Student Blog
Google news and updates especially for students
Applications are now open for Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute and the Generation Google Scholarship!
January 8, 2015
Are you a current senior in high school interested in studying computer science at university?
if (highSchoolStudent && interestedInCS && graduationYear == 2015) {
applyToCSSI();
}
We are now accepting applications for the 2015
Generation Google Scholarship
for First Years and
Computer Science Summer Institute
. Read more about both programs below and
apply today
!
What’s the difference?
:
Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
is a three-week introduction to computer science for graduating high school seniors with a passion for technology—especially students from historically underrepresented groups in the field.
The
Generation Google Scholarship
for high school seniors helps aspiring computer scientists excel in technology and become leaders in the field. Selected students will receive 10,000 USD (for those studying in the US) or 5,000 CAD (for those studying in Canada) for the 2015-2016 school year. as part of the scholarship, current high school seniors who are entering their first year of university in 2015-2016 will be required to attend CSSI in the summer of 2015.
Where?
: This year, we will offer two types of sessions at CSSI: day-camp and residential. Our day camps will take place in Chicago, IL, Mountain View, CA, and New York City, NY. Our residential camps will take place in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. To learn more, please visit our
website
.
When?
: The Cambridge, Mountain View and Seattle sessions will be held July 13th - July 31st 2015, and Chicago and New York will be held July 20th - August 7th 2015.
Why?
: Google is committed to increasing the enrollment and retention of students in the field of computer science. These programs offer both an intensive, interactive, hands-on and fun experience as well as a financial opportunity that seeks to inspire the tech leaders and innovators of tomorrow. Students will learn programming fundamentals directly from Google engineers, get an inside look at some of Google's most exciting, emerging technologies, and even design and develop your very own application with fellow participants that you will showcase to Googlers in local offices. It aims to expose these students to key programming concepts, create a network of like-minded individuals for them (at a formidable time in their young careers) as well as empower them to tackle the challenging problems in CS by creating a safe, comfortable environment to learn, play, break and build.
Who?
: We are looking for students eager to spend a few weeks immersed in the Google life – tackling interesting technical problems, working collaboratively and having fun. We want students to leave empowered, heading into their first year of college armed with a unique learning experience that can only be found at Google. The program is open to
all qualified high school seniors
, and is committed to addressing diversity in the field of computer science. Students who are a member of a group that is historically underrepresented in the technology industry are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
: Please visit (
www.google.com/students/cssi
or GG page) for more information and to apply.
The application deadline is March 5th, 2015
. Final decisions will be announced in early May at the latest.
Have questions? Feel free to contact us at cssi@google.com or generationgoogle@google.com.
Posted by Sarah Henderson, Student Development Team
The Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2015: Supporting innovators of the future
October 16, 2014
Applications are currently open for the
Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2015
. This scholarship supports talented computer scientists with a disability across Europe by offering 7,000 Euros towards their studies for 2015-16. As part of this commitment, Google has teamed up with EmployAbility, an organization dedicated to assisting disabled and dyslexic students in the transition from education to employment.
We recently caught up with Michael, a student from Russia and 2014 recipient of the Google Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, to hear first-hand about his experience as a Google Scholar:
So Michael, tell us a little about yourself…
I am studying for an undergraduate degree in Information Engineering and Management at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. For me,Computer Science and its subdomain of Software Engineering are fields which offer an intellectual challenge and satisfaction through innovation and problem-solving. I enjoy analysing problems and then designing and implementing applications that solve these problems in the most efficient and elegant way.
Broadly speaking, I am interested in creating and developing new technologies that will improve human life in some tangible form.
What do you think of the application process?
The application process was very clear: you have to write several essays, upload your resume and find two referees who will write letters of recommendation for you. If you are an international student, then you will also need to translate your official documents into English before submitting them with your application.
If at any stage during the preparation of your application you have any queries or problems, don't hesitate to contact the EmployAbility team, they can very quickly help you with any question and they can also give you valuable advice. They helped me several times with my application at the beginning.
In what way(s) has the Scholarship had an impact on your studies?
The scholarship, as recognition from Google and my university, was very important to me. It increased my confidence and encouraged me to continue what I am doing and to work even harder to achieve my goals.
During the course of my studies I wanted to attend some tech conferences. Now, after receiving this scholarship, not only will it be possible for me to attend these conferences, but I can also attend several others.
What tips would you give to someone when it comes to applying?
Start your application process with writing the answers to the essay questions. In writing your essays try to show who you really are, talk about your interests, contributions to open-source projects and commitment to computer science and technology. But don't forget that the Google Scholarship will assess you as a whole person, therefore your leadership skills and achievements are also crucial for this application.
If you are not sure you understand particular questions or any other aspects of the application process, discuss your issues with EmployAbility - they can really help.
Other important pieces of the application package are your recommendation letters. Try to submit your application early and leave enough time for your references to write them for you. It is in your own best interest.
Besides the financial benefit, what else did you gain from the scholarship?
I am extremely grateful to Google for selecting me as a scholarship recipient. It really means a lot to me. This has given me more confidence and understanding of what I can achieve, and has motivated me to continue to work on my projects, make contributions to assistive technology and promote the value and importance of Computer Science among students with disabilities and also encourage them to consider careers in technology.
Did the scholarship influence your thoughts about a career at Google or within the Tech sector?
