ByteBods, Washburn University’s computing organization, hosted an internship panel discussion on Nov. 17 in Stauffer 311. The event drew a room full of students, both computer information sciences majors and students from other disciplines to hear practical advice about landing internships. 

The panel featured multiple interns from different companies and areas of tech. They shared how they found their internships, the skills they needed, the challenges they faced during interviews and the mistakes they learned from.

Sapnish Sharma, senior CIS major, captured the emotional reality of the internship search with striking honesty. He explained that students should prepare for long stretches of silence and rejection, not because they aren’t capable, but because the process itself is unpredictable.

“Apply 200 plus applications [and] expect nothing,” Sharma said.

Smera Shrestha, ByteBods vice president, said the idea for the panel came naturally after the organization’s earlier resume building event.

“That first event… led into this,” Shrestha said. “We wanted something where students could hear the real stories [about internships], how they applied, what they learned and the small things no one tells you.”

ByteBods is currently in the process of becoming an official ACM chapter and hopes to expand student participation next semester.

“We would like more participation,” Shrestha said. “We’re doing more events, and we’re trying our best to make it into an active organization.”

Pizza and drinks added to the welcoming atmosphere as students settled in for an hour-long conversation filled with candid stories, useful tips and honest reflections from Washburn interns.

As ByteBods continues its efforts to engage students, events like the internship panel highlight the value of peer-to-peer learning. Students not only received actionable advice but also saw how their classmates navigated the same challenges they will soon face.

Edited by Bidhya Sapkota and Stuti Khadka