The AHA welcomes students attending the upcoming 126th Annual Meeting. For a positive and fulfilling experience at the meeting, consider the following tips:

1. Join the AHA Before You Register
   The difference between student nonmember preregistration ($115) and student member preregistration ($75) for the annual meeting is the price of joining the AHA as a student ($40). Therefore, please consider joining the AHA before preregistering for the annual meeting, and you’ll receive both discounted annual meeting registration pricing plus all the benefits of AHA membership (including the American Historical Review, Perspectives on History, access to Choice book reviews, and more). In a related note, student members can register for the CWH breakfast at a discount this year ($30, as opposed to $45 for nonmembers and $35 for members).
2. Split a Room
   The Courtyard Chicago Downtown/River North is offering the most affordable rates ($99 to $139 a night) of the annual meeting hotels, and it’s better still if you split the room (as low as $34.75 if you split it four ways). Plus, there’s free Internet (wired) in the rooms.
3. Attend a Graduate Student-Oriented Session
   Not only does the Program of the annual meeting contain sessions and events to match a wide range of interests (be sure to check out the film festival and digital history sessions), it also has sessions that are especially targeted for graduate students. Check out this complete list of sessions recommended for graduate students. It includes the Graduate and Early Career Committee Open Forum; Get the Most out of the Annual Meeting, an orientation session for first-time participants in the annual meeting; The Digital History Seminar, featuring four graduate students’ perspectives on digital tools and techniques; A Winner’s Guide to Graduate and Postdoctoral Grant and Fellowship Competitions; and Professional Development: Turning Your Dissertation into a Book, and more.
4. Socialize
   The annual meeting offers a great opportunity for students to network, connect with peers, and make new friends. Stop by the Graduate Student Reception in the Mayfair Room in the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers on Thursday, January 5, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and socialize. Also, don’t be afraid to attend other receptions of interest to meet a whole range of attendees inside and outside your field.
5. Explore Chicago
   Chicago has a rich history, so take some time to explore the city. The Local Arrangements Committee has organized 13 tours, which will visit museums, stop by research libraries, and take attendees through Chicago streets. Also, be sure to learn more about Chicago as a global city in D. Bradford Hunt’s recent article.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.