It certainly did. It made me feel more confident in my abilities and once again confirmed my plan to have a career in the tech industry. I hope to continue to develop my technical breadth and depth while taking on more responsibilities and leadership. By the time I graduate from my university, I’d like to either start a tech company or join a company such as Google, a company that has a disability inclusive and diverse environment made up of smart people who work on innovative products that change the world around us.
What advice would you give to someone who isn’t sure about applying for the scholarship?
If you are not sure whether you should apply or not try to write the answers to essay questions and prepare all the necessary documents. After that you can ask the EmployAbility team to look at your application and judge whether there is enough relevant content and what can be done to improve your application. Even if you are unsuccessful in your scholarship application, you can reapply next year. You have nothing to lose, but you could potentially gain a lot.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2015
Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
. Applications close on Thursday, January 1st, 2015, 17:00 GMT.
For questions about the scholarship or your application, please reach out to EmployAbility at googlescholarship@employ-ability.org.uk.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, EMEA Scholarships Program Manager
Meet the 2014 Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholars
September 5, 2014
With 2015 scholarship applications opening soon, our Google Scholarships team would like to introduce this year’s Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholars and share some of the positive impact they are making in their communities.
It all started when
Dr. Anita Borg
attended a technology conference and noticed the small number of women present. After talking with these women, Dr. Borg formed an online community called
Systers
to help technical women connect with one another. Later, she started the Institute for Women and Technology (now
The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology
) and co-founded the
Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
. For the next X years, Dr. Borg became one of the biggest advocates to dismantle the barriers that keep women and minorities from entering the computing and technology fields.
When Google made the diversity of our workforce
public
this summer, we did it because we believe that the people creating our products and services should be a reflection of the people around the world who use them. That’s also why 10 years ago, we established the
Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
, awarding scholarships to women who share Dr. Borg’s passion for technology.
Today we’re congratulating the
78 recipients
(PDF) of our 2014 Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. They join a host of past scholars, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in academia and industry. For example, Floraine Berthouzoz, a 2010 Scholar, co-founded a nonprofit organization called CS KickStart that encourages incoming undergraduate women entering UC Berkeley to pursue computer science through programming labs, exciting presentations, and field trips. Together with restructuring the intro to computer science class at Berkeley, CS KickStart has increased the percentage of women in the Letters & Sciences CS program from 11 percent in 2010 to 21 percent in 2013.
As our scholars continue to pursue their technical careers, they join a community of women who will continue Anita Borg’s important work to promote and support women in computer science. As part of their scholarship (and in addition to receiving a monetary award), all of our Anita Borg scholars participated in one of the annual Google Scholars’ Retreat at Google in Mountain View, Calif. or Zurich. There, they attended tech talks, networked with other scholars and Googlers, participated in developmental activities and sessions, and brainstormed ways to further promote STEM in their communities. Stay tuned to the
Google Student Blog
over the course of the academic year to catch up on what these incredible women accomplish over the year.
We will be launching applications for all
2015 university scholarships
soon, so look out on the
Google Students +Page
for the announcement! For more information on all our scholarships, visit the
Google Scholarships site
.
2014 Anita Borg Scholars’ at the North America Scholars’ Retreat
Posted by Sarah Safir, Student Development Programs
Congratulations to this year’s Google EMEA Students with Disabilities Scholars
May 28, 2014
As part of Google's ongoing commitment to advancing computing and technology, we are pleased to provide scholarships to encourage students to excel in their studies and become active role models and leaders. In partnership with EmployAbility, we are excited to announce this year’s recipients of The Google Students with Disabilities Scholarship.
Please join us in congratulating the following recipients, along with the universities they attend:
Tomer Ashur, KU Leuven, Belgium
Zafeirios Fountas, Imperial College London, UK
Cristian Hanca, West University of Timisoara, Romania
Tim in 't Veld, University of Utrecht, Netherlands
Reuben Kirkham, Newcastle University, UK
Thomas Ladyman, University of Southampton, UK
Mark Pavlyukovskyy, University of Oxford, UK
Mikhail Sbitnev, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Nathan Schagen, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands
Azra Tayyebi ,University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Each scholar will receive 7,000 Euros to help them with their studies for the 2014/2015 academic year. All scholars have been selected based on their passion for computer science, academic achievement, leadership, and technical accomplishments.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, EMEA Diversity Scholarships Program Manager
Announcing the 2014 Generation Google Scholars!
May 22, 2014
The
Generation Google Scholarship
was established in 2012 to encourage aspiring computer scientists to excel in technology and become active role models and leaders in the field. Every year, high school seniors from underrepresented groups in technology who have demonstrated a passion for computer science, technical aptitude, academic achievements, and leadership amongst their peers are selected as recipients of this scholarship. This year, we have expanded the brand of our Generation Google scholarship to include undergraduate and graduate students!
