Member onboarding

Build your Third Cup profile.

Start with your account, reading interests, and DC-area meetup preferences. Online participation stays locked until your first verified in-person discussion.

Public profile

Publicly shared on your profile: display name, profile photo, personal website, current role, academic background, short bio, academic interests, discussion preferences, preferred meetup times, and preferred locations.

Private

Private: first name, last name, birth decade, email address, password, and accessibility notes.

Purpose

These fields help shape reading selections, timing, and neighborhood choices.

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Account

Create your account

PasswordConfirm password

Optional. Add a passkey now and keep your password as fallback.

Profile

Introduce yourself

First namePrivateLast namePrivateDisplay nameYour name to be shown to othersBirth decadePrivateAcademic backgroundShared on your public profileCurrent roleOptional

Profile photoOptional and public. Upload a JPG, PNG, or WebP image.Short bioOptionalPersonal websiteOptional and public

Preferences

Shape your meetup experience

Preferred meetup times

Choose one or more standard time slots.

Select preferred meetup times▾

AllWeekday morningsWeekday lunchWeekday eveningsSaturday morningsSaturday afternoonsSunday morningsSunday afternoons

Metro AreaFixed for the first chapter

Academic interests

Choose broad areas that best match your interests.

Select academic interests▾

Natural Sciences (biology, chemistry, physics)Social Sciences (economics, sociology, politics)Humanities (history, literature, languages)Math & Computer Science (math, CS, statistics)Philosophy (ethics, logic, political philosophy)

Discussion medium preferences

Choose the kinds of reading you most want to discuss.

Select discussion media▾

AllLongform Article (magazines, essays, reviews)Journal Article (peer-reviewed research)Book (nonfiction or classic texts)

Preferred locations

Choose as many as you want. Selecting All expands to every DC-area option.

Select preferred locations▾

AllDupont CircleMetro CenterNavy Yard / Capitol HillOld Town AlexandriaRosslyn/Clarendon/Ballston CorridorMosaic / Tysons / ViennaBethesda / Silver Spring

Accessibility or accommodation notesOptional and private

I certify that I am at least 18 years old.

This first pass creates your account and profile, but online discussion remains locked until your first verified meetup.