Entering Grad School During a Global Pandemic

Starting graduate school is a challenge in normal circumstances, but the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unexpected difficulties and changes. Our new first-years discuss their experiences beginning their training while dealing with this new crisis.

"While I could never regret matching with Pitt and beginning my graduate career, it has definitely been anticlimactic and not at all what I was expecting. One of the things I was really looking forward to was having tight-knit bonds with the other students in my class -- going to classes together, studying in the Public Health building together, having all the same experiences as we began becoming genetic counselors. And these things can all still happen in various ways, they just take a little more effort, and there’s a little more distance between us. Spread across the states, we have weekly Zoom meetings to study together or just talk. We meet up for brunch (six feet away in parks). Our group chat is filled with questions about classes, but also jokes, pictures of pets, plans to explore the city. I love reaching out to my classmates and seeing them back out just as eagerly. Though the pandemic is raging on stronger than ever, I still hope that one day we will all be sitting in class together, not having to worry about distancing or masks." -Bailey Sasseville

"Going to graduate school during a pandemic has been very challenging, to say the least. I was a graduate student in the MPH program prior to joining the genetic counseling program, so the contrast between today and a year ago today is especially stark. I traveled to campus, shoulder-to-shoulder, on a cramped bus during the morning and evening rush hours; this reality is now out of the question. When I finally arrived at the GSPH building, it was always so alive with activity – students huddled together for study groups and jovial conversation. I had a chance to visit professor office hours; face-to-face seminars and lectures kept me engaged in the conversation. A morning beverage from my favorite coffee cart kept my head in the game. All in, there were cues, signs, and conversations that kept me attuned to deadlines, exams, and events of interest. All of that was taken away abruptly, and my physical world is now much more still, for better or worse. I got my first taste of these challenges in the spring when COVID-19 emerged in March, grinding much of student life to a halt. I knew that these challenges would persist, invariably, into the present day.

Still, I was so elated to have matched with Pitt’s GC program that nothing could have stopped my advance on this new and exciting opportunity. It was as if I was re-ignited: my motivation to proceed was kicked into high gear. I would not be swayed to put my education on pause, or to worry about what this new “normal” would look like, because the department had demonstrated to me prior its dedication to the best interests of all students. Now, the Human Genetics department has risen to the occasion – just as I knew it would. The amazing faculty has been wholly supportive and accommodating, and acknowledges that this is no ordinary time for any student. Students make effort and time to hold each other up, and emphasize the importance of mental health transparency during these times. I love that my class, and our GC directors, are so open to exploring our questions and concerns, both academic and personal, and that the department as a whole regularly asks students what they can do to help us get through this. Nothing about this is perfect or ideal, but we are making it work over a distance in the best way that we can. The teamwork effort has been my rock as we weather this storm, and I know that the lessons learned will make us all more prepared moving forward." -Frank Swann

"When I heard that I matched with Pitt, I remember staying in for weeks on end afterwards because of my mom’s paranoia of me catching COVID if I so much as stepped foot outside. I would religiously take precautions to protect myself and people I love, but I did not want to worry her - who expressed extreme happiness and concerns that her daughter might move away in the midst of the pandemic. She was disappointed that she could not travel to the U.S. to help me move. It was funny and touching at the same time when she always called me to see me in action, as I cleaned, packed, and sent boxes across states (my hands got excessively dry after the thousand times she reminded me to sanitize). To her satisfaction, I finished a long moving process with “grace” and “intact health.”

The moving’s excitement passed.

Then, seemingly in a whirlwind, class started, though I had been very much looking forward to it. As a huge introvert, I used to overestimate my tolerance of doing everything online (though I have always preferred attending class in person). Big mistake. There are times I daydream with nostalgia about what this pandemic has done to me, my family, my friends. The healthcare workers at the front line. The people who have lost so much probably due to carelessness or, most of the time, just bad luck. There are times I panicked thinking, “What if it does not get better?” Here at Pitt, we take all the classes during our first year and do rotations in our second year - I appreciate that the approach would equip us with tools we need to know, but what if I never get the chance to sit with my classmates in the same classroom? What if it is really harder getting to know each other because it’s purely through a screen? 

So far though, the pandemic has proved me wrong. True kindness is just a call away - when I got into a fender-bender, my program director asked how she could help, and one of my classmates offered to drive me to the ER if I did not feel well. I guess in the grand scheme of things, this pandemic is like a Pittsburgh storm. Sudden, raging, angry - the kind of storm that makes you drive with emergency lights the entire way. The kind that gets you drenched to the bones, that makes you appreciate your luck and car for not giving out on the street midway.

But afterwards, you are greeted with a peaceful night, filled with light sprinkling in your sleep. Or a beautiful sky, bright with sun and shine that welcomes you to a nice day in the park. That’s when I look out the window and remind myself. We are all in this for the long game." -Phuc Thi Hong Do

"When the pandemic began ramping up in early 2020, I started questioning my decision to go to graduate school. I was expecting grad school to be difficult, but I wasn’t expecting to have to deal with a global pandemic while adjusting to my new program. I decided to continue on my path because I was incredibly excited about my future as a genetic counselor, and didn’t want anything to delay that end goal. This adjustment has been difficult in many ways. I have always defined myself as a “people person” so the lack of in-person interaction with my classmates has made the experience more isolating. In addition, my class has missed out on some wonderful bonding experiences, like the Human Genetics department retreat that generally occurs in September. Given that we are currently doing everything remotely, I’ve been dealing with the sadness that comes with losing certain experiences that you thought were guaranteed, but overall I’m so happy to be here. I think that out of any grad program to start during a pandemic, a Master’s in Genetic Counseling is the way to go! In my experience, it seems that this field attracts people who are thoughtful, supportive, and passionate. This is absolutely holding true. My classmates have been putting in extra effort to get to know each other and support each other, even if it is through a computer screen or from six feet away. I’m grateful to be going through this experience with such outstanding people, but of course am hoping that we can all experience a more “normal” version of grad school soon. I know we’ll all be thrilled to actually see each other during class instead of just watching each other pop up on the Zoom screen!" -Savannah Binion

"These past few months have been full of surprises. I was so excited when I found out I was accepted into Pitt’s Genetic Counseling Program. One of the perks of genetic counseling programs is the small class sizes which allow students to form close friendships, but the pandemic has altered how students are interacting with each other. Previous classes describe spending most of the day together, attending classes, studying, and getting to know each other. My class is having to overcome the obstacle of not being able to have classes in person. But when one door closes another one opens. My classmates and I are able to connect via Zoom for study sessions and are able to participate in socially distant activities. Remote learning has given us the opportunity to explore outdoor spaces like Arsenal Park and the Pitt Campus. Students also have more flexibility with their work schedules because of remote learning. For example, students can attend remote classes while staying at the hospital or lab instead of having to travel back and forth. While starting grad school during a pandemic is not ideal, we are fortunate to be able to continue our education and make lifelong friendships." -Haley Soller