I am thinking of applying for internships. I am currently a freshman thinking of majoring in computer science or related field (in the midst of transferring) I am just wondering would it be wise to apply for internships, for this coming summer? When should I apply? I am applying through chegg but are there any other resources? Would it be wise to do an internship with the said major even if I change it? To be honest, I really want to get my feet wet and I like tech. But I want to be sure I doing the right thing and I like it. Currently, I teaching myself to code, and I am apart of my schools computer club. I just really want to be sure I am making a good choice.
That’s one of the purposes of internships- to get your feet wet. Start by talking to your current school’s careers office and your current school’s compsci department. Many colleges offer paid summer internships to their own students. Also look at REUs. You will need recommendations no matter where you apply, so find that now.
My current school has no “computer science” department, they don’t even have the major. That’s why I am transferring.
@HGSConsilium, your post seems to imply that the usual routes are not enough and that the OP would need to hire you to get anywhere. OP, this is just not true. I am sure that @HGSConsilium provides a very good service, and he is right that “just” looking on Chegg or the bulletin board office isn’t enough by itself. But your college career services office - and more relevantly, the CS department* - will have leads, suggestions and contacts. As you are in first year and don’t seem to have much background yet, it might be hard for you to get an REU this year- but you could investigate it. It takes work, and you need to start now, but it is entirely do-able.
*and what accredited college or university are you even in that doesn’t have any form of CS department?!
If you have no class experience, it’s too early for any meaningful CS internship. You’ll need at least a year of classes, and it’ll still be hard with that.
You should definitely apply to internships. I had my first internship as a senior in high school. Companies love go-getters so you most likely won’t be able to get an internship with Microsoft or something, but I know many companies who love freshman because they want to get you to come back again and again. Caterpillar literally told me that.
I also know that startups love to hire any students who are motivated and driven. If that is you, you can go to TalFuse.com and answer some questions. Then they get the startups to come to you. Or at least that’s how I perceive it haha