25 Software Engineering Programs for Underclassmen
Software engineering can be competitive, which is why you should take every opportunity to stand out and gain experience! We'll cover the top 25 SWE programs for underclassmen and tips to nail the application process.
Who is This Guide For?
This guide is for freshmen and sophomore college students interested in pursuing a career in software engineering. Whether you’re exploring the tech industry, and completely new, or building on existing coding experience, these software engineering programs offer the early opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop crucial technical skills, and get an early edge on securing a junior year internship or full-time offer.
| Company | Program Name | Link to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Uber | UberSTAR Program | Apply Here |
| Citadel | Launch | Apply Here |
| Duolingo | Thrive Program | Apply Here |
| Microsoft | Explore Internship | Apply Here |
| STEP Internship | Apply Here | |
| Summer of Code | Apply Here | |
| Meta | University | Apply Here |
| NVIDIA | Ignite Internship | Apply Here |
| Activision Blizzard King | SPARX Sophomore Program | Apply Here |
| Amazon | Propel Program | Apply Here |
| Bank of America | Global Technology Sophomore Summer Analyst | Apply Here |
| Outreachy | Remote Internship | Apply Here |
| Credit Suisse | Diversity Advancement Program | Apply Here |
| Coding it Forward | Digital Fellowship | Apply Here |
| IBM | Accelerate Summer Program | Apply Here |
| Jane Street | First-Year Trading & Technology Program (FTTP) | Apply Here |
| Jane Street | Immersion Program (JSIP) | Apply Here |
| Salesforce | Futureforce Tech Launchpad | Apply Here |
| Two Sigma | College Mentor Connect | Apply Here |
| Accenture | Student Leadership Program | Apply Here |
| Accenture | Level Up | Apply Here |
| Accenture | Elevate to Innovate Externship | Apply Here |
| Adobe | Digital Academy | Apply Here |
| Cognizant | Leadership Summit | Apply Here |
| Snap | Summer Internship Program | Apply Here |
Why Software Engineering (SWE)?
- High Earning Potential: Entry level software engineers can earn $100k - $150k total yearly at top tech companies, with the potential to climb to $300k+ after a few years of experience.
- Rapid Skill Development: You’ll quickly grow in areas like programming, problem solving, and system design. Software engineering is quick, giving you ample opportunities for practical application.
- Emerging Tech Landscape: Software engineering places you in an environment that implements the latest tech trends and state-of-the-art innovations. If you want to have an early understanding of what is happening within the tech space, SWE could be a great fit!
- Career Growth Opportunities: Software engineering can pave the way to senior engineering roles, technical leadership, software architecture, and entrepreneurship.
Activision Blizzard King SPARX Sophomore Program
An internship for early-career students, offering exposure to various aspects of the gaming industry through hands-on work and professional development sessions.
Application Window: Typically opens in late fall or early winter (November–December) and closes by early spring (February–March).
Application Link: Apply Here
Amazon Propel Program
A 12-week program for students interested in software development, featuring a 2-week SDE boot camp followed by 10 weeks of technical projects with mentorship.
Application Window: Applications usually open in the fall (October–November) and close by January–February.
Application Link: Apply Here
Bank of America Global Technology Sophomore Summer Analyst
An opportunity in Global Technology & Operations to work on critical systems across various financial segments.
Application Window: Opens in fall (September–October) and closes by January.
Application Link: Apply Here
Citadel Launch
An 11-week paid internship for sophomore engineers to learn about finance, collaborate on impactful projects, and network with industry professionals.
Application Window: Typically opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Duolingo Thrive Program
An 8-week summer internship for second-year students from underrepresented communities to develop technical skills at Duolingo.
Application Window: Generally opens in the fall (October–November) and closes by early spring (February–March).
Application Link: Apply Here
Explore Microsoft Internship
A 12-week program for first and second-year students to experience the product development cycle, focusing on design, build, and quality phases.
Application Window: Applications open in fall (September–October) and close by December–January.
Application Link: Apply Here
Google STEP Internship
A 12-week internship for first and second-year undergraduates, emphasizing development opportunities for students from underrepresented groups in tech.
Application Window: Opens in the fall (September–November) and closes by December
Application Link: Apply Here
Google Summer of Code
A global program introducing students to open source software development through a 10-week programming project with an open source organization.
Application Window: The application window typically opens in March and closes in April.
Application Link: Apply Here
Meta University
An 8-week immersive internship for students from underrepresented communities, offering roles in engineering, analytics, product design, operations, and sales.
Application Window: Usually opens in the fall (September–November) and closes by early spring (February–March).