2013 Scholars' Retreat
We are excited announce the 2014 Generation Google Scholars, along with the universities they attend:
Abril Vela, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor*
Alexandria Vail, North Carolina State University
Alisha Saxena, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
Ama Koranteng, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
Anushree Dugar, Wellesley College*
Asaeli Matelau, University of Utah
Aswini Krishnan, Univeristy of California, San Diego*
Christine Yang, University of Texas at Austin*
Cindy Yu, Stanford University*
Danielle Okezie, Havard College*
Delia Bullock, Columbia University in New York City*
Eliana Lorch, Minerva Schools at KGI*
Frank Ibem, Texas Tech University
Heitor Castro, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jeanine Pearson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
Joe Fletcher, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Jordan Kunzika, Dartmouth College
Joshua Thomas, Dartmouth College
Karia Dibert, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
Katherine Muhlrad, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
Liezl Puzon, Stanford University*
Liqi Xu, University Of Wisconsin - Madison
Marcelo Rioja, University of California, Los Angeles
Maria Pospelova, Carleton University
Marvin Andujar, Clemson University
Marynel Vazquez, Carnegie Mellon University
Matthew Tesfalul, Harvard University*
Megha Srivastava, Stanford University*
Michelle Collins, Georgia Institute of Technology
Shailee Samar, Harvey Mudd College*
Simone Smarr, Spelman College
TianYi Ma, Queen’s University*
Vaughan Nickerson, Georgia Institute of Technology
Veronica Gunn, University of Texas at Austin*
William Lopez-Cordero, Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
Yekaterina Kharitonova, University of Arizona
*University they will attend in Fall 2014
2013 Computer Science Summer Institute
All scholars will receive a $10,000 (USD) or $5,000 (CAD) award. Current university students will attend the Google Scholars’ Retreat in Mountain View, where they will have an opportunity to attend tech talks, network with other scholars and Googlers, participate in developmental activities and sessions, and attend social activities. Scholars will also participate in a hackathon to create projects related to STEM education and collaborate on ways to actively promote computer science to other underrepresented students in technology.
Current high school seniors will be attending Google’s
Computer Science Summer Institute
this summer, in Mountain View, CA, Cambridge, MA, or in our newest location in Seattle, WA.
Congratulations to this year’s Generation Google scholars, and stay tuned for announcements of our other scholarship recipients in the coming weeks! If you're interested in learning more about our scholarship programs and timelines, please visit our
Google Scholarships page
.
Posted by Azusa Liu, Student Development Programs Specialist
Congratulations to this year’s Google Lime and SVA Scholars!
May 15, 2014
As part of Google's ongoing commitment to advancing computing and technology, we are pleased to provide
scholarships
to encourage students to excel in their studies and become active role models and leaders. We are excited to announce this year’s scholarship recipients from the
Google Lime Scholarship
(in partnership with
Lime Connect
) and
Google SVA Scholarship
(in partnership with
Student Veterans of America
). All scholars have been selected based on their passion for computer science, academic achievement, leadership, and technical accomplishments.
Photo by Robert Fischer, Google Engineer
Below are the list of recipients, along with the universities they attend:
Google Lime Scholarship
Aneesh Pasricha, Amherst College
Eva Schlinger, Carnegie Mellon University
Morgan Ulinski, Columbia University in the City of New York
Trevor Haskell, Fordham University
Dianna Hu, Harvard University
Julien Gascon-Samson, McGill University
Charles Hill, Oregon State University
Kody Dillman, University Of Calgary
Ivan Brugere, University of Illinois at Chicago
Hamid Hamraz, University of Kentucky
William Grussenmeyer, University of Nevada, Reno
Charlie Magnuson, University Of Victoria
Imran Khan, University of Virginia
Google SVA Scholarship
Katheryn Farris, Dartmouth College
William Perry, Norwich University
Peter Zimmerman, Princeton University
David Patrzeba, Rutgers University
Sherry Shi, Stony Brook University
Andrew Gray, University of Florida
Joseph Raetano, University of Tennessee
Gabriel de la Cruz, Washington State University
All scholars will receive a $10,000 (USD) or $5,000 (CAD) award and will attend the Google Scholars’ Retreat at the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Scholars will have an opportunity to attend tech talks, network with other scholars and Googlers, participate in developmental activities and sessions, and attend social activities. Scholars will also participate in a hackathon to create projects related to STEM education and collaborate on ways to actively promote computer science to other underrepresented students in technology.
Congratulations to this year’s Lime and SVA scholars, and stay tuned for announcements of our other scholarship recipients in the coming weeks! If you're interested in learning more about our scholarship programs, please visit our
Google Scholarships page
.
Posted by Azusa Liu, Student Development Programs Specialist
Applications for the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship: Asia Pacific are now open!
March 3, 2014
The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship: Asia Pacific
honors the memory of Dr. Anita Borg who devoted her life to encouraging the presence of women in computing. The scholarship is open to current female undergraduate or graduate students who will be studying at a university in Asia Pacific for the 2015 academic year.
Applicants should be enrolled in a computer science, computer engineering, or closely related technical program and exemplify leadership and demonstrate passion for increasing the involvement of women in computer science.
Recipients of the scholarships will receive a scholarship amount specific to their local region in respect to tuition and be invited to attend an annual Google scholars’ retreat at a Google office in Asia Pacific.
Applications close on 18 May 2014, 11.59PM PST. Apply today!
For more on Google’s scholarships, please visit
www.google.com/students/scholarships
.
Posted by Cheryl Tang, APAC Staffing Programs Team
Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship takes on Russia
February 3, 2014
Recently, we hosted two
Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
events in our Moscow and St. Petersburg offices. More than 80 Russian female computer science students joined us to learn about local technical projects, find out more about Dr. Anita Borg, hear from scholarship alumni and network with Googlers.
We asked three scholarship alumni to tell us about their Anita Borg experience:
1. Tell us a bit about yourselves…
Anna:
I’m a graduate from the department of Mechanics & Mathematics at Novosibirsk State University. I currently work at the Institute of Computational Technologies, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences where I do mathematical modeling and optimization methods for solving inverse problems. I’m also preparing my Ph.D. thesis.
