application form.

We also offer some **travel support**. If you need travel support, you should let us know during your application; there is a designated question about this. Requesting travel support __does not__ lower your chance of being accepted to the conference. 

You can see [more on travel support here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gOvK6TKnQS0LADHmYCExCbWK7xsBVmqHdCICvDxNmjo/edit#) and in FAQs below. 
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#### What is your travel support policy? Why has it changed?
:::
**Our travel support policy has recently changed**, for reasons explained in this post on [updates to spending for CEA-run events](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/4JF39v548SETuMewp/update-on-spending-for-cea-run-events).  

Please see our full travel support policy [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gOvK6TKnQS0LADHmYCExCbWK7xsBVmqHdCICvDxNmjo/edit#) for more details.

Many attendees can use their own funds to cover travel and accommodation for the conference, or can ask for them to be covered by their employer or university. But while we'd like for attendees to use these funding sources wherever possible, others may need financial support in order to attend. 

Previously we’d funded people to travel to any EA Global or EAGx conferences they’d been accepted to, if they needed financial assistance to attend. However our policy has recently changed. Here is an excerpt from our updated policy:

  *Please note that travel support funds are now extremely limited and we can only accommodate a very small number of requests. If you do not end up receiving travel support, this is likely the result of limited funds, rather than an evaluation of your potential for impact. When planning around an event, we’d recommend you act under the assumption that we will not be able to grant your travel funding request (unless it has already been approved).* 

If you need travel support, let us know during your application; there is a designated question about this. __Requesting travel support does not lower your chance of being accepted to the conference.__ 

Please read the [full travel support policy](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gOvK6TKnQS0LADHmYCExCbWK7xsBVmqHdCICvDxNmjo/edit#) to find out more. If you have any questions, please contact admissions@eaglobal.org.

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#### What should I do if I need a visa?
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If you may need a visa in order to attend, you should apply as early as possible, and let us know during your application; there is a designated question about this. We can provide you with a visa letter if you are admitted. 
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#### Is my registration fee refundable?
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Refunds are possible until a few weeks before the conference. Please contact us at [admissions@eaglobal.org](mailto:admissions@eaglobal.org) if you require a refund.
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#### How should I prepare for the conference?
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We've found that attendees get much more value from the conference if they prepare in advance. 

Here are some concrete steps you can take to prepare for the conference itself:

* Make a list of your priorities — what you’d like to get out of the conference
* Make a plan of action based on those priorities
* Follow the instructions in the emails you’re getting and make yourself a profile on Swapcard (our event app). 
* Look through other people’s profiles and connect with those you’d like to meet with or who share your interests
* Look through sessions on the agenda and register for the ones you’d like to attend (and bookmark the ones you’re interested in but which you’re less sure about)
* Be realistic - plan in adequate time to rest, refuel and to have spontaneous conversations.   
* Read [Forum posts tagged “effective altruism conferences”](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/tag/effective-altruism-conferences) for lots more tips on how to get the most out of attending a conference  

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#### How do I find accommodation?
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In general, attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodation. Approximately two weeks before an EAG event, a conference Slack will be available. There will be channels specifically for coordinating accommodation with other attendees.

At some events, such as EA Global: Bay Area 2023, we have had accommodation available on site, but this will generally not be the case.

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#### What is Swapcard? How do I use it?
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Swapcard is the app we use for our events. Attendees use it to:
* Look at the agenda and register for the content sessions they’d like to attend
* Make a profile to help you connect with other attendees - you can say what you do, what you’re interested in talking about, what ideas or expertise you can give others, and how to contact you 
* Request 1-1 or small group meetings with other attendees - choose the people, the time and the meeting point
* Send messages to coordinate with other attendees, during and after the conference
* Find key information about the event, such as the attendee guide, map, wifi, jobs board or what time food is being served

Once your application has been accepted to the conference, you'll be given access to the event Swapcard page roughly 1-2 weeks before the event.

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#### I want to speak at a conference or there's some content I'd like to see, what do I do?
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You can suggest a speaker (including yourself) or share other content ideas using [this form](https://forms.gle/ePtLDy11c33Te8N29). 

This form does not guarantee that a content suggestion will be included in a conference, nor that each entry will receive a response. However, we're grateful for submissions to this form and we monitor form responses regularly.  

You can also email speakers@eaglobal.org, or contact specific EAGx teams by using the email address on their event page.
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#### What kind of food will be served?
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Catered food at our conferences is typically vegan, and any non-vegan or allergy-specific food will be labeled. Each event will share a participant guide with accepted attendees shortly before the conference. This will cover many things, including more information about food at the conference. 

If you need to bring your own food, we are usually able to help you with refrigerator space — please ask at [hello@eaglobal.org](mailto:hello@eaglobal.org).
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#### Can you make accommodations for accessibility?
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We try to make our conferences accessible to everyone. Please ask at [hello@eaglobal.org](mailto:hello@eaglobal.org) if you have questions about accessibility or if you need us to make any accommodations.
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#### How do you manage COVID risk?
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The COVID protocols will vary by event, as the situation and location changes. Some events may require that attendees follow certain rules (such as declaring their vaccination status and testing before the event).

For EA Global events we are not currently imposing any COVID restrictions, though we recommend attendees to be up to date with WHO-approved vaccines. 

When possible at our venues, we set up space outdoors space or areas with good ventilation.

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#### What is the code of conduct at EAG(x) events?
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__At EA Global, EAGx events and social events associated with EA Global or EAGx events, all attendees agree to:__

- Respect the boundaries of other participants.
- Look out for one another and try to help if you can.
- Adhere to national and local health and safety regulations, as well as any additional policies we institute for EA Global.

__This is a professional learning and networking event. These behaviors don't belong at EA Global or related events:__ 

- Unwanted sexual attention, or sexual harassment of any kind.
- Using the event app to request meetings for romantic or sexual reasons.
- Offensive, disruptive, or discriminatory actions or communication.

We understand that human interaction is complex. If you feel able, please give each other the benefit of explaining behavior you find unwelcome or offensive. 

If you’re asked to stop a behavior that’s causing a problem for someone, we expect you to stop immediately.

*You can contact us at hello@eaglobal.org if you have any questions.*

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All our conferences have at least one community contact person, whose role is to be available for personal or interpersonal problems that come up. Feedback can also be left anonymously on the event survey, or on the community health team’s [anonymous contact form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJooJD0Sm2csCYgd0Is6FkpyQa3ket8IIcFzd_FcTRU7avRg/viewform).
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#### How can I contact the EA Global or EAGx organizers?
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For general enquiries, please email us at [hello@eaglobal.org](mailto:hello@eaglobal.org). We can redirect you to the right teams from here.

You can find EAGx organising team email addresses on their specific [event pages](https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ea-global/events). 

For EA Global admissions related questions please contact [admissions@eaglobal.org](mailto:admissions@eaglobal.org).

For anonymous feedback, use CEA's form [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAuu8qVC_jGNaLF_hIcp7WValy5DlN6kyYeAA3zOkj5W2WJg/viewform).
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