[mistermann]

These days, if all you have to show is good grades, I don't think you're going to achieve the immediate success you are seeking.

You see, as the parent post stated, there are young kids who are knocking balls out of the park, so to speak, in the actual real world of open source. These are the people you are competing against. If it is your perfect marks in school vs someone that is pumping out good code on a real-world open source project, and (perhaps in an interview) you give me any sort of a feeling that you don't respect his work, or consider it not particularly relevant, I would send you packing in a heartbeat.

I think you are missing the most important point, massively.

[Absolute0]

Again you miss my point. Consider Machine Learning. There is an amazing open source software called as WEKA. however contributing to WEKA isn't as much significant as say presenting a significant work in ICML or NIPS or writing a paper in JMLR.

Open Source is amazing for programmers, but for someone who wants to develop say a novel recommendation system or special Computer Vision algorithm. Open Source participation is secondary. Also in many case ML algorithms tend to be trivial in their implementation.

Also my time is limited, I could try getting involved in Weka and implement recently discovered algorithms in it Or I can read papers, explore different datasets and try to come up with new ideas. Second case makes more sense to me.

All I am saying is that it makes more sense for me to display my capabilities in developing better algorithms rather than ironing out their implementations.

[starkfist]

Well, if his dream really is to work for McKinsey, he's right... they care more about grades then they do about open source contributions. However, given his preferred career path I don't know why he's studying computer science at all. He should be studying economics and finance.

[Absolute0]

Thats exactly my problem, I cant start studying economics and finance right away due to financial/immigration reasons. Additionally I do believe I have acquired some skills over last few years in specific areas within cs. I am trying to explore option which would allow me apply those skills for next few years after which I can join a good business school. Certain jobs [Including startup] tend to be favorable if one is planning for business school later in life. I am trying to find those options.

[ig1]

McKinsey/BCG/etc don't just hire "economics and finance" students (neither do the banks), that's just an urban myth. CS is fine for both, you do need relevant work experience + a good uni though.

[starkfist]

Right, but why bother with CS if you don't need it and don't want to do it anyway?