u/Tiny_Feedback2086

I started coding with just html, later discovered the thing ai coding , vibe coding agentic coding stuff. Tried to make a bigger project it sucks. Now vibe coding developed even better, people write several .md files to guide agent to do the work. But I was still ignoring it thinking why should recruiter hire non technical vibe coder than a technical guy. Cause a technical guy can easily vibe code.

Then recently I attended a mlh fellowship interview, I said the same thing. I am currently trying to avoid ai (agents ) for learning purpose just using ai for debugging , planning , guidence , testing codes. But the hr didn’t seems to be interested , she also asked technical questions like explain cascade delete all, I explained them well , but she mostly wanted to know show where you used ai. She wanted to know how I am using ai. Also in the rejection letter , it mentioned make complex projects. Assuming mine was a traditional SaaS project without any agentic coding.

So for my next interview preparation, what should I focus on? Those .md files for agents and write architecture there? Write several docs as par code? Don’t waste time on manual coding make big projects with agents ? No more SaaS , show them what I got with PaaS ?

Also I was about to start leetcode when I start college probably this January. Is grinding leetcode even worth it?

I saw a girl on LinkedIn , who got into Google twice first sophomore intern maybe STEP then 4th year or graduate intern. Then started a startup.

However I am starting my college in CCNY this spring . How should I proceed for faang step style sophomore internship.

My current technical knowledge:

Frontend - next js , tailwind
Backend - flask , FastAPI , Postgres , redis , websocket etc
Project - have a crud style domain hosted project. Have other small projects hosted.

Now doing SQL50 getting started with leetcode.

Before touching DSA I was planning to learn testing , monitoring then make neat architectural bug project. Also was thinking before college if get chance will learn aws if possible and try for the solution architect for resume. Then during college will focus on GPA , hackathons , Leetcode.

Experienced who got into step style intern, please guide . Am I climbing the right ladder ?

Story:

Somebody in the future invented a time travel machine.

He went back to 1996. While living around tons of AGI running on local computers, he saw an old Microsoft browser and got an idea:

What if ChatGPT existed in 1996?

So he built it.

A retro chatbot from another timeline where people started using ChatGPT in 1996, while in our timeline we got it decades later.

Old internet UI.
Modern AI brain.
Pure timeline chaos.

Stack:
Next.js
Groq Console
gpt-oss-20B

GitHub:
https://github.com/nishchup489-afk/1996\_chatgpt

Curious how those timeline people are doing.

I currently work in a cafe at jfk which pays like 21.25$/h full time. My college is starting spring this year.

My long term goal is SWE , AIE, MLE

But during college I want my current job to be part time job, pays maybe 25$/h or 27$/h , cause I am switching to part time i need to balance it.

So how are IT supports job? Do they pay these much without college degree in NYC ? How hard to get in?

For your kind info: I already have technical knowledge. I do all troubleshooting myself. Then I am a developer , I make websites with FastAPI and NextJs, write Python scripts. Have some projects , one small startup just starting.

For a job without degree , in NYC I am not really confident. So how impactful are these certificates? :

- comptiaA+
- Google IT support specialization Coursera
- Google it automation with Python

Goal : just get a job. No career focus in this line.

I have 4 credits cards as a beginner. Chase freedom rise (1100) , capital one platinum (500) , discover (1000) , Amazon store card (1200)

Now with chase card.

So far I’ve been using the card like less than 10% , like maybe 70-80$. And auto pay full before due date. Mostly use my debit card.

Now discussing with ChatGPT says that , using debit cards not using credit cards will not gain me more credit score. So it gamme a hack , saying

My due date : 20th of each month
My statement date : 23rd of each month

Now bank just take a snapshot of my account at statement date to check my utilization.

So after 23rd , from 24th I can use as much as I want within my limit then pay full through auto payment at my due date 20th of the month.

Then spend a very little 10% till 23rd. So bank sees my statement as 10% utilization. And due time payment. Is it legit ?

I would be starting my college from spring 2027 with computer science major. Is there any specific requirements for laptop in ccny? If not which one is recommended?

I have a 5070 build at home for my coding works.

Now for college which one will be best? After admitting will I get any kind of discounts on buying so that I should buy after admitting?