Computer Science has been one of the most popular majors for nearly two decades — and for good reason. Students with solid computer science foundations, and an impressive academic record, have been launching into well-paying careers just out of college for just as long. With AI, Machine Learning, and other emerging technology, though, things are starting to shift in totally wild ways. Simply having a computer science degree isn’t enough to guarantee a solid job anymore, as AI is going to be replacing so many entry-level programmers. Computer Science as a whole, though, still carries immense value as a degree path if you pursue it right.
As colleges, and employers, assess computer programmers these days, they are looking for more than whether you know how to code. Yes, you need the foundation, but you also need to be able to manage others, lead a team, and think big picture, guiding strategy and implementing innovation. So, building an impressive app on your own isn’t the ticket to a top computer science program anymore — although you’re welcome to do that. In this post, we’ll share what we are working on outside of the classroom with our students to create application profiles that lead to exceptional admissions outcomes. If you want to be at MIT, Cal Tech, UT Austin, Mich, Harvard, or another top computer science program, this is the advice you need to take your amazing grades and strong scores, and raise the bar to be truly exceptional.
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We are taking for granted here that you have super strong grades and that your standardized test scores will be wildly impressive. With that assumption in place, what comes next is how you spend your time outside of the classroom. So, what are you up to? Yes, you are only a sophomore, but this is actually the perfect time to be building up your extracurriculars. The only way to get leadership positions is to do the work before they pick or vote, so let’s do the work.
CLUB or TEAM
First, you need to be on at least one computer science-related club or team at your school. This could be a computer science club, a robotics team, a STEM mentorship group, a STEM tutoring program, or another group where you are able to use computer science while also building team management and leadership skills that will serve you once you become captain or club head senior year — or, if possible, junior year.
This doesn’t just magically happen, though. You need to be working towards it bit-by-bit, beginning now. Schedule a time to meet with the current captain(s) or club head(s), but instead of asking how to become them, ask how you can support them. What can you do to help them accomplish their goals as leaders? This will open opportunities in the moment for you to challenge yourself and make meaningful contributions, but also launch you on a trajectory towards leadership.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
The summer before or after sophomore year is a great time to do a summer program like an on-campus intensive or immersive coding camp. Picking the right program for you, though, is the key to making it worth it.
Often, we see students jump from “right program for you” to “most prestigious or selective.” This is a misunderstanding of what we mean by “right,” though. The most important thing isn’t getting into a supposedly prestigious program hosted at a fancy school. Instead, if you are going to do a summer program it needs to be the one that offers opportunities in the area of computer science that most excites you. This will educate you, yes, but also empower you to tackle independent projects after the program that go way beyond what you were previously capable of as a coder.
If you are struggling to pick a program, get in touch. We can help guide you towards the program that is the perfect fit for you based on your location, goals, and availability.
RESEARCH
The least common thing we see on a sophomore’s activities agenda that has the biggest impact when it comes time to apply is research. Taking part in ongoing research, or conducting independent research of your own, sets you apart from your peers because you are engaging with computer science as a field far beyond the level of most high school students. It’s normal for high school students to be in clubs or on teams, and it’s fairly common to do summer programs, but research? That is not normal — but in a good way.
Finding a research opportunity starts close to home. We recommend that sophomores try to get involved with an ongoing project before launching on your own. Talk to your favorite computer science teacher, your parents, your parents’ friends, and basically anyone you run into about what it is that interests you most within the field of computer science. If this doesn’t cue up any leads, just the process of having conversations will help you come up with a research question of your own.
If you are embarking on an independent research project, you need to have a goal in mind. Maybe it’s developing an app to address a need that you have identified, or you’re aiming for presenting or publishing your work. Regardless, there must be a final outcome that you can point to and say, “I did that.” Remember, though, that getting to this point may take more than sophomore year. Don’t be surprised if this project stretches.
INTERNSHIP
The last thing that we really need on your list is finding an internship. This doesn’t need to be a dream internship. It most certainly won’t be, in fact, but we do want to see you shadowing or working alongside someone who uses computer science in the day-to-day execution of their job. This could be as part of a tech company, but that isn’t mandatory.
An ideal internship for a sophomore is one or two weeks, and has the opportunity to build towards a longer internship opportunity as a junior.
It may seem early to be talking about college, but sophomore year is actually a perfect time to kick into high gear and begin (or continue) working towards an impressive array of extracurricular activities that all help to tell your story as a STEM-minded student passionate about computer science. If you’re at a loss on where to start, though, we can help.
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