What should I learn to not be behind as a Computer Science major?

[Reactor]

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Is there anything I’d really better learn now so that, even if I’m not technically behind, I’ll know enough to get internships relatively early, be capable of undergrad research, be as prepared for jobs as my major-mates, and in general hold intelligent discussions on the subject? C++, perhaps? (I’ve tried the Bloodshed compiler, but it’s horrible.)

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<p>Focus on studying GitHub projects and papers on subjects that interest you. Or maths.
Take part in open source projects asap.</p>

<p>Also, study some of the new programming languages to see which ones you like and what they’re like and what are their differences. There are so many new languages available that while e.g. C++ is popular for lowish level application programming, there are new alternatives being developed (e.g. [The</a> Rust Programming Language](<a href=“http://www.rust-lang.org/]The”>http://www.rust-lang.org/)). And mentioning C++ and CS in the same sentence is comical (C++'s design is horrible, not something someone with a bit of PLT [programming language theory] background would recommend or design nowadays).</p>

<p>Pick up one interpreted language e.g. Python or Ruby. It ought to be the one that you’ll use for many things (prototyping, scripting software, applications where the execution speed of an interpreted language is not a problem etc.).</p>

<p>Learn what functional programming is about.</p>