Education · 1 of 4

The path

Same roads as any software developer, plus one platform you go deep on.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Every math you can take, plus computer science if offered. Publish one small app before you graduate. Nothing impresses more.

2. 2

   Computer science degree or college diploma

   2 to 5 years

   A 4-year degree (Waterloo, Toronto, UBC (University of British Columbia), McGill and many others) or a 2 to 3 year diploma. BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) offers a Web and Mobile Development option in its diploma. Pick a program with co-op.

3. 3

   Pick a platform

   During school

   iOS (Swift) or Android (Kotlin), or a cross-platform tool like React Native or Flutter that builds both. Most developers know one deeply and one loosely.

4. 4

   Ship apps

   During school

   Real apps on the App Store or Google Play, with real users and real reviews, are your portfolio.

5. 5

   First job

   Final year

   New grad hiring happens in the fall for the next summer. Co-op employers often hire their students back.