Some thoughts I have as a CS student right now (for context, I grew up the in Bay Area and am a rising senior at UC Berkeley): - I started coding when I was yo

Some thoughts I have as a CS student right now (for context, I grew up the in Bay Area and am a rising senior at UC Berkeley): - I started coding when I was young, and I still struggled academically. There is a difference between knowing how to code and understanding computer science. For me, I found discrete math and formal proofs extremely difficult. - It is very, very easy to get caught up in a constant mode of grinding CS hw/projects, especially if you're around a lot of studious people. Work smarter, not harder. - Grades aren't everything! If your main goal is to get a job, you don't need straight A's. No recruiter or manager has ever asked for my GPA. - Take classes outside of CS. Have hobbies outside of coding. Make friends who are studying different disciplines. You need outside perspectives to better understand the impact of technology on the world. Be aware of life outside the tech industry. Recognize software engineering as a tool to apply to issues. - You'll meet people from so many different backgrounds. Some people come from high schools that taught Java and some people come from high schools that are not able offer any technology-related classes. Remember that some people are learning to code for the first time in their life! For getting an internship (assuming you're interested in a SWE role): - First of all, it's perfectly fine to not have an internship!! You can take classes, do research, work on side projects, etc. - If you don't have prior job experience, spend some time on side projects (that are meaningful to you!!) to demonstrate your technical abilities. - Have someone who is more experienced review your resume. - You might hear that it's very difficult to get an internship straight out of freshman year. Honestly, at that stage, it's just a numbers game–the more online applications you throw your resume at, the more likely you'll get an interview. - Don't discount career fairs on campus! I used to think they wouldn't be helpful because they were so crowded, but I got my internship after freshman year by talking to a manager at a career fair. - Be able to clearly and succinctly describe yourself and your goals. What are your interests, and why? How do your hobbies and/or past experience support those interests?