I’ve been looking to apply for summer programs for some time. Of course, I know that admissions aren’t guaranteed (the Girls Who Code program application isn’t even out yet!) but I was hoping to get some opinions on the following programs. I’ve completed AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science, and I’ve studied Data Structures and Algorithms on my own. I’m also in robotics, so I know quite a bit about the animation, programming, and design elements that I saw in the curriculum. Would Girls Who Code be too easy of a program for me? I know the entrepreneurial and networking aspects are valuable, but apart from those, is there anything I can gain from the program?
You sound very advanced in this area. Perhaps looking into a community college for the summer classes might be more challenging for you.
The program is pretty basic, you will probably not learn much from a technical perspective. In the Boston program, the girls did speak with VC’s and had a lot of interaction with local companies like Twitter, Google, Akamai, etc.
My daughter did it last summer and had not taken AP CS (just Intro) and was bored with a lot of the introductory technical content. Most of the participants have little to no background in programming at all.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to find an internship, which would probably be more interesting to you. Or maybe take some summer classes. There is also Google CSSI: https://www.google.com/edu/resources/programs/computer-science-summer-institute-cssi/
@ormdad I actually have a similar question. Will this program be too easy for someone who took AP Computer science?
@ormdad is right! Definitely also consider Google CSSI. I’m an alum and can answer any questions. A friend I know worked with Girls Who Code - I also recommends that program! I believe Girls Who Code students work at a level they are comfortable with (i.e. if you’ve had AP CS you will have more challenging/advanced problems than a beginner).
Isn’t Google CSSI for for graduating high school seniors and Girls Who code for HS Juniors?
@seal16 in my opinion, GWC after AP CS would be really annoying. GWC would still be a good option if you can’t find anything better to do as there are numerous field trips to area tech companies, but the actual instruction would be verrrry slow for you and you wouldn’t learn much (unless you haven’t done python or javascript).
The group project might be interesting, although you’d be working with some girls who have never coded before the program started. In my D’s program there were about 5-6 girls who had coded before, and no one who had taken AP CS.
You are right CSSI is for graduating seniors and GWC is primarily rising Juniors but there were also some rising Seniors.
You could always give CSSI a try- I think they’d probably tell you to wait a year but you never know.
Hi! I had a similar question to seal16 about AP Comp Sci but, I didn’t take the AP test because I was not really good at programing in that course, I did struggle a lot. Also, were there a lot of girls who took AP Comp Sci at GWC?
This is interesting. D is working on application and as part of it they ask you to code something.
My daughter started the Girls Who Code club here and they definitely work at different paces. In her group she works way ahead of the girls who came in with no coding experience. I don’t know for sure that the summer program is the same way but the application asks for your proficiency in different languages and then you have to do some programming they give you in each you claim to be proficient in. I am assuming there is a reason for that? I don’t know for sure.
I do not know if this is new for this year, but the coding part of application requires some coding background, so I do not know how last year they might have people without any CS knowledge. Again, this is might be something new this year.
I did Girls Who Code @ Facebook this past Summer. Coming in with coding experience, my experience was not boring in the least! My previous experience actually made it easier to complete a relatively complex final project. I’d go for it.
Do we have to send a transcript somewhere?
Does anyone else have an opinion on this (i.e., whether it would be a useful experience for someone who has had
AP Computer Science?) Need to make a decision soon . . .
Which one did u get into? Also, I went to info sessions for GWC and talked to a lot of Alumni’s; from what I’ve heard its a lot of repeat if you took AP CS.
I got into this program. I took APCS last year. Should I attend ?
@Dinka7 which one did u get into?
I recently spoke to someone at GWC who said they have 2 levels for the summer program based on your background experience. I think it would be a great experience no matter what your level. If you were not told you were level 2 then you should be challenged at level 1.
Unless you city does not have level 2. Like Los Angeles only has one level.