Jelena:
I graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in Bioinformatics. I currently work analyzing biological data.
Anastasia:
I’m from Moscow where I graduated from the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI). Before graduation, I started working at the Institute for System Programming at the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISP RAS) where I worked on projects to test systems for document processing and develop tools for automatic testing of Internet protocols.
2. How did you find out about the scholarship and what motivated you to apply?
Anna:
I found out about the scholarship through my university when it launched in Russia in 2008. My friends told me it sounded like something I should do so I applied. I also read Anita Borg’s biography and was inspired by her story to pursue a career in technology.
Jelena:
I saw the scholarship advertised on a poster prior to starting my degree. I thought I matched the profile and was motivated by the competition aspect I had previously enjoyed so much when I participated in my school olympiads. Two years later, I became a finalist.
Anastasia:
I first heard about the scholarship when a Googler came to give a lecture at the ISP RAS. As a Ph.D. student at the time, my interest immediately peaked, though my first thought was that I wasn’t good enough to apply. After deliberating, I decided to go for it anyway for the experience.
3. In what way has the scholarship had an impact on you and your future in technology?
Anna:
I was a scholarship finalist three times. The achievement gave me the confidence to go on and win other competitions and participate in other tech conferences across the world.
Jelena:
Being a finalist gave me confidence in my abilities and motivated me to work harder, especially on my programming. The scholarship also made me a stronger leader. I'm currently the co-chair of a committee which promotes biotechnology and explains to young scientists how to build a successful career after graduation.
Anastasia:
Before the scholarship, I wasn’t confident enough in my skills. Nowadays, there are still times when I feel this way, but after meeting other girls like me at the retreat, I know that I’m not alone.
4. What was the highlight of the scholarships retreat for you?
Anna:
I was continuously inspired by examples of new research and modern approaches to help maximise engineers’ time as well as the informal atmosphere which encouraged communication. The retreat gave me the motivation to work even harder in my degree.
Jelena:
Meeting so many inspiring people. Another highlight was the poster session where I was able to discover the different technological problems addressed at various universities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Anastasia:
Meeting so many talented women from different countries and cultures. Together we had various interesting discussions about different approaches to education, industry and life as a whole.
5. Any advice for Russian students who are keen to become our next Anita Borg scholars?
Anna:
Don't be afraid and don't underestimate yourself! Remember, other applicants like you received the scholarship. Work hard for what you want and don’t let social prejudices get in the way.
Jelena:
Be great, passionate and sincere. Get involved in interesting projects at university, study hard and make sure to highlight your achievements in your CV.
Anastasia:
During the application process, I recommend using diagrams, tables and pictures in your essays to better illustrate your ideas. Also make sure to reread your essays a few times, it might also help to get a second opinion on it from a friend or family member. Finally, even if you don’t win this time, don’t despair, try again!
The Google EMEA Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
is open to current female undergraduate or graduate students who will be studying at a university in Europe, the Middle East or Africa for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The deadline to apply is
Monday, February 17, 2014, 17:00 GMT
. Apply today!
For more on Google’s scholarships please visit
www.google.com/students/scholarships
.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, Tech Student Development Programs Specialist, EMEA
The Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2014: supporting innovators of the future
January 30, 2014
Applications are currently open for the
Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2014
. This scholarship supports talented computer scientists with a
disability
across Europe by offering 7,000 Euros towards their studies for 2014-15. As part of this commitment, Google has teamed up with
EmployAbility
, an organization dedicated to assisting disabled and dyslexic students in the transition from education to employment.
We recently caught up with Valentin, a student from Romania and 2013 recipient of the Google Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, to hear first-hand about his experience as a Google Scholar:
So Valentin, tell us a little about yourself…
I’m from Romania and I’m currently in my 2nd year of a computer graphics masters at the University Politehnica of Bucharest. I’ve loved computers and video games since I first came into contact with them. I’m currently working on my dissertation project to combine the power of Kinect and Oculus Rift to create a fully immersive experience. A fun fact about myself, I worked at Gameloft and you can find my name in the credits of the game 'My Little Pony' (yes, this is a game created by fully grown men!).
What did you think of the application process?
It was straight forward and simple. I asked my parents to help me translate official documents from my native language into English while I focussed on my resume and essays. EmployAbility were also on hand to advise and support me throughout the process.
In what way(s) has the Scholarship had an impact on your studies?
It allowed me to focus on my studies instead of dividing my time between university and a job. I also used the scholarship money to buy new equipment for my dissertation project. Generally, I feel more confident in my coding abilities and my decision to pursue this career path.
What top tips would you give to someone completing the application form?
Spend time on your essay to show who you are and your true potential. If you are re-applying, take the time to write a new essay because another year has passed and this is a new you, with new and improved skills and experiences. Also, if you have any difficulty or questions, ask the people from EmployAbility.
Aside from the financial benefit, what else did you gain from the scholarship?
After reflecting on my scholarship experience, I realized my disability doesn't make me any less capable, it just makes me different and difference is a good thing. People who think differently find the most innovative and creative solutions. Difference is what drives us forward. I met a wonderful, diverse group of people at last year’s Scholarships Retreat where, for a few amazing days, difference was the norm. It really boosted my confidence.
Did the scholarship influence your thoughts about a career at Google or within the Tech sector?
