I recently received an email asking for advice on applying to GSoC. I’m not a GSoC mentor, but have previously been a GSoC student. I hope that by sharing my answers here, I can help others who may have similar questions. Also, if I get anything wrong, please correct me.
> I noticed the project ideas on the SymPy wiki and was curious—are these ideas updated annually, or does SymPy reuse the same list each year? SymPy reuses the same list of project ideas annually, with updates for new ideas or to remove completed projects. However, some content may still be outdated. Looking at the edit history of the page, it doesn’t look like there have been many changes to it yet this year. If a particular idea interests you, I strongly recommend discussing it on the mailing list. Mentors can help clarify whether the idea is still relevant or suggest other directions you could explore. Collaboration and feedback are key to shaping your proposal effectively. > Is it recommended to start working on these ideas early to improve my chances of acceptance? Yes, starting early is a good idea. Bug fixes can take a while to be merged, and sharing your project ideas with mentors or the community and refining them based on feedback is a gradual process. Note that bug fixes don’t have to be related to your project proposal. So you can start working on a bug fix before you know what you want to write your proposal about. > Finally, are there any specific contributions, skills, or activities you’d recommend focusing on to strengthen my application? Communication and empathy are just as important as technical skills. Here are some actionable tips: - Read the GSoC student instructions <https://github.com/sympy/sympy/wiki/GSoC-Student-Instructions>: Carefully go through SymPy’s GSoC instructions and the linked resources to understand what is expected. - Practice empathy: Imagine yourself as a mentor. What qualities would you look for in a student? When people have asked you for help, what made you more or less inclined to assist them? - Ask good questions: Mentors and community members are usually happy to help, but make sure your questions are clear, respectful, and show that you’ve done your research. For example, mention what you’ve already tried or where you’re stuck. This demonstrates effort and respect for their time. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sympy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sympy+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sympy/0b5a03e4-c163-4507-a72c-f0db96aa320bn%40googlegroups.com.
