The Online Research Experience: A Student Journey
Atticus Yus from the University of British Columbia, Canada completed their project “Jane’s Restlessness: Place, Space, and Transmasculinity in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre” for the Online Summer Research Programme 2021.
Atticus kindly took the time to give us an insight into the journey of a student participating on the Online Summer Research Programme.
Before the programme | During the programme | After the programme | Overall experience
Before the programme
How did you learn about the programme?
I learned about the programme through my university’s study abroad office. I originally intended to come in person as studying in Europe has always been a dream of mine, but due to the pandemic, that was not possible. Fortunately, I later found out that Pembroke College offered this programme online.
What were your expectations of the programme?
My expectations were to gain research experience and the skills necessary to develop my own scholarly thoughts. To be more specific, I expected to come out of this programme with an understanding of how research functions in the realm of English literature with applications to queer theory.
What were your learning goals from the programme?
My main learning goal was to expand my knowledge in queer theory so that I can apply it to my favourite works of literature. Furthermore, my broader goal was to learn how to structure and organize an original dissertation.
How did you find the information you received before the start of the programme such as the information on the website and communications from the International Programmes team?
Before the programme began, the information I received was never overwhelming nor confusing. A schedule, logistical support, and other general information such as video etiquette were sent out about two weeks before the programme began, which I enjoyed because it made the final days before the commencement less stressful.
How did you feel about learning who your supervisor was going to be? How did you feel about the start of the programme?
My first supervisor had to take leave before the programme began due to unforeseen circumstances, but fortunately, there was another supervisor ready to work with me. After learning a bit about my new supervisor, I felt more eager than ever to start the programme. They study the same areas that I hope to specialize in which inspired me because I realized my interests were something that belonged in academia. Although the start of the programme was a bit rushed for me due to the switch of supervisors, my new supervisor was quick to adapt and sort out a new schedule that worked for the both of us.
During the programme
How did you find the Welcome Event and Strategies for Success sessions?
I attended the Welcome Event for North American students due to my time zone. I found this to be rather favourable as we were in a small group with the programme director and as well, I ended up reconnecting with some of the students I met there over the course of the following weeks. The event itself was quick but informative with many opportunities to ask questions. I was also able to share what I would be researching and listen to my peer’s projects proposals, which I loved because everyone had a variety of interests. The Strategies for Success session was also helpful as without it, I would not know what my standards were as a student unfamiliar with Cambridge’s expectations. Since this was my first time doing any sort of research, especially in an online environment, I found myself often referring back to the slideshow when I had logistical questions such as citing and making the most out of my secondary sources.
How did you find the supervisions?
The supervisions were phenomenal. Although my supervisor challenged my thinking, I never once felt ashamed to say I did not know the answer to something nor did I ever feel overworked. The atmosphere was always upbeat, relaxed, yet also productive and the full hour was used down to the second every session. My supervisor kept me on schedule, gave me tons of important readings to build my understanding on theories, and continuous feedback on my dissertation. I also had the chance to ask questions about graduate school and the application process.
How did you find the workload on the programme? How many hours a week did you work on your project?
The workload is intense. I spent about 40-50 hours a week working on my dissertation, and a lot of that time was spent reading. By far the busiest week was the third week, which is when I wrote my full first draft so that I would have enough time to make revisions before the submission deadline.
How did you manage your study / life balance?
I had to create a schedule diving up each day of the week that separated study and personal time. I prefer to work every day in small intense bursts that align with my most productive hours, so my schedule never had days dedicated to no work as that personally does not work for me. By sticking to my plan, I would always have at least three days a week where either my evenings or mornings were entirely free so I could still have some personal time to do what I wanted. Furthermore, I made the personal decision to never work past 8PM.
After the programme
What new skills have you learnt on the programme and how will you apply what you have learnt to your study and work life?
The most important skill I acquired is how to connect secondary sources to my own research. More broadly, I can now connect my ideas to current and past academic discussions. I believe this skill will greatly improve my essay writing that I often do as an English student because I can better support my arguments by engaging with relevant theories and other literature. Furthermore, this skill will be essential when having to write research proposals because I can prove how my arguments build onto existing scholarly ideas, contributing to my field as a whole.
What is the most useful thing you have learned on this programme?
The most useful thing I learned was efficient notetaking. This is a skill I actually did not expect to receive from this programme, however, I quickly realized that this skill was a must when making the most of supervisions. I learned how to prioritize key pieces of information when receiving an abundance of feedback, as well as to focus on expanding and editing my notes once my session was complete.
Did you connect with other students on the programme? How was this experience?
I connected with a few students, either through Moodle or through social events where we later added each other on social media. Although we have not met in person, we are still able to exchange parts of our lives through images and stories as most of the people I met are from foreign countries and different cultures.
Overall experience
What advice would you give a student enrolling on this programme in the future?
Take detailed notes during your supervisions. You receive a lot of information is a short period of time that you will not be able to memorize. Every bit of advice your supervisor gives you is valuable and the last thing you want is to forget a point that could tie together your entire dissertation!
How would you sum up your experience on the programme in few sentences?
Overall, this programme has been one of the most productive periods of my academic journey and has both inspired and clarified my ambitions for the future. Not only did I complete an original dissertation, I have gained critical research skills that make me feel confident that I could accomplish a project like this again. I am now certain I want to apply to graduate school as well so I can continue studying my favourite pieces of literature and present them in a new light for the rest of the world to see.