What are skills to focus on learning after first year of CS degree?
Posted by DragonMaster_UNO@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 11 comments
I’m about to finish up my freshman year for my CS and Math degrees. I feel like my professors have done a good job in teaching the content for the classes, but I’ll need to gain more skills over the summer to be ready to apply for internships later on.
I didn’t program much before college so my knowledge is mostly limited to what I’ve learned in class. At this point, I feel like I have decent knowledge in python, java, OOP, and basic data structures (array lists, linked lists, stacks, queues).
This summer I plan on taking a summer class, working on my CS skills/building projects, and maybe getting a part time job as a coding camp counselor. What skills should I focus on building to give me a solid foundation for internships and maybe help make my next cs classes easier?
Living_Mongoose_8441@reddit
For me I’d say since school will essentially teach you the basics like syntax and what not. Focus on SQL/Backend/Frontend projects. When you get comfortable making something simple, let’s say a dashboard or something. Then start adding features to it, to where you can play around with different frameworks or tools for the language you are working with.
In all honesty that’s what I did and it helped. I’d say if you use AI use it more like stack overflow as a reference for understanding error messages and building repetition.
Biggest thing is understanding what you’re doing and the “why” behind it.
But also learn git/github actions and what not for CI/CD.
Natty_haniya_o@reddit
honestly just focus on a few things: get good at Git, learn the command line, pick up basic SQL, and most importantly — build one real project you'd actually use yourself and put it on github. that one finished project beats five half-done tutorials on a resume. start doing a couple of easy coding problems a week now so interviews later feel less scary. depth beats breadth at your stage, don't try to learn everything.
Any-Bus-8060@reddit
You’re in a really good spot. Now, it’s about turning knowledge into something tangible
Instead of learning more topics, focus on applying what you already know
Pick one direction and build 2–3 solid projects
web app, backend API, or something practical you’d actually use
Also, start getting comfortable with git, debugging, and reading other people’s code
That’s what most interns struggle with, not syntax
If you add a bit of LeetCode on the side and one strong project, you’ll be ahead of most applicants
huuaaang@reddit
Just start coding. Start using git. Learn to collaborate with others.
It's like learning a spoken language. You just have to immerse yourself and use it daily. Learning a list of vocab words only gets you so far.
Drairo_Kazigumu@reddit
is it possible to catch up with minimal coding experience before college?
huuaaang@reddit
SUre, just start tinkering.
PalpitationOk839@reddit
Focus on:
Projects + Git are the biggest signals for internships.
ExtraTNT@reddit
Have you had a look at fp? If not: do a haskell project or two and have a deeper look at it (monads, semigroups etc) helps a lot with understanding elegant, well testable, self documenting and solid code…
chocolate_asshole@reddit
build like 2 small projects, learn git and basic sql, maybe some leetcode ez. internships are rare now
Sharp_Swimmer7829@reddit
Git is absolutely essential - can't believe how many classmates still don't know it by second year. For projects maybe try something with an API integration, it's pretty common in internships and looks good when you can show you worked with real data instead of just homework assignments.
nog642@reddit
I'd say practice programming in general. Just homework won't give you enough practice to be that competent at it.
Try making some medium sized projects. Make it an idea you actually find cool so you that you're not doing it just for practice, you also get something cool/useful out of it at the end.