January 14, 2025
Credited as the largest student organization on campus, the Computer Science Club (CSC) was founded in 2014 and began as a small group of students meeting in Sennott Square. Back then, it was just a handful of members hanging out and occasionally eating pizza - if they could afford it. Since then, CSC has grown significantly, now boasting over 750 active members, with about 90% from the School of Computing and Information (SCI). CSC remains inclusive, actively engaging students from various disciplines. Events like resume reviews and introductory Python nights attract not just SCI students but also those studying business, finance, and other fields, highlighting the club’s commitment to making computer science accessible to all.
Nij Patel (SCI ’25), the current president of CSC, joined the organization in his first semester of freshman year.
“I've always been a strong student, but I'm the type of person that doesn't really thrive in a hyper competitive environment. I prefer a more collaborative, uplifting atmosphere.”
Patel has been a high achieving student since high school - president of his CS club, Science Olympiad, and VP of UNICEF - he has brought a wealth of leadership experience to Pitt. Fueled by earning the Chancellor's Scholarship, his drive to improve himself made CSC the perfect foundation to make a significant impact.
“Being the president of my high school CS club didn’t involve much. But now, leading a club with 750 active members, there’s so much more to do and achieve,” said Patel.
In 2021, CSC was already the largest tech club on campus, where meeting attendance had numbers of 20-100 active members. During Patel’s time as president, the club has expanded its influence drastically:
- 7x corporate sponsorship growth
- 3x average meeting attendance
- 3x unique club members
In addition, CSC has significantly revamped professional development and mentorship initiatives that have expanded the community. Fireside Chats bring inspiring professionals from across the U.S. to engage with students in an intimate, conversational setting. Guests like Jeff Nguyen, founder of the nonprofit BobaTalks, and Varun Rana, a tech-focused satirical TikToker, have shared their unique journeys, career insights, and personal stories, making these events both enlightening and approachable. Additionally, the Zero to Offer series guides students to securing their first internship offer. With resume workshops, technical interview training, and visits to Google Pittsburgh and Dick's Sporting Goods, the series combines peer-led support with professional insights to help students achieve their career goals. Together, these initiatives exemplify CSC’s mission to build a vibrant, supportive, and career-focused community.
“Even though the Zero to Offer series was wrapped up in September, our professional development is never over.”
Patel’s personal experience in CSC’s peer mentorship program, combined with his participation in Zero to Offer, helped him secure a software engineering internship at Fidelity Investments as a freshman, followed by positions at Prudential Financial and Appian in subsequent years. Beyond professional development, CSC provided Nij with a supportive community where he formed lasting friendships and connections. As president, Nij has made it his mission to replicate this success for other students, helping many freshmen and sophomores, including those with no prior experience, secure internships at top companies like Meta and Roblox.
“I'm sure I would have been able to succeed if the club didn't exist, but definitely not to this extent,” Patel acknowledged.
Online and Offline Success
CSC has made an impact in more aspects than expected, with their Instagram gaining around 12,000 followers, and reaching 80 million accounts, showcasing the club's achievements to audiences globally. This visibility has even prompted other universities to reach out and learn the secret to CSC’s success. For example, a Penn State student, impressed by the club’s events, contacted CSC’s leadership directly to seek advice on creating a similar organization at their school. Additionally, leaders from Carnegie Mellon University’s UX Club attended a CSC Fireside Chat and praised it as the best they had ever seen, despite CMU’s history of hosting high-profile speakers like the CEO of Google. Inspired by CSC at Pitt, one CMU student sought detailed guidance on founding a new women-focused product management club, incorporating CSC’s strategies into their plans. Similarly, students from the Universities of Maryland and Seattle have reached out after seeing CSC’s online presence on platforms like LinkedIn, underscoring the club’s growing national influence and its role as a model for innovation in student organizations.
“None of us are being paid; rather we feel paid within the enrichment we get from creating the value in the club.”
This online and offline success is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of the CSC board members, whose passion and teamwork have been integral to the club’s rapid growth. The board, including Patel and other officers, is incredibly effective, playing a crucial role in driving the club’s success:
- Julian Alamo-Rosas, Vice President
- Quentin Romero Lauro, Business Manager
- Morgan Engel, Director of Initiatives
- Shreyash Ranjan, Events Coordinator
- Delaney Scheidell, Public Relations Manager
- Insiah Kizilbash, Sponsorship Chair
- Jeremy Luu, Media Initiative Lead
The Future of CSC
As the spring semester of 2025 begins, CSC has some incredibly exciting and innovative initiatives planned to further elevate the club’s impact at Pitt. For the first time, Patel and his team have the flexibility to introduce new programs and events.
One of the key initiatives Patel is spearheading is a new collaboration with the Department of Computer Science, involving meetings with Dr. Kovashka and Dr. Garrison to launch a research-focused program, similar to Zero to Offer, but tailored for students interested in research positions. By partnering with faculty members, this initiative aims to provide students with direct access to research opportunities, helping them to find roles with professors interested in mentoring undergraduates.
In addition, the “Launch Pad” program is designed to help students, starting from their first year, build practical skills in areas like web development, cloud computing, and version control. The program will feature workshops led by young alumni and professionals, offering hands-on experiences in building real products, which will be followed by a pitch competition, where they will present their creations to a panel of professors and judges. The winning teams will receive the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the Randall Cup startup incubator, potentially launching them into the startup world.
CSC also plans to continue fostering a vibrant and inclusive community through social events, guest speakers, and fun activities that connect students with each other and with faculty. One such event, the “Meet the Professors” night, will allow students to relax and connect with their professors outside of the classroom in a casual setting. Additionally, the club will launch a consulting group, giving students the opportunity to work on real-world projects for companies, from small startups to Fortune 500 clients, gaining valuable experience that could lead to internships and career opportunities.
With a wide range of new initiatives on the horizon, Patel is determined to make the upcoming semester the best one yet. The future looks incredibly bright for CSC, and the club is poised for even greater success in the months to come, saying “I say what I believe and I really believe it, this is gonna be the best semester yet!”