CS10 Alumni Panel

Fall 2018

Introductions

Divinee Chidume

• Class of 2020: BA Computer Science
• Born in Nigeria but hometown in US is Modesto CA
• Took CS10 Fall 2016; no real programming experience
• Hobbies: Catan, kdramas 😅

divineechidume@berkeley.edu

Steven Traversi

• Graduated 2017, B.A. CS
• Taught 10 two summers ago.
• Intern at BT, then full time
• Just left to be “front end” software engineer
• I fly stunt and power kites
• Didn’t know ANY CS b4 10

straversi@berkeley.edu

Olivia Koshy

• Class of 2019: BA Computer Science,
• From Las Vegas :)
• Took CS10 Fall 2015 (freshman fall)
• Hobbies:
• Dancing
• Hiking
• Traveling (picture to the right features Iceland!)
• Podcasts
• Cheese :D
• Lab Assisted for CS10 Spring 2016 :)

okoshy@berkeley.edu

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Michael Ball

• 2015: L&S CS, 2016: Masters (with Dan!)
• Grew up in SoCal
• Took CS10 Fall 2011 (freshman fall)
• Hobbies:
• Photography
• Travelling
• Podcasts
• Tech in general
• LA’d in Spring, TA’d for 3 years, and still working on Snap!

ball@berkeley.edu

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Jobs/Involvement

Divinee

v

Division of Equity and Inclusion

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Resident Assistant

Division of Data Science

Housing

Fall 2016 - Spring 2017

Graphic Designer

Summer 2017

Start Intern

Summer 2018

Start Master Intern

Fall 2017 - Present

RA

Fall 2018

Curriculum Developer

Google: IDK Division yet

Summer 2019

Incoming Software Engineering Intern

Software Engineer

/

Olivia

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Jobs

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Extra Curriculars

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FBU Summer Su16

FB Computer Vision Su17

FB Probability Su 18

Autonomous Drone Startup

Fall17 Intern

Medical ML Startup

Full Time Software Engineer, Fall ‘20

Machine Learning at Berkeley

• President (Fall 2018)
• Apply in spring for our Intro to ML Decal, Impact of AI decal and to join :)
• Fall 2016 - Present

University Associate Fall-Spring 18

Research with Law School

• Impact of AI and Children’s Rights
• Fall 2018 - Present

Research with Stat’s PHD(s)

• Realized I didn’t like theoretical research!
• Jan 2017 - December 2017

hodge-podge of misc activities because college is a good time to explore :)

Michael Ball

Internship

Software Engineer (2+ years)

Advice

Divinee’s Advice

• Try to make friends that are equally as motivated in your CS classes. Sometimes all it takes is a “hi”.
• Don’t doubt your intelligence just because you happen you happen to be struggling in a class. Everyone has their own learning curve and sometimes you need to re-strategize to find out what works for you.
• Try to attend a hackathon because it helps with developing your own project.
• For those that work while going to school; don’t feel discouraged if you feel that you are not as involved in extracurriculars as you would like to be. Try to find things that are flexible and allow you to make the impact you want to make remotely. Sometimes this means creating your own project.
• Network, Network, Network. Not just to get a job but to improve your communication skills and get an idea of what you want to do with your life

• Take classes that YOU are interested in.
• fav classes: 61C, 189, 184,�194-26 (comp photography), 168
• As your time at Cal comes to a close, use resources such as job fairs to make your life easier.
• Don’t let yourself be intimidated by others’ experience, grades, etc… If you want something, get on that path.

Olivia’s Advice

• Always prioritize your health and well being, including your mental health! No grade/internship/extra curricular is worth it, you don’t want to get burnt out!
• Take advantage of the amazing peers you have! These will be your study buddies, best friends, inspiration and network.
• Don’t be scared to ask questions/ask people for advice :) most people older than you/Berkeley alums are more than happy to help.
• If you want to talk to someone just email them and ask to grab coffee!
• Never not do/apply to something because you don’t “feel” qualified
• there’s a good chance you’re underestimating yourself!
• Don’t do something because “everyone else” is doing it, choose classes/activities/etc that you really want to do and make you happy. The four years pass by so quick so make don’t waste any time doing anything you don’t want to do!
• Whatever you do choose to do, do it 100%, you’ll get the most out of stuff you if you commit rather than spreading yourself too thin (no matter what this is: classes/clubs/work/etc)
• As you get older, try and help younger students- we need to make Cal a more friendly place :)

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Michael’s Advice

• Take all advice with a grain of salt.
• Learn which rules you can break and when!
• Course requirements are not as strict as they always seem’
• Especially ignore the prereq’s → check with the instructor!]
• Take a grad course, you can do it!
• It’s totally OK to have absolutely no clue what’s going on!
• You don’t need have a “side project” -- you can build or do cool things on your own for a club, job, etc. You’re at f*ing Berkeley, you’re going to be working on something cool!
• Take Non-CS courses
• Info C103 -- The History of Information
• All the other advice is pretty darn good! :)