SWE Internship Survival Guide [Part 3] - Do Your Research

Preparing before your internship starts can dramatically boost your success and confidence. Here are the core points from this lesson:

• Do early research to understand your team, tech stack, workflow, and company culture so you can hit the ground running
• Gather information in two key areas: the day-to-day process (tools, tech, work style) and desired outcomes (like return offer criteria and evaluation timelines)
• Use sources like your future manager, forums, and most importantly, upperclassmen who’ve done similar internships—they’ll offer the most candid, balanced insights
• Ask thoughtful questions to get meaningful answers (e.g., “What do you wish you had known at the start?” instead of “Did you like it?”)
• Even learning small details—like which version control system is used—can give you a valuable head start and make your first week much smoother

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