The experience truly transformed the way I see my life after graduating. Going to a Google development center and talking to the engineers who work there about their day-to day-lives and experiences was priceless. We also had the opportunity to network with Google recruiters, find out more about the hiring process and available positions, not to mention gaining some top interview tips. EmployAbility also offered lots of information about the support available for disabled candidates searching for a job.
To top it all off, a little after receiving the scholarship I was invited to interview for a position at Google!
What advice would you give someone who isn’t sure they should apply?
Think about it this way: Google is investing a lot to search for talented and passionate people like you. But they can't do it all. It's your job to say “here I am” and your duty to yourself to make sure you take every opportunity that comes your way, no matter how unlikely it might seem at first.
We are currently accepting applications for the
2014 Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
.
Apply today! Applications close on February 17th, 2014.
For questions about the scholarship or your application, please reach out to EmployAbility at
googlescholarship@employ-ability.org.uk
.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, EMEA Scholarships Project Manager
A scholar’s reflection on the 2013 Google Scholars’ Retreat
November 19, 2013
Editor’s Note:
North America Google Scholarships deadlines extended to
January 6, 2014
! See
google.com/students/scholarships
for more details
.
In 2013, we selected nearly 100 scholars who were all invited to attend our Scholars’ Retreat, held at Google’s office in New York City this summer. The Scholars’ Retreat brings together our scholarship recipients to attend technical and career development sessions and provide opportunities to network with one another and with Googlers while experiencing Google’s unique culture. In today’s post, Carolyn, one of our
Anita Borg Scholars
from Simon Fraser University, shares about her experience and learnings from the retreat.
On April 23, I received a congratulatory email from Google, naming me one of 30 recipients of the 2013 Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship! As a Google Scholar, I would be heading that summer to Googleplex East - Google's New York City headquarters - for their annual Google Scholars' Retreat!
I landed at JFK International Airport the morning of July 17. Here, I met up with a group of fellow Google Scholars as we headed to the hotel in Manhattan, located a few blocks from the Google office. Since check-in for the retreat wasn't until later that afternoon, a few of us dropped our bags off at the hotel and took the opportunity to explore the city, visiting Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Mathematics!
After a few hours of sightseeing, we hopped onto the subway and headed towards the Google office. Here we met with all the scholars from Google's scholarship programs. Once checked in and decked out with Google swag, we were greeted with a welcome talk from Alfred Spector, VP of Engineering and Research, who shared Google’s approach on research and innovation. Following the talk, we headed off to dinner. This was our first glimpse of eating at the Google office! The Water Tower room and cafeteria were just one of many themed venues we would visit during our retreat.
Alfred Spector, VP of Engineering and Research
The next day we were treated to breakfast at the Google office, followed by a passionate tech talk by Justin Kosslyn, a Product Manager in Google Ideas. He engaged us in a deep discussion about serious issues prevalent in the world today that his group was working on, including human trafficking, mapping arms data, and using the Internet to counter violent extremism. Sitting amongst this audience helped me see exactly why we were selected to be there - we were young, bright minds, curious and eager to use technology to shape the world.
The rest of the morning consisted of interview and resume workshops, which provided us with useful suggestions to aid in our career development. Following this, I joined a group of fellow PhD students for an exclusive luncheon with existing Google researchers. Here, we shared our research areas and projects amongst the group, along with our future plans for positions in industry or academia. We also had the opportunity to find out more about working at Google!
One of the best sessions was the career panel, where four Googlers candidly shared their work experience at Google and addressed questions from the scholars about getting a foot in the door. Topics including academic credentials, GPAs, internships, work/life balance, and the 'Google culture'. Following the panel discussion, we attended a poster session, and then headed over to the restaurant reserved for our dinner. The next day would be the start of our 24HoursofGood!
Scholars’ poster session
24HoursofGood was the first hackathon at a Scholars' Retreat. I was teamed up with three other scholars to solve a technical problem with a non-profit organization, LEAD (LEADership Education & Development) who provide communities for students to gain skills to work in business, computer science, and engineering fields. We started with a quick App Engine 'bootcamp' with Arun Nagarajan, Senior Developer at Google and worked our way through the next 24 hours (fuelled by more food, caffeine, and swag!). It was my first hackathon event ever, and Google made it especially memorable. Each of the 19 teams presented their work and Google judges picked the top teams. I especially enjoyed collaborating with three other team members whose areas of expertise in computer science were different from mine. We were each able to contribute to the task in our own ways and I had tons of fun learning from my group (the unlimited supply of candy was a bonus)! Although challenging to code for 24 hours, we managed through brief yoga sessions, midnight pizza, naps, and coffee. It was an absolute blast!
The retreat days flew by. I made new friends, networked with Googlers and enjoyed my 3-day retreat in NYC. My summer of 2013... Google Scholars' Retreat in NYC = Food + Fun + Friends.
And then a surprise bonus! In September, Google offered to sponsor our travel and attendance to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Minneapolis, MN. Anita Borg Memorial scholarship winners were reunited (amongst 4,600 other women) and we had the opportunity to spend four days attending tech talks geared towards women in computer science. Especially memorable was our meeting with Google executives, including Alan Eustace, Senior VP of Engineering!
My 2013 year as a Google Scholar has been an absolute privilege and I look forward to future collaborations with Google.
Congratulations once again to all Google Scholars!
