Communications in University VS PR at Mohawk

Before September of this year, I had spent four years studying communication studies at McMaster University. It was fun, I enjoyed my years there but if I'm being honest with you, I really don't feel like I learned anything practical. Don't get me wrong - I learned how to write academically, do research, I learned how to keep on top of my schoolwork and juggle priorities but if I'm being honest here, a lot of what I had learned in my undergrad were just fun facts that I brought up at a party "Well you see, the medium is the message," I'd say to other students at a party.

When I was in second year though, I took an introduction to public relations class. It was just one class, that lasted one term, but you could consider my interest peaked. So when the time came to graduate, I realized that the job market was not hot for a person with my educational background. If I'm being honest here, I knew that. I knew that I was under prepared, that I had zero experience, and that I needed to pad my stats. So with my limited knowledge of public relations, I went on LinkedIn, messaged some Mohawk pr graduate certificate alumni and asked for their opinion on the program. And the rest is, as they say, history.

So it's been 3 months and so far, so good. I'm really enjoying what I've been learning as the material and what I have been learning has been more practical. From copy writing, to graphic design, to learning more about communications tactics - I feel like everyday, I'm actually paying for what my tuition has paid for. In university, I had to pay for electives that I did not want to take, but needed to graduate. And what I learned was theory based. I have probably written more about Adorno, Habermas, and Innis, than I have anyone else in the world, and I'm sick of it.

But most of all, I can see myself working in this field. The instructors at Mohawk are always telling us about the expectations of the workplace. They're preparing us for careers in professional communications. I thought that university was supposed to do that for me but it didn't. In fact, the professors at McMaster (and other universities, I'm sure) rarely ever talked about working professionally. And I think that's what I am most grateful for at the public relations program at Mohawk. This program is giving me confidence in building towards my career and I feel excited. I am happy that I made this decision.

Me being smart with my decision