As we move into the final weeks of the semester, it’s time to record some advice for the next round of Capstone students. This feels a bit strange since my team is still over a month away from our client presentation. Nevertheless, I have still had many learning experiences during the past few months. Here are my three main takeaways:
- Manage your relationships.
Capstone is so open-ended and self-directed that it’s essential to manage your relationships with both your client and your teammates. There isn’t a class every week or a strict syllabus around which to plan your semester. This makes staying in sync with all of the parties involved absolutely essential. From my perspective, maintaining alignment is the number one challenge of Capstone, so I can’t stress this point enough.
- Make (flexible) plans:
In some ways Capstone flies by, but in other ways, it can feel like a long process. It’s important not to get myopic at any point. You and your teammates should continually talk about how each piece of the project will fit together to create a cohesive final product. More likely than not, plans will change, but having that roadmap will make the journey less bumpy.
- Check in often:
Since you’re not meeting for class once a week, it can feel like you need to solve everything yourself. No one is going to hold your hand through Capstone. However, Professor Boyd is available to provide guidance throughout the process, especially for major client issues. Keep the lines of communication open. If a problem arises, it’s better to address it before it snowballs or costs you time.
***
From talking with other Capstone students, I’ve found that everyone truly has a unique experience and confronts varying challenges during this class. Still, the advice above will serve future students well, no matter the specific situation.
Recent Comments