Lessons from University

It's okay to fail as long as you don't stop trying
Campus size does matter: you'll want to connect with professors and other sources of support such as tutoring services
CS skills are used in almost every STEM field. It's good to have some coding experience for positions

How to Find Internship Opportunities

Network at campus events
Check outreach spam for good opportunities
Avoid unpaid positions
Apply even if you feel unqualified
Don't be afraid to ask faculty members for help

Scholarship vs. grant

Scholarship: determined by stuff like income, sometimes granted automatically based on qualities like grade, major, ethnicity, etc.
Check websites for department-based scholarships
Declare yourself independent on tax forms ASAP
Loans: long-term commitment, avoid if possible
Subsidized loans are given by government based on financial need and Dept of Education covers interest for a certain period past graduation
Unsubsidized loans are also from government and do not depend on need, but student covers all interest

Reflection

This presentation taught me a lot about the educational and cross-disciplinary research opportunities available during college. I think one aspect I was concerned about even during the application process was limiting myself to one major. Although I applied for computer and data science, I discovered a love for engineering and materials science through a lab research program at SDSU. I learned that it is possible to explore computer science and its applications in different fields (physics and quantum computing). This event gave me a better sense of preparedness and I am more confident that finding more computer science opportunities in college will provide me with valuable experience and applicable skills.