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Best way to gain experience as a CS student? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by ericbomb@lemmy.world to c/programming@programming.dev

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So I'm a hobbyist game developer for years whose day job is writing reports/troubleshooting database issues with MSSQL.

I'm a bit over half way through a CS bachelors degree!

I'm aware of three ways to get experience to help me find a job once I graduate, and wondering if one is superior to the others, or if there is another way!

Personal projects. There is a very large programming project I've been working on off and on for 2ish years and I feel like after my recent programming classes I can probably start it off right and trash all my previous prototypes.
Work on open source projects. This one is a bit scarier at this point, as I'd have to find one I like, one that is active, one that my skills fit with, one I can get accepted with, etc.
Find entry level freelance things. I'm aware I could maybe do cheap tasks on Fiverr, or sign up for things like Data annotation, to earn a bit of money and have "something" directly related to programming on my resume.

3.5 Could do coding challenges, but most of the ones I've seen don't seem super relevant to making large programs, but solving convoluted puzzles. But would love to hear if there is a site that has more real world challenges.

My personal experience for previous projects (and favorite programming class so far) has been python (shocking I know). Hoping I'll fall in love with C# programming once I get into the advanced classes with it, as I know that pairs much nicer with my MSSQL experience. Oh my game dev has also been in Game Maker, which uses GML, so not superrr helpful experience.

So any thoughts/opinions?

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[–] litchralee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

If you have a particular job focus for after you've graduated with your CS degree, would an internship with a related company be an option? Experience with web will be of limited use for an embedded job, and embedded experience is of limited use at a quantitative analysis company.

That's not to say the experience is entirely pointless, since many skills across the various disciplines of CS are transferable.

[–] ericbomb@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

If I could get an internship that could pay all my bills I would love one. But I have a mortgage as I'm currently 30. I probably don't have time for college, my full time job, and a part time internship!

If there are any internships paying around 70k a year I mean I'll start it in a heart beat XD