Hello! Today, I’ll guide you through the Outreachy application process, from the initial application to submitting your final one. If you’re here, I assume you’ve visited the Outreachy website and need some insider tips and insights, which is what I’ll provide, along with a simplified summary of everything you need for the application, based on my experience as a current applicant in the contribution stage.

However, I strongly recommend that you get familiar with Outreachy first by going through their website and applicant guide if you haven’t already. You can find the link here: https://www.outreachy.org/docs/applicant/

Now, let’s dive into my guide. I’ll cover the following:

• Eligibility
• Initial Application
• Selecting Projects for Contributions
• The Contribution Period
• The Final Application

Eligibility:

Before anything else, let’s consider eligibility. The primary mission of the Outreachy internship is to support individuals who are underrepresented in the tech industry. So, think about how you have been or are likely to be discriminated against in the tech ecosystem where you live. If you can relate, then you’re one big step closer to being eligible. The other eligibility criteria are:

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• The Outreachy internship is a full-time commitment requiring at least 30 hours per week, so you must be available.
• You must not have been a previous Outreachy intern, a Google Summer of Code intern, or an Outreach Program for Women intern.

After checking that you meet these criteria, let’s move on to the initial application.

Initial Application:

Outreachy has two internship rounds each year: the May cohort and the December cohort. Whichever one you’re applying for, make sure to keep up with the timelines on the Outreachy website so you don’t miss any deadlines. We don’t want that!

Secondly, while Outreachy mentions that they review all applications, it’s still on a first-come, first-served basis. So, I advise you not to wait until the last minute to submit your application. This isn’t to say you should rush and not vet your application thoroughly.

Now, let’s talk about the actual process of filling out the initial application form. Outreachy asks you to write four short essays, each with a 200-word limit (roughly two paragraphs). Don’t worry about the word “essay” – it’s not as daunting as it sounds. You don’t have to be an English guru either, as they’re not evaluating your language proficiency. Just focus on sharing your experiences and how you have faced or are likely to face discrimination.

These are the questions you’ll have to answer:

1. Are you part of an underrepresented group (in the technology industry of the country listed above)? How are you underrepresented?
2. What systemic bias or discrimination would you face if you applied for a job in the technology industry of your country?
3. Does your learning environment have few people who share your identity or background? Please provide details.
4. What systemic bias or discrimination have you faced while building your skills?

If you’re having trouble deciding where to start, consider how factors like your age, body size, caste, disabilities, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, and sexual identity and orientation impact your chances in the tech space where you live. Talk about your experiences related to a few of these these factors.

I have to emphasize that this is not the place to discuss your technical skills, accomplishments, resume, or stack. You may have the opportunity to showcase your expertise further along in the application process. For now, focus on why you should be considered based on the factors that make you underrepresented.

After submitting your initial application, you’ll wait for an email confirming its approval. There is usually a stipulated date for this.

While waiting for the email, familiarize yourself with open-source and what contributing entails. Outreachy has some resources for that here: https://www.outreachy.org/docs/applicant/#application-prep

While it is very advisable to go through these resources, it’s not absolutely compulsory. So, if you receive the email and haven’t gone through all the materials, don’t worry – you’ve got this!

Selecting Projects for Contributions:

Take a deep breath. You may feel overwhelmed by the information overload and the variety of choices, or you may see many options but only a few that seem familiar to you. Whatever the case, don’t worry – this guide will help you navigate the process.

Don’t rush into picking a project. You can dedicate the first day or two after receiving the email to go through the available projects one by one. From my experience, as long as you give your best effort during the contribution stage, you won’t be left behind. Taking the time to review the options and narrow them down will help you stay focused during the contribution period.

Here’s the link for project selection: https://www.outreachy.org/apply/project-selection/

You don’t need to have all the listed skills for a project before you can apply to contribute. Once you have the required skill and maybe one or two preferred skills, you’re good to go. You’ll figure out the rest as you go.

I recommend picking a maximum of two projects. You can join three or four projects to get a feel for them during the first two days if you’re unable to narrow down your choice completely. However, after you’ve made your final decision on which project(s) you’ll be contributing to, leave the other platforms.

The Contribution Period:

After selecting your project(s), go to the project details page, find the link to the work environment that project uses, join, and introduce yourself to the mentors and other contributors and applicants. This is where you’ll receive tasks or issues to work on. The frequency, type, and expectations will differ from project to project, but the general idea is that the mentors will provide a list of tasks that need to be completed, and you’ll work on them. That’s your contribution.

For every successful task you complete, go to the Outreachy website, the same page where you selected your project, locate the project you’re contributing to, and click on it. You’ll see a button that says “Record a contribution” – click on it and fill in the information about the contribution you made. After adding your first contributions, you can easily locate them by clicking on the “My participation” tab on your Outreachy dashboard.

The Final Application:

The only way to submit a final application for a project is to record at least one contribution to that project.

To submit your final application, click on the link that says “Edit or create a final application” on your contribution page. Then, click on the button that says “Apply for This Project.” Fill in the application and click “submit” when you’re done. As mentioned earlier, please be conscious of deadlines.

I wish you the absolute best in your Outreachy application and your tech journey