UT’s computer science program is one of the best in the country. National rankingBut with great fame comes great stress, students say. Especially when navigating the job market.

Most college students do some internships during their academic career.Nationwide survey reveals 60% of students in each graduation class Experienced an internship while in college. Computer science freshman Farhan Ahsan said there is a competitive atmosphere when finding internships in his field.

“When you’re in college, working together in class isn’t really encouraged, even though programming is very collaborative in the real world,” says Ahsan. “I feel like that kind of thinking carries over to[internship opportunities]where everyone gates the opportunities they find to keep their fellow competitors and co-workers from finding out. I am doing it.”

Lukas Zenick, a first-year computer science student, said computer science students are trained to find internships from the beginning of their college careers.

“Finding an internship is a very competitive environment,” says Zenick. “Everyone is very friendly, but suddenly they started competing with each other to get an internship at the best summer company.”

Divya Nitin, a sophomore computer science student, said many companies require applicants to have at least three years of experience to work in the computer science industry at least full-time.

“Experience is very important, especially in computer science, so I can definitely say that I’m nervous about internships and finding jobs, which is why internships are so helpful,” says Nitin. .

Since Computer Science is part of the Natural Sciences Department, it falls under the jurisdiction of a school-wide Career Advisor. Michelle Sanchez, a computer science senior, expressed her disappointment with the quality of help provided by her Career Services at the university.

“Career advisors can be said to be a little bit away from the struggles that computer science students are experiencing,” says Sanchez. “I’ve been to Career Services quite a bit myself and haven’t had the most satisfying experience. Computer Science is its own field, it has its own standards, it has its own deadlines, it has its own expectations. It’s from.”

The University of Natural Sciences Career Service did not respond to a request for comment.

To get these coveted internships, students need to know more than their current degree expects, says Computer Science Jr. Thomas Moore.

“As an industry as a whole, learning more really pays off,” says Moore. “There is pressure to teach more than a degree requires, especially since what you learn in school is very different from what you are actually going to do in the workplace.”

Sanchez said the computer science department has a set of guidelines for companies looking to hire students from UT, and companies that violate these guidelines don’t appear to be affected. However, it seems that students who violate the guidelines will be punished. According to Sanchez, Computers for Students He Science Internships One example of his guidelines is to withdraw offers. This means that once a student accepts an internship offer, they cannot return to that offer.

“There are very severe penalties. You could be banned from career services, sent to the dean’s disciplinary service, or barred from attending future networking events,” Sanchez said. increase. “I think it’s so ridiculous.”