"there are rarely requirements about publishing." Ha. [Hollow Laugh] If only that were actually true. Even in departments were there is no "official" requireme

"there are rarely requirements about publishing." Ha. [Hollow Laugh] If only that were actually true. Even in departments were there is no "official" requirement, in practice there is. Your advisor will tell you baldly publish well or don't find a good job afterwards. Most students who are not on track drop out instead of getting a pity degree. "Its not about substance--its publish publish publish." Sometimes true, in practice grants are far more important than quantity of publications. To get grants you have to be respected and known in your field. That means not dumping a bunch of bad publications out, it means making meaningful contributions. It also helps to be a persuasive writer. "Throw enough papers at the wall and you hope to god one sticks long enough for you to get tenure." I know specific people who were denied tenure even though they had great publication records. Once again it is about grants, not publications.