Remember to visit
www.google.com/students/scholarships
to find out more about our scholarships and
apply by December 2
!
Azusa Liu, Tech Student Development Programs
Applications now open for Google EMEA scholarships - Apply today!
November 18, 2013
We are very excited to announce two Google scholarship opportunities for university students in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
The Google EMEA Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
honors the memory of
Dr. Anita Borg
who devoted her life to encouraging the presence of women in computing. The scholarship is open to current female undergraduate or graduate students who will be studying at a university in Europe, the Middle East or Africa for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
aims to help dismantle barriers for students with disabilities as well as encourage them to excel in their studies and become active role models and leaders in technology. The scholarship is open to current undergraduate or graduate students with disabilities who will be studying at a university in Europe for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Applicants should be enrolled in a computer science, computer engineering, or closely related technical program and maintain a record of strong academic performance. Recipients of the scholarships will each receive a € 7,000 (or equivalent) award for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The deadline for all scholarships is
Monday, February 17, 2014, 17:00 GMT
. Apply today!
For more on Google’s scholarships please visit
www.google.com/students/scholarships
.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, Tech Student Development Programs Specialist, EMEA
Latin America scholars reflect on experience at Google Scholars’ Retreat
November 14, 2013
Each summer we host a Scholars’ Retreat where Google scholarship recipients are invited to a Google office to celebrate their accomplishments, interact with fellow scholars, and hear talks from Google engineers. In addition to inviting our scholars from universities in the US and Canada, this year we also invited our scholarship recipients from Latin America. We spoke with three of these recipients to hear about their experiences.
Thanks for joining us! Can you introduce yourself?
Daniel
: My name is Daniel and I’m studying computer engineering at Universidad de Santiago in Chile.
María
: I’m María and I’m studying software engineering at Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Fernando
: I’m Fernando and I’m studying computer systems engineering at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.
Tell us a bit about the Latin America Scholars’ Retreat that you participated in. What was that like?
Fernando
: Before the Google Scholars’ Retreat in New York City, the scholars from Latin America were invited to a “mini summit”. There were 13 students from Chile, Colombia and Argentina and I have to say it was a humbling experience. I met startup founders, hackers, musicians, ex-professional soccer players and skillful engineers writing awesome programs.
María
: We started the morning with breakfast then participated in a scavenger hunt through Midtown working out riddles in teams while getting to know places such as Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Central Park.
Daniel
: Then we got a tour of the Google NYC office and it was really incredible to see firsthand that everything that is said about the "Google way" of working is true: the atmosphere is relaxed, there’s free food everywhere, and the office space is built in very ingenious ways. “They know exactly how to keep developers happy!” is what many of us said. In addition to the office tour, the mini summit included sessions on how to improve our resumes, and a career panel with engineers and interns from Google, which was incredibly motivating. They spoke about the work and the professional and personal growth they had experienced. It was great to hear from them on what they did and how they came to Google.
What was your experience like once the official Scholar’s Retreat began?
Daniel:
After the mini summit we officially began the Google Scholars’ Retreat. Now we were with all Google scholarship recipients from across North America! We let go of the Spanish language and began to speak English.
Maria
: Welcome speaker Alfred Spector gave us sincere advice on how to face our careers. Later on, we also took a “True Colors Personality Test” to help us to get to know ourselves better, to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses. Then we gathered with more scholars of the same color, laughed at our weaknesses and realized we could complement them with other people’s abilities.
And that was just day one! What activities did you do on the second day?
María:
The second day started with a talk by a Googler who addressed how Google can fight real problems in society such as human trafficking. I have always been concerned about issues like this so when the talk began I just couldn't believe the world that was being opened to my eyes in just less than an hour. I was surprised about Google's diversity and how that helps us to see things we wouldn’t notice in different backgrounds, as a Googler from a career panel said a few hours later.
Daniel:
One of the activities I enjoyed the most on the second day was the technical interview workshop. We simulated a real technical interview where we were split into groups of four or five accompanied by a Google engineer. We worked on whiteboards to solve algorithmic interview problems. We did the best we could to come up with an acceptable solution and learned a lot about what the engineers look for when interviewing candidates.
...and that wasn’t all, right?
Daniel:
Nope! On Friday, we participated in 24 Hours of Good, a hackathon that focused on providing support to various foundations. It was very fun and motivating to be working with such exceptional people. The results of this session were very good projects and lots of fun. I went to sleep with the satisfaction of knowing that I did something to help!
What’s one thing you learned from attending Scholars’ Retreat?
Fernando
: One of the biggest takeaways for me was realizing how much Google motivates you to think big. The engineers and interns that we met were pushing code that affected millions, even billions of users. You really have to solve big problems and that means coming up with smart solutions. It also means that your users have different languages and cultural backgrounds, so you also have to have a global mindset.
Daniel:
What I took away from this experience is this -- if you love something, do it passionately! Everything else will come on its own.
María:
I would like to share a final thought that came to my mind in a moment at 24 Hours of Good when my group and I were in silence coding in our laptops trying to solve an apparently “impossible problem” just a few hours before deadline. At that silent moment the only thing you could hear was laughter from fellow scholars. That means “zero stress” — people were enjoying themselves and having fun. Indeed, our group was relaxed despite having to solve a lot of things in such little time. We were happy, united and motivated, knowing that we could do anything we wanted, we had everything we needed: it was just up to us.
To learn more about opportunities at Google for students in Latin America, visit google.com/students/latam.
