Staying Connected: The Online Student Experience

At Emerson, our community reaches far beyond the bustling streets of Boston. In fact, a number of our graduate students choose to pursue their degrees remotely. Emerson offers five graduate programs completely online, including our Digital Communication Leadership MA and Communication Disorders MS. Attending Emerson as an online student enhances educational accessibility, but the thought of pursuing a fully remote education can come with concerns about staying connected with peers, professors, and the broader school community. 

In this blog post, we explore the online student experience at Emerson with Mary and Zaira, two currently remote students. Both students are enrolled in the Publishing and Writing MA program, a residential, in-person program, that offers online course options for those unable to be in Boston right away. 

Through Mary and Zaira’s experiences, we’ll see how online students combat challenges, stay engaged, and utilize Emerson’s resources to connect to the broader community. Whether you’re a prospective remote student or are already navigating the online world, these perspectives will provide insight into making the most of your online journey at Emerson.

General Experience

How has your experience been as a remote student at Emerson?

Mary: “Overall, it has been a positive experience, and even when I move to Boston [for the graduate program] later this year, I can see myself taking a blend of in-person and online classes because I’ve had such success with the remote options so far.”

Zaira: “My experience as a remote student has been better than expected. There are many resources available for remote students and many ways to stay connected.”

What were your initial concerns about staying connected, and how has it compared to reality?

Mary: “I was concerned about the opportunities that would be available to remote students, and it actually played a big role in my initial decision to enroll at Emerson because I knew I would have to start out remote. I worried that I would be limited to Zoom classes and nothing beyond that. Since beginning my graduate journey, I’ve been able to join one of Emerson’s literary magazines, attend completely virtual events or those with virtual options, and connect with other students both living in Boston and remotely. There are still some limitations, but starting [my graduate program] remotely has allowed me to save more money and better prepare for my eventual move to Boston. If I hadn’t been able to do that, I wouldn’t have been able to attend Emerson.”

Zaira: “I was worried about missing out on being involved in activities and networking, but so far there have been many opportunities to network and be part of virtual events that have been very fun and interesting.”

Engagement and Community

How do you stay engaged with classmates and professors?

Mary: “I stay engaged primarily through social media—Instagram and LinkedIn, for example. I’ve been able to form connections with others at Emerson outside the classroom through discovering similar interests, class group chats, and group/partner projects. Also, if I notice we’re part of the same organization, I’ll sometimes chat with them about it.”

Zaira: “My main form of communication has been through email, especially with professors. I have been able to engage with my classmates through social media and other platforms.”

Have virtual events or discussions helped you feel part of the community?

Mary: “They have! I attended the ones I was able to last semester, and it was nice to see my peers attend as well. We sometimes discussed the events afterwards which helped to build our connections with one another.”

Zaira: “Yes, one of the main reasons why I picked Emerson was because of the possible events I could attend that are related to my field of study, and being able to attend some of them virtually has been wonderful.”

Challenges and Solutions

What challenges have you faced when staying connected with the Emerson community?

Mary: “For the most part, the hardest challenge has been wanting to be in Boston to have in-person connections with others! For example, I was really into going to coffee shops and cozy places to study with peers in undergrad, so not having that option currently has made motivation hard to come by. I would argue it’s a little harder to form connections remotely because you rely mostly on communication, and bonding options like going to coffee shops aren’t available.”

Zaira: “Because of busy schedules, it’s not always easy to maintain consistent communication with fellow students or new people you meet outside of class, which can make it harder to find that sense of community.”

Have you found solutions that work best for maintaining connections you’ve made in and beyond the classroom?

Mary: “Staying in contact with peers through social media and texting has worked best for me so far, but I’m still working on more solutions! It has also helped to bond with other remote students, especially if they are moving to Boston later on like I am because we can connect over that.”

Zaira: “This was my first semester at Emerson, so I am still trying new things and figuring it all out, but I believe that reaching out on social media or maybe through email can go very far when it comes to maintaining connections.”

Support and Resources

What Emerson resources have been most helpful for staying connected?

Mary: “Events with virtual attendance options have been the most helpful, but also just seeing Emerson take note of virtual students and making sure they’re seen and heard. It’s nice to know that virtual students aren’t being treated as a second thought or lesser priority.”

Zaira: “The fact that Emerson is consistently offering virtual events and is in constant communication through email has been very helpful.”

What else can Emerson offer for online students?

Mary: “Not from the school necessarily, but I would love to see more grad student organizations with virtual options!”

Zaira: “It would be nice to see more networking opportunities, as most of them are usually in person.”

Advice for New Students

What advice would you give to new online students about staying connected?

Mary: “Get involved in whatever ways you can! Opportunities aren’t just going to appear in front of you. You have to seek them out yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out to anyone in the community—that’s what a community is for! Everyone at Emerson has been so helpful and welcoming in my experience so far, which has made staying connected easier.”

Zaira: “Do not be afraid to reach out; most professors and classmates are open to helping or just start a connection, and don’t forget to check your email!”

How can remote students make the most of their online experience?

Mary: “Participate in what you’re able to, whether it’s getting involved in a magazine or organization, or simply leaving fun comments in the Zoom chat function. Following peers on social media is a great way to stay connected with each other outside of Zoom.”

Zaira: “Participate in events! There are many online opportunities, some that are just for fun and to meet new people, like book clubs or arts and crafts Zoom sessions, and others that are more academic and offer great resources.”

As Mary and Zaira emphasized, active participation is key to a positive online experience. Connecting with others on social media and seeking out virtual events for networking, or to simply meet new faces, can help online students feel more integrated into the Emerson community. Graduate school is all about building relationships with fellow students and professors, and utilizing all the resources you can, especially as a remote student. If you have questions about attending Emerson online, feel free to talk with a staff member in the graduate admissions office.