Gsoc For Graduate Without any Coding experience?
Posted by Educational_One6242@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 10 comments
Hey hello, i graduated back in 2025 in cs, after that ive been working as a writer since i didnt know much about coding and stuff. Yeah ik, anyways. Family issues got me working during my uni so i never could focus on coding, recently ive been thinking about applying to gsoc this year but i have zero experience in coding, like i know a bit but ill have to look up every concept and ask gpt for answers 110 percent of the time. Should i apply for it this year? or should i learn more and apply for it the next year, PS (i am gonna switch careers and jump into development but the job market and economy rn have me fixed into writing, so im trying to use gsoc as a means to switch and get good offers immediately).
airbornejim32@reddit
GSOC without coding experience is honestly a stretch right now. It’s already competitive for people who’ve been coding for years, so going in from zero and expecting quick offers is just gonna be frustrating. If you’re serious about switching, start smaller. Learn basics, build a few projects, get comfortable actually writing code without relying on tools. Then think about stuff like GSOC later. Right now it’s just too big of a jump.
ImprovementLoose9423@reddit
Don't join GSOC because of this sentence: "im trying to use gsoc as a means to switch and get good offers immediately"
That isn't going to work, especially with the fact that you admitted to using chatgpt and look up every concept means that you should sit this one out.
Educational_One6242@reddit (OP)
yeah okay, that is fair, what do you suggest i do, should i wait for next year? or start prepping from now? i really do want to code and learn tbh. Should i? The market is pretty terrible but ig when theres a will there could be a way
ImprovementLoose9423@reddit
I feel like what you should do is learn how to code, stay vigilant, and look for opportunities. And if you see one, then you go for it.
Humble_Warthog9711@reddit
Did you see what OP said about their work habits?
aqua_regis@reddit
Educational_One6242@reddit (OP)
yeah, you have a point, is it possible if i learn and practice, could i apply next year, its really been a dream of mine ever since i got to know of it back in university
Humble_Warthog9711@reddit
I don't think it is from what you've described tbh unless you have a crutch like a high gpa and/or went to a strong cs school.
WeatherImpossible466@reddit
Look man the other commenter is being harsh but theyre not wrong about the market situation. GSoC requires you to actually contribute meaningful code to open source projects and you'll be competing against people who've been grinding leetcode for years
If you're serious about switching careers maybe start with some smaller projects first and build up a portfolio before jumping into something like GSoC. The timeline you're thinking about might be a bit optimistic given where you're starting from
Humble_Warthog9711@reddit
No.
Switch careers back into what you went to school for?
I'm sorry to have to say this but there are nowhere near enough jobs in tech for everyone or even half of people with cs degrees, and your background situation is not doing you any favors - you seem like one of the many cs grads who will have to be phased out of working in tech.