7 answers
Tanvi
Student
2
Questions
Asked
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What computer science passion project should I do?
I am a junior in high school and want to do a passion project. I am interested in computer science and business as a career and my hobbies include reading, art/crafts, and crocheting (I'm still a beginner so I'm not that good at it + I've been taking a break because of school). What kind of passion projects should I do that will use these skills and look good on college applications? If they don't include my hobbies that's also okay but I want it to be related to mainly computer science.
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7 answers
David Daudelin
Software Engineering / Management
5
Answers
New Jersey, New Jersey
Updated
David’s Answer
Hey, the main way to maximize value on a project like this isn't so much what topic you choose to do it on (pick whatever you're most passionate about!) but rather if you actually go ahead and publish it. Highly recommend taking the extra step to publish a website you make (Vercel makes this insanely easy just by connecting to your Github repo and you can buy a cheap domain name to make it really official) or publishing an app to the App Store.
By having a live website/app it makes the work count for so much more - exponentially more if you then take it a step further and do a little marketing to get some users and then can list it on your resume as having cofounded that startup on the side.
By having a live website/app it makes the work count for so much more - exponentially more if you then take it a step further and do a little marketing to get some users and then can list it on your resume as having cofounded that startup on the side.
Thank you for the advice, David.
Tanvi
Vinay Venkatesh
Product Security Engineering
3
Answers
Hauppauge, New York
Updated
Vinay’s Answer
The beauty of computers and, by extension, computer science, is their universal application. They're used in every field imaginable. Your passion project can be a platform to apply computer science in a specific industry that you're passionate about.
When choosing a passion project, let your interests guide you. Your enthusiasm will be the fuel that drives your problem-solving abilities in your chosen field. Reflect on any personal challenges you've faced that could've been eased with an app or a solution. This could be the perfect starting point for your project.
Here's an example to inspire you, based on your interests:
1. Reading - Every dedicated reader could use a tool to manage their notes. There's a wealth of note-taking methods out there, and you can discover them through blogs, videos, and more. For instance, you could learn to use the Zettelkasten method to take notes and link them together, enabling you to perform intricate analyses on any topic you're reading about. This could range from a straightforward note-taking program to a sophisticated AI-powered analysis tool!
Pick an area of passion and a problem within it that you've personally encountered or wanted to solve.
When choosing a passion project, let your interests guide you. Your enthusiasm will be the fuel that drives your problem-solving abilities in your chosen field. Reflect on any personal challenges you've faced that could've been eased with an app or a solution. This could be the perfect starting point for your project.
Here's an example to inspire you, based on your interests:
1. Reading - Every dedicated reader could use a tool to manage their notes. There's a wealth of note-taking methods out there, and you can discover them through blogs, videos, and more. For instance, you could learn to use the Zettelkasten method to take notes and link them together, enabling you to perform intricate analyses on any topic you're reading about. This could range from a straightforward note-taking program to a sophisticated AI-powered analysis tool!
Vinay recommends the following next steps:
Thank you Vinay!
Tanvi
Eddy H
Consultant
27
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Eddy’s Answer
If you want to focus purely on computer science, a great passion project could involve developing a productivity or organizational tool for students. For instance, you could create a web or mobile app that helps students manage their schedules, track assignments, or plan group projects more efficiently. To stand out, you could incorporate features like an AI assistant for personalized study tips, visual data analytics to track progress, or a collaborative workspace for group tasks. This project would highlight your programming skills, ability to solve real-world problems, and understanding of user experience—all while appealing to both computer science and business interests. Additionally, you could make it open-source, allowing others to contribute and showcasing your teamwork and leadership skills, which would look excellent on college applications.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Tanvi
Teklemuz Tesfay
Web Developer
23
Answers
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz’s Answer
First of all, you should identify your passion project and pursue technical skills, learn programming languages, do personal projects, participate in workshops, and practical experience. Choose Passion project ideas wisely that align with your goals. Based on your interest here are some project ideas that you may be interested in:
Crochet Learning App/Website: Create an interactive platform to help beginners learn crochet, with tutorials, patterns, and a community.
