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A bit of a different perspective: as a CS undergrad in Silicon Valley, internships routinely pay upwards of $20k for a summer, complete with relocation -- simul

A bit of a different perspective: as a CS undergrad in Silicon Valley, internships routinely pay upwards of $20k for a summer, complete with relocation -- simultaneously defraying costs of tuition and providing real work experience. Far from being a mechanism to filter for the upper class, the interns I've worked with came from a diverse range of backgrounds, local, foreign, and all across the States. The tech industry might like to overstate the amount of meritocracy in its system, but at least in this regard internships seem to do well at providing more equal opportunities.

dperny 12y ago
Yeah, but you have to be very, very good to get one of those internships. I'm a mid-top tier programmer (better than most of my cohort) from a modest state university. I've been applying everywhere, and there's no way in hell I'll make close to $20k. I'm pretty good at what I do, but there's a gulf between what you get if you're good and what you get if you really good.
- poikniok 12y ago
  Don't sell yourself short. I am a fairly average programmer coming from a state school, and I made 1800 a week plus housing last summer, and am going to be making 2000 a week plus housing this coming summer. If you are really a mid-top tier programmer opportunities like this and better will be available to you.
  - dperny 12y ago
    Where do you find these places? I've been blasting job apps since November. I think I've applied at like 15 places. No bites so far.
    - courtneypowell 12y ago
      Check out realhq.com. If you are interested email Courtney@realhq.com.
curiouscat321 12y ago
I've worked one of these $20k SV internships, so I'd like to give my two cents. I worked for a large startup that hired around ~100 interns - not a Google or Microsoft by any means. There is a relative meritocracy for these positions. All of my fellow interns were exceptional. But, this was not much of a meritocracy. All of the interns went to Ivy-caliber schools. Many of them went to expensive preparatory schools (and pointed it out). I find it hard to believe that any of these interns had financial constraints. Does this mean SV isn't a meritocracy? No. But, there is a undeniable bias towards Ivy League schools where the students are predominately wealthy.

dperny 12y ago

Yeah, but you have to be very, very good to get one of those internships. I'm a mid-top tier programmer (better than most of my cohort) from a modest state university. I've been applying everywhere, and there's no way in hell I'll make close to $20k. I'm pretty good at what I do, but there's a gulf between what you get if you're good and what you get if you really good.

poikniok 12y ago
Don't sell yourself short. I am a fairly average programmer coming from a state school, and I made 1800 a week plus housing last summer, and am going to be making 2000 a week plus housing this coming summer. If you are really a mid-top tier programmer opportunities like this and better will be available to you.
- dperny 12y ago
  Where do you find these places? I've been blasting job apps since November. I think I've applied at like 15 places. No bites so far.
  - courtneypowell 12y ago
    Check out realhq.com. If you are interested email Courtney@realhq.com.

curiouscat321 12y ago

I've worked one of these $20k SV internships, so I'd like to give my two cents. I worked for a large startup that hired around ~100 interns - not a Google or Microsoft by any means. There is a relative meritocracy for these positions. All of my fellow interns were exceptional. But, this was not much of a meritocracy. All of the interns went to Ivy-caliber schools. Many of them went to expensive preparatory schools (and pointed it out). I find it hard to believe that any of these interns had financial constraints. Does this mean SV isn't a meritocracy? No. But, there is a undeniable bias towards Ivy League schools where the students are predominately wealthy.