> East Coast Adjacent. And I'm positive she would next year.
If she is attending University, tell her to get involved on the campus life since things are opening back up, Hackathons are a great way to see if what/if anything takes your interest and how the collaboration process with a team actually works.
There is an idealized version of it, something I think we call tech-porn that acts as a brochure for every CompSci program with an intern and basic photoshop skills will show as what awaits a student, one that makes you think that things are all done form chic looking co-working space with baristas and fruit-smoothie machines everywhere. This is a very poor representation of what actually awaits anyone that is actually building anything that matters (read: not FAANG).
The reality is much more gritty and crude, if it's a 24 hour Hackathon like most I've attended are they're filled with red-eyed nerds and empty pizza boxes and half-filled Red Bull cans everywhere and a rather 'ripe' BO smell in the air that makes it clear that this is a grueling albeit innovative and creative space that you're either into, or you are not. There is no in between, and if you're paying for a University degree you better be into otherwise it will be a large waste of time and money, and bootcamps may be a better option if you just want to 'dip your toes.'
The prizes are not really the point of hackthons, although somewhat nice since they can lead to paid internships, what is the point is the exhilaration that gets you hooked into making something that moves you and that you can bring into the World with like-minded colleagues.
If she is attending University, tell her to get involved on the campus life since things are opening back up, Hackathons are a great way to see if what/if anything takes your interest and how the collaboration process with a team actually works.
There is an idealized version of it, something I think we call tech-porn that acts as a brochure for every CompSci program with an intern and basic photoshop skills will show as what awaits a student, one that makes you think that things are all done form chic looking co-working space with baristas and fruit-smoothie machines everywhere. This is a very poor representation of what actually awaits anyone that is actually building anything that matters (read: not FAANG).
The reality is much more gritty and crude, if it's a 24 hour Hackathon like most I've attended are they're filled with red-eyed nerds and empty pizza boxes and half-filled Red Bull cans everywhere and a rather 'ripe' BO smell in the air that makes it clear that this is a grueling albeit innovative and creative space that you're either into, or you are not. There is no in between, and if you're paying for a University degree you better be into otherwise it will be a large waste of time and money, and bootcamps may be a better option if you just want to 'dip your toes.'
The prizes are not really the point of hackthons, although somewhat nice since they can lead to paid internships, what is the point is the exhilaration that gets you hooked into making something that moves you and that you can bring into the World with like-minded colleagues.