Skills: Web/mobile development, UI/UX design.
Business: Monetize through premium features or selling supplies.
E-Commerce for Niche Hobbies: Build an e-commerce site for crafting or niche markets (like crochet).
Skills: Full-stack web development, business strategy.
Business: Sell products or offer personalized services.
Personal Finance App for Teens: Develop an app to help high schoolers manage budgets and savings.
Skills: Mobile development, data analysis.
Business: Monetize through ads or premium features.
Crochet Chatbot: Build a chatbot that guides users through crochet tips and patterns.
Skills: Chatbot development, NLP.
Business: Integrate with e-commerce or offer paid premium content.
Tech Blog/YouTube Channel: Create content about computer science, business, or tech, and monetize it.
Skills: Content creation, web development, video editing.
Business: Monetize through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate links.
Website for Local Artists: Design websites for local artists or small businesses, focusing on online presence.
Skills: Web development, client management.
Business: Charge for website services or add e-commerce features.
Inventory System for Small Businesses: Build an app to manage inventory for local craftspeople or small businesses.
Skills: Software development, database management.
Business: Offer as a service with a subscription model.
Interactive Art Gallery Website: Create a platform for digital or physical art, with interactive features.
Skills: Web development, 3D graphics.
Business: Sell artwork or offer features like paid exhibitions
Crochet Learning App/Website: Create an interactive platform to help beginners learn crochet, with tutorials, patterns, and a community.
Skills: Web/mobile development, UI/UX design.
Business: Monetize through premium features or selling supplies.
E-Commerce for Niche Hobbies: Build an e-commerce site for crafting or niche markets (like crochet).
Skills: Full-stack web development, business strategy.
Business: Sell products or offer personalized services.
Personal Finance App for Teens: Develop an app to help high schoolers manage budgets and savings.
Skills: Mobile development, data analysis.
Business: Monetize through ads or premium features.
Crochet Chatbot: Build a chatbot that guides users through crochet tips and patterns.
Skills: Chatbot development, NLP.
Business: Integrate with e-commerce or offer paid premium content.
Tech Blog/YouTube Channel: Create content about computer science, business, or tech, and monetize it.
Skills: Content creation, web development, video editing.
Business: Monetize through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate links.
Website for Local Artists: Design websites for local artists or small businesses, focusing on online presence.
Skills: Web development, client management.
Business: Charge for website services or add e-commerce features.
Inventory System for Small Businesses: Build an app to manage inventory for local craftspeople or small businesses.
Skills: Software development, database management.
Business: Offer as a service with a subscription model.
Interactive Art Gallery Website: Create a platform for digital or physical art, with interactive features.
Skills: Web development, 3D graphics.
Business: Sell artwork or offer features like paid exhibitions
This was super helpful, thank you!
Tanvi
James Patterson Wicks
Cyber Security Leader
14
Answers
West Orange, New Jersey
Updated
James Patterson’s Answer
Passion projects are a fantastic way to nurture your creativity, enhance your skills, foster personal growth, and achieve a sense of fulfillment. As a junior, you're already juggling a full academic load, so it's wise to choose a passion project that complements your studies and interests.
Taking into account previous suggestions, I propose you develop a crocheting tutorial app using platforms like ChatGPT and Canvas. This app could offer interactive guides, engaging videos, and vivid animations demonstrating crochet techniques for novices. You could also incorporate elements of gamification, such as rewarding achievements upon the completion of tutorials. As a budding business enthusiast, you can even monetize the app by selling crochet patterns that can help beginners like yourself to hone their skills. Not only will this app serve as a learning tool for users, but it will also provide you with a valuable opportunity to refine your programming skills.
Some may caution against using a ChatGPT/Canvas platform for beginners, citing valid concerns. As an educator and former developer, I believe it's important to strike a balance. While it's not ideal for a high school junior to stay up till 2:00 am debugging a passion project (a common scenario for novice computer scientists), it's also crucial to stay abreast of emerging trends. AI-assisted development is fast becoming the standard, and this project could offer you a sneak peek into the future. It's a chance to learn how AI can amplify a developer's capabilities, while also understanding that it can't fully replace the expertise of a skilled developer or UX/UI engineer.