Posted by Jessica Safir, Tech University Programs
========================================
Los académicos de Latinoamérica reflexionan sobre sus experiencias en el Encuentro de Google Académico
Cada verano, somos anfitriones de un Encuentro de Académicos en el que se invita a los becarios de Google a una de nuestras oficinas para celebrar sus logros, interactuar con otros académicos y participar en presentaciones realizadas por los ingenieros de Google. Además de invitar a los académicos de universidades de los EE. UU. y Canadá, este año también invitamos a nuestros becarios de Latinoamérica. Hablamos con tres de ellos para que puedan compartir sus experiencias.
¡Gracias por estar con nosotros! ¿Desean presentarse?
Daniel
: Mi nombre es Daniel y estudio ingeniería en informática en la Universidad de Santiago, en Chile.
María
: Soy María y estudio ingeniería del software en el Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires, en Argentina.
Fernando
: Soy Fernando y estudio ingeniería de sistemas y computación en la Universidad de los Andes, en Colombia.
¿Por qué no nos cuentan un poco sobre el Encuentro de Académicos de Latinoamérica? ¿Cómo fue?
Fernando
: Antes del Encuentro de Académicos de Google en la Ciudad de Nueva York, invitaron a los académicos de Latinoamérica a una “mini cumbre”. Había 13 estudiantes de Chile, Colombia y Argentina y, debo decir, fue una gran experiencia en humildad. Conocí a fundadores de emprendimientos, hackers, músicos, ex jugadores profesionales de fútbol y habilidosos ingenieros que escriben increíbles programas.
María
: Comenzamos el día desayunando y, luego, participamos de una búsqueda del tesoro por el centro de la ciudad, resolviendo acertijos en equipos y visitando lugares como el Rockefeller Center, la Catedral de St. Patrick y el Central Park.
Daniel
: Luego hicimos un recorrido por la oficina de Google de NYC. Fue realmente espectacular poder ver en persona que todo lo que se dice sobre la “metodología de trabajo de Google” es cierto: la atmósfera es relajada, hay comida gratis en todos lados y el espacio de oficina está distribuido en forma muy ingeniosa. Muchos de nosotros dijimos: “¡Saben exáctamente cómo mantener felices a los desarrolladores!”. Además del recorrido por la oficina, la mini cumbre incluyó sesiones sobre cómo mejorar nuestros currículum y un panel de carreras con ingenieros y pasantes de Google que fue increíblemente motivador. Hablaron sobre el trabajo y el crecimiento profesional y personal que experimentaron. Fue excelente escuchar de su boca lo que hicieron y cómo llegaron a Google.
¿Cómo fue su experiencia una vez que comenzó oficialmente el Encuentro de Académicos?
Daniel:
Después de la mini cumbre, comenzó oficialmente el Encuentro de Académicos de Google. ¡Estábamos con todos los becarios de Google de Norteamérica! Dejamos de lado el idioma español y comenzamos a hablar en inglés.
Maria
: El orador de bienvenida, Alfred Spector, nos dio un consejo sincero sobre cómo enfrentar nuestras carreras. Más adelante, tomamos una “Prueba de personalidad de verdaderos colores” que nos ayudó a conocernos mejor, a ser conscientes de nuestras fortalezas y debilidades. Luego, nos reunimos con más académicos del mismo color, nos reímos de nuestras debilidades y nos dimos cuenta de que podíamos complementarlas con las habilidades de otras personas.
¡Y eso solo fue el primer día! ¿Qué actividades realizaron en el segundo día?
María:
El segundo día comenzó con una charla dada por un Googler sobre cómo Google puede luchar contra problemas reales de la sociedad, como el tráfico de personas. Siempre me preocuparon este tipo de asuntos, así que cuando comenzó la charla no pude más que maravillarme ante el mundo que se abrió ante mis ojos en menos de una hora. Me sorprendió la diversidad de Google y como eso ayuda a ver cosas que no podríamos detectar en otros contextos, como dijo unas horas más tarde un Googler del panel de carreras.
Daniel:
Una de las actividades que más disfruté el segundo día fue el taller de entrevistas técnicas. Simulamos una entrevista técnica real en la que nos dividimos en grupos de cuatro o cinco personas acompañadas por un Googler. Trabajamos en pizarras resolviendo problemas algorítmicos típicos de las entrevistas. Hicimos lo mejor que pudimos para encontrar una solución aceptable y aprendimos mucho acerca de qué buscan los ingenieros cuando entrevistan a candidatos.
Pero eso no fue todo, ¿cierto?
Daniel:
¡No! El viernes participamos en “24 Hours of Good”, un hackatón que se enfoca en proporcionar soporte para varias fundaciones. Fue muy divertido y motivador trabajar con personas tan excepcionales. Como resultado de esta sesión generamos muy buenos proyectos y nos divertimos mucho. ¡Me fui a acostar con la satisfacción de saber que hice algo para ayudar!
Si pudieran elegir una cosa para contarnos que hayan aprendido en el Encuentro de Académicos, ¿cuál sería?
Fernando
: Una de las mejores cosas, para mí, fue darme cuenta de cuánto te motiva Google a pensar en grande. Los ingenieros y pasantes que conocimos estaban creando códigos que afectan a millones, miles de millones de personas. Uno realmente tiene que resolver problemas grandes, y eso significa encontrar soluciones ingeniosas. También significa que los usuarios utilizan diferentes idiomas y provienen de diferentes trasfondos culturales, así que uno debe tener una mentalidad global.
