For computer scientists, there is no shortage of volunteer opportunities available. Some opportunities involve teaching computer skills to students, while others involve working with engineers to develop solutions to real world problems. Regardless, all volunteer jobs give you the opportunity to work on projects before you enter the job market. With a Nepal volunteering stint, for example, you can teach computer science principles to students in a developing country. This experience is invaluable if you are planning on going into a career in computer science education.
Computer science students have the opportunity to attend many symposia and conferences. Computer scientists work on very challenging problems and are often called upon to provide advice to policymakers and scientists who need information on technical feasibility. These conferences are usually held once a year. The Scandinavian Conference on Artificial Intelligence, for example, is a several day event held once a year in which engineers discuss emerging new developments in computational intelligence. Many of the topics discussed at these symposia overlap with engineering topics.
There are many international competitions that give computer scientists the chance to test their work out against their peers. These competitions may involve the design and implementation of software or artificial intelligence. Ohio's ION Autonomous Lawn Mower Competition, for example, challenges computer scientists and engineers to create a lawn mower that can operate without the help of a human driver. This contest encourages interdisciplinary college teams composed of computer scientists and engineers.
Academic societies and clubs have weekly meetings for members of the same faculty. At these meetings, members network and plan events. Computer science clubs and societies may plan speaking events where a prominent engineer is invited to the event to discuss his profession. Clubs also plan social events like mixers or cocktail parties intended to encourage social and professional networking. Involvement in a club at the management level looks good on a resume as it shows a willingness to lead.