Reflections on Virtual Boot Camp
After having my last semester of undergraduate study cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, I wasn’t sure how I felt about spending my first six weeks of graduate school online. The transition from full-time residential learning to virtual learning hadn’t been the smoothest for anyone. How would I get to know the classmates I’d be studying with for the next year through a screen? Would I be able to keep up with the intense pace? I studied English in undergrad and chose to study PR at Newhouse, so to add another layer of uncertainty, I had no idea what to expect from my graduate-level introduction to the field of public relations — especially because boot camp had never been entirely online before. I went in curious but open-minded and ready for the challenge.
I eventually settled into a routine and achieved a sense of normalcy after classes began and the summer semester went on. Zoom etiquette was established. Introductions were made. Seeing the faces of my classmates onscreen every day, it felt good to remind myself that I wasn’t alone in navigating the virtual boot camp experience and starting my grad school journey. The assignments were fast-paced and often stressful, but the content was interesting and felt rewarding to work through. All of my professors impressively conveyed their passion and knowledge of the subject matter even virtually. I got in-depth, useful feedback from instructors and classmates and always felt supported; emails and questions were always answered promptly, which was extremely helpful. I formed a solid bond with my cohort through our group chats and even a few evening Zoom hangouts. Six weeks flew by faster than I ever could have thought possible, and I came out on top looking forward to the rest of the year.
The first ever virtual boot camp wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t expect it to be. If anything, it was a great test of my time management skills, and I figured out how to make online learning work for me. Virtual learning lacks the same connectedness and atmosphere you get from being together in a classroom, but I appreciated how much time and effort the professors and staff must have spent over the summer adapting their classes to the online format, and I could see how they tried to emulate the in-person boot camp experience as closely as possible. The technical mishaps and occasional awkward moments throughout made the boot camp experience all the more memorable, even when my cat made more than one appearance trying to make himself comfortable on my keyboard in the middle of class. My first semester of grad school didn’t go the way I was expecting when I chose to attend Newhouse in early 2020, but I left boot camp knowing I made the right choice and that I’ll continue to get a great education regardless of the mode of delivery.
