Building Community in Computer Science

For many students, studying computer science is about more than classes, coding projects, and technical interviews; it’s also about finding a sense of community. Whether through student organizations, mentorship, collaborative projects, or friendships formed during late nights in the lab, those connections often become one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. Madhurima Magesh (MS ‘26) and Ruhe Solomon (CC ‘26) share how they found support, belonging, and personal growth within the CS community, and how those relationships shaped both their academic journeys and future careers.

Ruhe Solomon

My biggest highlight at Columbia has been the community I built throughout my time here. The friendships and connections I made became both a support system and a major part of my college experience. These were the people I shared memories with socially, leaned on during challenging classes and leadership roles, and turned to for advice and support throughout internship and recruiting seasons.

A huge part of that experience came through the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). I was involved with NSBE in high school, and it played a big role in inspiring me to pursue engineering, so joining at Columbia felt natural. Through the organization, I found mentors who helped guide me through classes, internships, and professional development. NSBE also gave me opportunities to connect with peers, alums, recruiters, and professionals across different engineering fields, which introduced me to new opportunities and helped shape my career path.

I would highly recommend joining NSBE because it’s a supportive, close-knit community. No matter your engineering discipline, there’s a place for you, and the social, academic, and professional benefits continue well beyond your four years at Columbia.

After graduation, I’ll be joining Microsoft as a software engineer.

Madhurima Magesh

My experience in the master’s program was challenging, exciting, and incredibly rewarding. Moving from India, adapting to a new country, and adjusting to the pace of graduate coursework were overwhelming at first. But with the support of professors, classmates, alums, and the student community, it made a huge difference. Some of the most meaningful parts of my journey were the hands-on projects in machine learning and AI infrastructure, collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds, and participating in networking events and industry talks. Beyond academics, I focused on building community by serving as a Computer Science Department Representative, mentoring incoming students, and helping organize alum interactions for students exploring internships and jobs.

Looking back, the friendships, mentorship, and sense of belonging are what I’ll remember most. The program strengthened not only my technical skills, but also my leadership, communication, and collaboration abilities. I’ve joined the AWS Bedrock Agentic AI team at Amazon, where I continue working on AI systems at scale. My biggest advice to incoming students is to explore opportunities early, put yourself out there, and make time to enjoy the experience and connections you build along the way.