What is Virtual RC like?
In March of 2020, the Recurse Center made a speedy transition to remote operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, we've reopened our physical space in Brooklyn, and have also continued to run retreats online using the tools we built. We've been delighted to welcome many people who otherwise wouldn't have been able to attend RC to virtual batches. If you're interested in attending RC remotely, read on!
What it's like
All of the fundamental aims are the same no matter how you attend a batch: we hope everyone, regardless of the format, does the best programming of their lives around other smart, kind, curious people at RC. You'll follow the self-directives, and work on what interests you. Many of our events are hybrid, so you'll be able to take part in (or run!) plenty of study and interest groups, game jams, pairing sessions, and more on Zoom.
There are also differences. Part of what makes RC special is the possibility of serendipitous encounters leading to new interests, projects, collaborations, and avenues of intellectual inquiry. Doing that online is harder: you can't get an ambient sense of what's going on with everyone nearly as easily online as you can at the hub, and it takes more effort to start conversations. People who have the best experiences are vocal about what they're working on both synchronously (coming to virtual events, pairing, presenting) and asynchronously (blogging, sharing check-ins on Zulip, our internal chat), and take the time to keep up with batchmates and reach out to them proactively to work together.
Our core hours (Monday-Friday, 11am to 5pm ET) are the same for everyone who's in batch, so you might be attending early in the morning or later at night, depending on where you are in the world. We have had people do RC from time zones from GMT -7 to GMT +8, but most people (including the faculty) are in ET.
Though batch sizes vary, you can usually expect 15-20 people to be attending RC remotely at any given time (and there are often some alumni around as well). There are also many alums who are active on Zulip and come to online meetings occasionally.
Should I do RC remotely?
The day-to-day experience of attending RC remotely and of attending in-person are quite different. If you're thinking about attending RC remotely, we encourage you to consider the following points. These aren't meant to discourage you; many people have had wonderful experiences doing RC remotely. But it is harder, and we want people to be prepared for what they're getting into.
Do you genuinely enjoy working remotely, and have you done so before?
If you’re applying to attend remotely, you should enjoy working remotely and have done so successfully. The remote RC experience is even less structured than the in-person one, so it demands a high degree of self-direction. We expect people to treat RC like they would a full-time job: to show up for it fully during the hours you've committed to being here.
Since most Recursers attend in-person, being remote can also feel more socially isolating. You’ll get the most out of attending remotely if you’re comfortable creating your own structure and actively seeking out connection with other Recursers.
Are you able to fully immerse yourself in a batch right now?
Attending RC remotely is still a full-time commitment, and regardless of how you attend, you won't get the most out of it if you're distracted by other obligations. Do you have a space to work, reliable internet, and enough time and headspace to dedicate to working at the edge of your abilities, buidling your volitional muscles, and learning generously? If not—say, if you have part-time work or school, children you're responsible for during our core hours, or are actively interviewing for jobs—it's better to wait and do RC when you have the space in your life for it. You're making a commitment to your own growth and learning by doing RC, and doing it halfway is worse than not making the commitment at all.
Are you able to visit our hub at all?
If you absolutely can't get to New York but can make a full commitment to your batch and enjoy working remotely, remote RC is probably the right choice. Plus, all remote Recursers are welcome to visit the hub any time during their batch (and any time after). We recommend, if you can, visiting early on in your batch so that you can meet your batchmates. (And if there's a batch you'd be able to visit for, pick that one!)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the day to day like in Virtual RC?
Very much the same as it is in person. RC is self-directed, which means it’s up to you to determine the structures and practices that will help you do your best work. For many Recursers, this includes: attending and organizing events, sharing what they're working on in video checkins or on Zulip, pair programming, solo work, hosting and participating in study groups, and presenting at our weekly technical talks or our Tuesday demos.
Are there certain hours where everyone is expected to be online?
Yes. Batches meet Monday through Friday, 11am to 5pm ET. Our attendance expectations are the same no matter how you attend RC: We expect that RC is your main commitment during your retreat, and you join us online during our core hours. If you need to miss a day or are late because of an appointment or emergency that's okay, though the first and last days of your batch are mandatory.
I'm [a digital nomad/living in a van/crossing the USA by train]. Can I participate in a batch while I travel?
Our expectation is that RC is your primary commitment while you're in batch, and that you join us online during our core hours. While some people have participated in the retreat successfully while traveling, you will need reliable wi-fi, a quiet place to join video calls, and a comfortable space to work for at least six hours a day. If you can't and we don't see you around, we may remove you from the batch.
How does pairing work in Virtual RC?
Pair programming is one of the core RC activities that has translated pretty seamlessly into working remotely. Zoom offers screen sharing with a remote control option that works well, most text editors have extensions or plug-ins to support pairing (Visual Studio Live Share is a popular one), and some people use online collaboration tools like Glitch. Recursers use Zulip to find people to pair with and we run a pairing workshop at the beginning of every batch to introduce the practice to people who haven’t paired before.
How are workshops and talks organized at RC?
The overwhelming majority of events at RC are organized and hosted by Recursers themselves. Here are some examples of programming talks and workshops Recursers have run so in Virtual RC:
- Reinforcement Learning Study Group
- ARENA study groups
- Introduction to Interactive Theorem Provers
- Haskell interest group
- Video game interest group and Game Jams
- Technical Speaking and Writing practice
- Gentle Intro to 3D Graphics
- Papers we love
Recursers also host non-technical events, such as lightning talks about interests outside of programming, crafting hour, karaoke, poetry night, and more.
The RC faculty organizes a small number of regular events as well, including biweekly virtual check-ins and weekly technical presentations that everyone is encouraged to attend.
How do career services work? Is it hard to get a job right now?
It's hard to answer this generally, as your job search will look different depending on your specific needs, skills, and experience. You can read more about the career services we offer here.
I'm in an uncertain place with my job/housing/life right now. If I'm admitted, can I confirm for a later batch?
Yes. If you’re admitted to RC, you can confirm for any batch with space available within six months of being admitted. If you need more time than that, you can ask for an extension and we’ll evaluate on a case-by-case basis.
Please email us at admissions@recurse.com if you have further questions about attending Virtual RC!