Application Link: Apply Here
NVIDIA Ignite Internship
A 12-week program for first and second-year undergraduates from historically underrepresented communities, providing exposure to various areas including engineering and business.
Application Window: Generally opens in fall (October–November) and closes by January.
Application Link: Apply Here
Outreachy
A paid, remote internship program supporting people from underrepresented groups in tech, offering projects in programming, UX, documentation, design, and data science.
Application Window: Opens in spring (March) and closes in May, with a second round opening in late summer (August).
Application Link: Apply Here
UberSTAR Program
A 12-week summer internship for freshmen and sophomore students in STEM fields, with opportunities in Software Engineering, Freight, Strategic Finance, and Sales.
Application Window: Opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by early spring (February–March).
Application Link: Apply Here
Credit Suisse Diversity Advancement Program
Introduces first and second-year students to the financial services industry, offering training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Application Window: Typically opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Coding it Forward Digital Fellowship
A 10-week summer fellowship for early-career technologists to work on software engineering, data, design, and product management in government roles.
Application Window: Usually opens in fall (September–October) and closes by January.
Application Link: Apply Here
IBM Accelerate Summer Program
An 8-week virtual program helping high-potential undergraduates build skills, grow their network, and prepare for future internships and employment.
Application Window: Opens in winter (January–February) and closes by March.
Application Link: Apply Here
Jane Street First-Year Trading & Technology Program (FTTP)
A multi-day program for first-year undergraduates to learn about Jane Street's trading and technology models through classes and simulations.
Application Window: Opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by November.
Application Link: Apply Here
Jane Street Immersion Program (JSIP)
A multi-week summer program in New York City for undergraduates between their first and second years, focusing on developing programming skills.
Application Window: Typically opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Salesforce Futureforce Tech Launchpad
A pre-internship program for sophomores combining full-stack web development training with 1:1 mentorship to prepare students for internships.
Application Window: Opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by December–January.
Application Link: Apply Here
Two Sigma College Mentor Connect
A summer mentorship program pairing first-year undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups with Two Sigma tech professionals on open source projects.
Application Window: Typically opens in fall (September–October) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Accenture Student Leadership Program
A program designed for students interested in developing leadership skills through workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities with Accenture professionals.
Application Window: Opens in the fall (September–November) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Accenture Level Up
A career readiness program for students from diverse backgrounds, offering training in resume building, interview preparation, and professional etiquette to help them succeed in the job market.
Application Window: Usually opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Accenture Elevate to Innovate Externship
A virtual program for students to explore Accenture’s innovative approaches to engineering and technology. Participants engage in case studies, skills workshops, and interactive sessions with industry leaders.
Application Window: Opens in the fall (September–November) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
Adobe Digital Academy
A career pivot program offering scholarships and internships for individuals from non-traditional tech backgrounds. It provides training and experience in roles like UX design, software engineering, and data science.
Application Window: Opens in spring (March–April) and closes by June.
Application Link: Apply Here
Snap Engineering Academy
A hands-on internship program for first and second-year students from underrepresented backgrounds. It offers exposure to software engineering at Snap, where participants can gain real-world experience, collaborate on technical projects, and develop valuable skills in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Application Window: Typically opens in the winter (January–February) and closes by March.
Application Link: Apply Here
Cognizant Leadership Summit
A multi-day event for high-achieving college students to explore careers in engineering and technology. Participants engage in interactive workshops, networking, and leadership development sessions with Cognizant executives.
Application Window: Typically opens in the fall (September–October) and closes by December.
Application Link: Apply Here
How Should I Prepare for the Application Process?
To have successful applications, you'll want to be intentional by tailoring your resume and preparing for potential virtual interviews:
Research the company: By doing coffee chats or general research online, learn about any recent products or initiatives announced by the company.
Prepare behavioral answers: Be ready to discuss your leadership experiences, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and any other traits that are important to the firm. You can use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for impactful answers.
To read all of our tips on some of the most common behavioral interview questions and how to answer them, go here!
Tailor your resume: Tech companies love seeing quantified impact, and one popular resume format (first popularized by Google) is the X-Y-Z resume format.
Get Started with Simplify Today
Exploring early SWE programs is an incredible way to build awareness of software engineering, develop your programming skills, and build a strong foundation for long-term career growth. Many top tech companies offer these programs to connect you early on and accelerate your learning.
One drawback to the tech recruiting process is its length—like most internship roles, tech applications are long, and ask for information you've probably entered 100+ times while applying to different roles. Don't worry though, we've got your back – save some time with our free browser extension, which helps you autofill your applications (Salesforce and 100,000+ other roles). Best of luck with the job search!