Taking into account previous suggestions, I propose you develop a crocheting tutorial app using platforms like ChatGPT and Canvas. This app could offer interactive guides, engaging videos, and vivid animations demonstrating crochet techniques for novices. You could also incorporate elements of gamification, such as rewarding achievements upon the completion of tutorials. As a budding business enthusiast, you can even monetize the app by selling crochet patterns that can help beginners like yourself to hone their skills. Not only will this app serve as a learning tool for users, but it will also provide you with a valuable opportunity to refine your programming skills.
Some may caution against using a ChatGPT/Canvas platform for beginners, citing valid concerns. As an educator and former developer, I believe it's important to strike a balance. While it's not ideal for a high school junior to stay up till 2:00 am debugging a passion project (a common scenario for novice computer scientists), it's also crucial to stay abreast of emerging trends. AI-assisted development is fast becoming the standard, and this project could offer you a sneak peek into the future. It's a chance to learn how AI can amplify a developer's capabilities, while also understanding that it can't fully replace the expertise of a skilled developer or UX/UI engineer.
Thanks for the help.
Tanvi
Angel S
UI/UX Design Aspirant
430
Answers
India
Updated
Angel’s Answer
A great passion project could be creating a website or app that combines your interest in computer science and business. You could design an online marketplace for handmade crafts or crocheted items, allowing people to sell their creations. This project would showcase your coding, UX/UI design, and entrepreneurial skills. Alternatively, you could develop a tool to help small businesses manage their inventory or sales, which ties in your business interest. It would be a valuable addition to your portfolio, demonstrating technical and problem-solving abilities.
Thank you so much, Angel!
Tanvi
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian-Nutritionist & Software Developer since 1972 => Optimization Of Human Performance: jim.frangos@gmail
6680
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
G'Day Tanvi!
Passion Project Ideas for a High School Student Interested in Computer Science and Business
1. Develop a Business-Related Web Application One of the most impactful projects you can undertake is to create a web application that addresses a specific business need. This could involve developing an e-commerce platform, a project management tool, or even a budgeting app for students. You can use technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React or Angular to build the front end, while using Node.js or Python with Flask/Django for the back end. This project will not only enhance your programming skills but also give you insight into how businesses operate online.
2. Create a Data Analysis Project Given your interest in business, consider working on a data analysis project where you collect data relevant to a particular industry (e.g., retail sales data) and analyze it using Python libraries such as Pandas and Matplotlib. You could present your findings in an interactive dashboard using tools like Tableau or Power BI. This project would demonstrate your ability to handle real-world data and derive actionable insights, which is highly valued in both computer science and business fields.
3. Build an Educational Game Combine your interests in art/crafts with computer science by designing an educational game aimed at teaching younger students about basic coding concepts or financial literacy. You could use game development platforms like Unity or Scratch to create engaging content that incorporates visual elements from your artistic side. This project showcases creativity while also demonstrating technical skills in programming and game design.
4. Develop a Personal Portfolio Website Creating a personal portfolio website can serve multiple purposes: showcasing your projects, sharing your resume, and reflecting on your journey in computer science and business. Use this platform to document your learning experiences, share tutorials related to coding or business concepts you find interesting, and display any artwork or crafts you’ve created. This not only helps you practice web development but also provides a professional online presence that can impress college admissions committees.
5. Contribute to Open Source Projects Engaging with open source projects allows you to collaborate with other developers while contributing to meaningful software solutions. Look for projects that align with your interests—whether they are related to education, business tools, or community services—and start by fixing bugs or adding features. Platforms like GitHub host numerous open-source projects where you can find opportunities that match your skill level.
6. Create an App for Social Good Consider developing an application that addresses social issues such as mental health awareness among students or promoting local businesses through community engagement platforms. This type of project not only highlights your technical abilities but also shows that you are socially conscious—a trait valued by many colleges.