Daniel:
Lo que aprendí de esta experiencia es que si amas algo, debes hacerlo con pasión. El resto llegará solo.
María:
Me gustaría compartir una reflexión final que se cruzó por mi mente durante “24 Hours of Good”, cuando mi grupo y yo estábamos en silencio, creando códigos en nuestras laptops e intentando resolver problemas aparentemente “imposibles” solo unas horas antes del plazo final. En ese momento de silencio, lo único que se podía escuchar eran las risas de otros académicos. Eso significa “cero estrés”, las personas lo estaban disfrutando y se divertían. De hecho, nuestro grupo estaba relajado a pesar de tener que resolver muchas cosas en tan poco tiempo. Estábamos felices, unidos y motivados sabiendo que podíamos hacer lo que quisiéramos, teníamos todo lo necesario: solo dependía de nosotros.
Para obtener más información sobre las oportunidades que Google ofrece a estudiantes de Latinoamérica, visita google.com/students/latam.
Publicado por Jessica Safir, Tech University Programs
Congratulations to the 2013 Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholars in Asia-Pacific
October 1, 2013
Dr. Anita Borg believed that technology affects all aspects of our economic, political, social and personal lives. A technology rebel with a cause, in her life she fought tirelessly to ensure that technology’s impact would be a positive one and passionately believed in working for greater representation of technical women.
As part of Google’s ongoing commitment to further Anita Borg’s vision to revolutionize the way we think about technology and dismantle barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields, we are excited to recognize and congratulate the 92 Google Anita Borg Memorial Asia-Pacific scholars for 2013. The full list of scholars can be
found here
.
This year, we were thrilled to have scholars and finalists across APAC join us at Google Sydney and Google Beijing for a retreat consisting of workshops, technical talks, panel discussions, a hackathon and lots of networking opportunities.
We invited 3 scholars to share their excitement.
Hyesoo An
Rijurekha Sen
Luyi Mo
Sookmyung Women’s University
Indian Institute Of Technology, Bombay
The University of Hong Kong
BS in Computer Science
PhD in Computer Engineering
PhD in Computer Science
What was your motivation for applying for the Google Anita Borg Scholarship?
Hyesoo:
After I read the summary of Dr. Anita Borg’s life, I felt for the first time in my life as if I had found someone who had the same enthusiasm in computer science as I do. I was nervous about applying for a global scholarship. However, I decided to do my best because I was sure that whatever the outcome I would learn and grow in the process.
Luyi:
I was excited to see the Anita Borg scholarship acknowledge female students’ outstanding performance in technology development and I was very passionate in research and technology in computer science.
In your opinion, what is the highlight of being a Google Anita Borg Scholar?
Hyesoo:
For me, it is the opportunity to go on a retreat where I met female students and Google Engineers from around the globe and share each other’s enthusiasm and interest in computer science.
Rijurekha:
After listening to the speakers at Anita Borg retreat, the power of “applied algorithms” and “applied machine learning” overwhelmed me. Good theory, coupled with careful system implementation, can create a huge impact. The highlight of being a Google Anita Borg scholar is a new realization that systems are good, but to make it great I need to couple it with good theory.
Share with us your “magic moments” at the retreat.
Luyi:
I like the technical talks given at the retreat as it covers various projects that Google was working on these years. I was also impressed with their catchphrase, “do cool things that matter”. Keeping this in mind, I believe that with upcoming and new technologies we will be able to contribute and make our world a smarter and better place.
Rijurekha:
The maps and search talks did a nice job of outlining the core algorithmic and systems challenges in both the areas, defined the main sub-problems and gave fairly intuitive ideas about how Google goes about solving them. Complex dynamic graph algorithms or 3D point cloud vision algorithms working at that scale at that speed, simply blew my mind away by the sheer beauty and power of computer science theory and computer systems working together hand-in-hand.
In what way has the scholarship had an impact on you and your future in technology?
Rijurekha:
The interaction with the Googlers during the retreat has definitely boosted my positive energy manifold. When a senior Googler with a PhD, smiles mischievously and says “drinking from the firehose (a common phrase to describe information overload at Google) is great, because there is so much more opportunity to learn”, that really inspires me. It is so easy to get into our own comfort zone and stagnate, so contrary examples like this Googler inspires a lot.
Luyi:
After meeting with so many talented female students and successful female engineers in Google, I’m confident that, as females, we can also do things that matter and lead the technology development of the world.
Any advice for students who are keen to become our next Anita Borg scholars?
Luyi:
Be passionate in technology and put your mind to being a leader in technology development.
Hyesoo:
Don't lose faith in your enthusiasm but rather challenge yourself by applying for this scholarship.
What are your next steps?
Hyesoo:
I’m planning to apply for a Google internship position after I develop a higher level of programming language and algorithm skills. I will also continue working on the brainwave research which I’m doing personally and will keep challenging myself by becoming involved in various interesting projects on my own before I become an actual engineer.
Rijurekha:
I am open to both academic and industrial job positions in the future, the foremost preference being to be with excited people in energetic work environments. And changes, with no comfort zone and no stagnation are welcome.
Applications for APAC 2014 Anita Borg Scholarship will open in early 2014. For more updates please follow us on the
Google Students Blog
.
Cheryl Tang, APAC Tech Staffing Programs
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