Women in Computer Science - Interview Notes

Insights from women in tech on their journey through computer science education and career development

🌟 Career Path & Early Influences

What sparked the interest in CS?

  • Geographic proximity to tech industry (Bay Area) provided exposure to technology careers
  • Childhood experiences with Legos sparked interest in building and creative problem-solving
  • High school CyberPatriots competition built comfort and confidence with computer systems

💡 Essential Skills Developed in High School

Communication is Key

  • Communication emerged as a critical skill across all aspects of CS work
  • Report writing and documentation required strong communication abilities

Academic Foundation

Academically rigorous STEM courses built lasting foundations in:

  • Time management techniques
  • Collaborative work habits
  • Professional communication
  • Resilience and persistence (“grit”)

Practical Skills

  • Del Norte’s challenging curriculum created preparation for college-level obstacles
  • Learning independence and taking initiative on projects proved invaluable
  • Developing resourcefulness (using Stack Overflow, ChatGPT, and other tools effectively)

🔧 Problem-Solving Approaches

Breaking Down Complexity

Decomposing complex problems into manageable pieces is fundamental to success:

Example 1: Breaking essays into sections helps manage workload

Example 2: Dividing projects into frontend/backend components for team distribution

Planning Before Execution

Planning before execution improves outcomes:

  • Creating diagrams and flowcharts aids visualization
  • Design documentation helps team alignment
  • Visual representations make code concepts clearer

🎨 Project Development & User-Centered Design

The User-First Philosophy

  • User research drives project ideation
  • “Users first” philosophy guides decision-making
  • Observing how people interact with applications (without instruction) reveals improvement opportunities

Creative Freedom Spectrum

| Internships | Academic Projects | |—————–|————————| | Less creative freedom | Personal creativity | | Focus on following direction | Independent ideation |

🤝 Team Collaboration & Methodology

Structured Frameworks

Structured frameworks (Agile, Scrum) provide organization for:

  1. Breaking down deliverables
  2. Coordinating team members
  3. Managing workload distribution

Communication Tools & Practices

  • Discussing code with teammates keeps everyone aligned
  • AI tools assist in code comprehension
  • Creating and sharing documentation about new learnings helps knowledge transfer across the team

📝 College Application Strengths

What Made Applications Stand Out:

  • ✅ Highlighted high school learning experiences and fit with target institution
  • ✅ Incorporated personal background and life experiences
  • ✅ Emphasized impact on others (example: founding a nonprofit, partnering with organizations)
  • ✅ Demonstrated desire to explore CS further
  • ✅ Focused on using technology to help people

🔄 Retrospectives & Continuous Improvement

The Power of Reflection:

  • Project reviews provide valuable learning opportunities
  • Reflection on what worked and what didn’t informs future projects
  • Clear communication and documentation significantly improve project outcomes

💭 Key Advice for Current Students

Stay Current

  • Keep current with emerging technologies—CS evolves rapidly and offers diverse specializations

Manage Your Wellbeing

  • Managing stress improves learning comprehension and retention

Mindset Matters

  • Determination and desire lead to achievement

Explore & Experiment

  • Experiment with different areas while opportunities are abundant
  • Maximize available opportunities
  • Leverage the freedom in project-based courses to explore your interests

Teamwork Preparation

  • High school group projects do prepare you for college teamwork, but the scale and complexity increase