7. Explore Machine Learning Basics If you’re interested in diving deeper into technology trends, consider starting with machine learning basics by creating simple models using Python libraries like Scikit-learn or TensorFlow. You could work on projects such as predicting student performance based on study habits or analyzing trends in consumer behavior based on available datasets.
Each of these projects will allow you to apply computer science principles while integrating aspects of business thinking and creativity from your hobbies.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used
1. Harvard Business Review
This source provides insights into the intersection of technology and business strategy, offering guidance on how tech-driven initiatives can impact modern businesses.
2. Codecademy Blog
The blog offers various resources for aspiring programmers including project ideas tailored for beginners which help bridge the gap between coding skills and practical applications.
3. GitHub Guides
GitHub’s official guides provide comprehensive information on contributing to open source projects along with best practices for collaboration within the developer community.
Probability the answer is correct: 95%
God Bless You, Richly!
James Constantine,
The Little Old Aussie Battler.
Passion Project Ideas for a High School Student Interested in Computer Science and Business
1. Develop a Business-Related Web Application One of the most impactful projects you can undertake is to create a web application that addresses a specific business need. This could involve developing an e-commerce platform, a project management tool, or even a budgeting app for students. You can use technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React or Angular to build the front end, while using Node.js or Python with Flask/Django for the back end. This project will not only enhance your programming skills but also give you insight into how businesses operate online.
2. Create a Data Analysis Project Given your interest in business, consider working on a data analysis project where you collect data relevant to a particular industry (e.g., retail sales data) and analyze it using Python libraries such as Pandas and Matplotlib. You could present your findings in an interactive dashboard using tools like Tableau or Power BI. This project would demonstrate your ability to handle real-world data and derive actionable insights, which is highly valued in both computer science and business fields.
3. Build an Educational Game Combine your interests in art/crafts with computer science by designing an educational game aimed at teaching younger students about basic coding concepts or financial literacy. You could use game development platforms like Unity or Scratch to create engaging content that incorporates visual elements from your artistic side. This project showcases creativity while also demonstrating technical skills in programming and game design.
4. Develop a Personal Portfolio Website Creating a personal portfolio website can serve multiple purposes: showcasing your projects, sharing your resume, and reflecting on your journey in computer science and business. Use this platform to document your learning experiences, share tutorials related to coding or business concepts you find interesting, and display any artwork or crafts you’ve created. This not only helps you practice web development but also provides a professional online presence that can impress college admissions committees.
5. Contribute to Open Source Projects Engaging with open source projects allows you to collaborate with other developers while contributing to meaningful software solutions. Look for projects that align with your interests—whether they are related to education, business tools, or community services—and start by fixing bugs or adding features. Platforms like GitHub host numerous open-source projects where you can find opportunities that match your skill level.
6. Create an App for Social Good Consider developing an application that addresses social issues such as mental health awareness among students or promoting local businesses through community engagement platforms. This type of project not only highlights your technical abilities but also shows that you are socially conscious—a trait valued by many colleges.
7. Explore Machine Learning Basics If you’re interested in diving deeper into technology trends, consider starting with machine learning basics by creating simple models using Python libraries like Scikit-learn or TensorFlow. You could work on projects such as predicting student performance based on study habits or analyzing trends in consumer behavior based on available datasets.
Each of these projects will allow you to apply computer science principles while integrating aspects of business thinking and creativity from your hobbies.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used
1. Harvard Business Review
This source provides insights into the intersection of technology and business strategy, offering guidance on how tech-driven initiatives can impact modern businesses.
2. Codecademy Blog
The blog offers various resources for aspiring programmers including project ideas tailored for beginners which help bridge the gap between coding skills and practical applications.
3. GitHub Guides
GitHub’s official guides provide comprehensive information on contributing to open source projects along with best practices for collaboration within the developer community.
Probability the answer is correct: 95%
God Bless You, Richly!
James Constantine,
The Little Old Aussie Battler.
Thanks so much James!
Tanvi
Hello Tanvi! You are allowed to ask for more information!
James Constantine Frangos