Programs
Outreachy

Getting Into Outreachy: The Complete Guide

So you're part of an underrepresented group in tech and want to break into open source? Outreachy might be your golden ticket. But here's the truth: getting accepted requires strategy, genuine engagement, and understanding what makes Outreachy different from other programs. Let me walk you through everything you need to know.

What is Outreachy?

Outreachy is a paid, remote internship program specifically designed to support people from groups underrepresented in tech. Unlike most internship programs, Outreachy explicitly focuses on increasing diversity in open source.

What you get:

  • $7,000 stipend over 3 months ($500 initially, then $2,250 twice)
  • $500 travel stipend for conferences or meetups
  • 3 months of full-time work on real open source projects
  • One-on-one mentorship from experienced maintainers
  • Community support from other Outreachy interns
  • Professional references and connections

Who can apply:

Outreachy is for people who face systemic bias or discrimination in tech, including:

  • Women (cis and trans)
  • Trans men
  • Non-binary people
  • People of color
  • Residents of countries with few tech opportunities
  • People with disabilities
  • LGBTQIA+ individuals
  • Members of religious minorities
  • And others facing structural barriers

Program Schedule:

  • Two cohorts per year: May-August and December-March
  • Each cohort has specific deadlines, usually 5-6 months before start date
  • Applications typically open 3-4 months before internship starts

Understanding the Rolling Admission Reality

Here's what they don't tell you upfront: Outreachy operates on a rolling-based admission during the contribution phase.

What this actually means:

While there's an official application deadline, mentors are evaluating and essentially "selecting" interns throughout the entire contribution period. By the time applications officially close, many mentors already know who they want to work with.

Translation: If you wait until the application period to start contributing, you're already behind.

The hidden timeline:

Week 1-2 of contribution period: Early birds start contributing
Week 3-4: Mentors begin forming preferences
Week 5-6: Serious candidates emerge as frontrunners
Week 7-8 (application deadline): Mentors are mostly confirming decisions

This means:

  • Start contributing the MOMENT the contribution period opens
  • Don't wait to "feel ready"—you'll learn by doing
  • Early, consistent contributions beat late, brilliant ones
  • Mentors remember the people who show up from day one

Phase 1: Eligibility and Initial Application

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Before you do anything else, make sure you qualify:

Basic requirements:

  • [ ] At least 18 years old
  • [ ] Member of a group underrepresented in tech (see categories above)
  • [ ] Available for 30+ hours/week for 3 months
  • [ ] Not already a professional in tech (varies by definition)
  • [ ] Haven't participated in Outreachy or GSoC recently

"Professional in tech" definition: Outreachy generally means you haven't worked as a software developer or similar technical role for more than 3 months, or you're transitioning careers. Students, career changers, and people re-entering tech after breaks usually qualify. Check their current eligibility rules as these evolve.

Step 2: The Initial Application Essays

This is your first hurdle. Outreachy asks you to write essays about your eligibility and experiences.

Common essay prompts:

  1. "Please describe your experience with systemic bias or discrimination"
  2. "How has your background affected your access to technology education?"
  3. "What barriers have you faced in tech or education?"
  4. "How will this internship help you overcome these barriers?"

Important: These essays require vulnerability and honesty. Outreachy genuinely wants to understand your experience, not judge you. This isn't about trauma olympics—it's about helping them understand structural barriers you've faced.

How to Write About Being From a Marginalized Community

This is hard. You're being asked to share experiences that might be painful, personal, or difficult to articulate. Here's how to approach it:

What Outreachy is looking for:

  1. Specific experiences - not just stating you're in a category
  2. Structural barriers - how systems (not just individuals) created obstacles
  3. Impact on your tech journey - connect your experiences to why you're applying
  4. Authenticity - genuine stories, not what you think they want to hear

Framework for writing these essays:

Bad approach:

❌ "I am a woman, which is an underrepresented group in tech. Women face discrimination. I deserve this opportunity because I work hard and am passionate about coding."

Why this fails:

  • Generic - could be anyone
  • Doesn't share actual experiences
  • Feels transactional rather than genuine
  • Doesn't help them understand YOUR journey

Good approach:

✅ Example 1 (Gender-based):

"Growing up in [country], I was the only girl in my high school computer class. While my male classmates were encouraged to experiment and fail, I was expected to be perfect on the first try. When I struggled with a programming assignment, my teacher suggested I 'might be better suited for design work.'

I nearly quit computing entirely. What kept me going was finding a small online community of women developers who showed me that my struggles weren't about my ability—they were about a system that doesn't expect women to code.

When I started university, I was one of three women in a class of 45. During group projects, my ideas were often dismissed until a male teammate repeated them. I learned to over-prepare for every meeting, to document everything I suggested, and to advocate for myself constantly—skills that shouldn't be necessary but became essential for survival.

This internship represents a chance to work in an environment that actively welcomes people like me, where I won't have to prove my belonging before I can focus on learning and contributing."

✅ Example 2 (Geographic barriers):

"I live in [developing country] where a month's salary in tech jobs is less than what developers in the US earn in a week. Computer Science programs here are theoretical—we learn algorithms on paper because many students don't have personal computers. I learned to code on my phone during my commute, using Termux to run Python scripts.

The tech ecosystem here barely exists. There are no meetups, no hackathons, no internship programs. When I tried to contribute to open source, I faced issues I couldn't Google—like how to set up development environments on unstable internet that cuts out every 20 minutes. I taught myself to work offline, to batch my git commits, to download documentation ahead of time.

Every resource online assumes you have fast internet, a laptop, and access to tools that cost money. I've learned to be resourceful, but it's exhausting competing globally with these barriers. Outreachy would give me the mentorship and structure I can't access in my country."

✅ Example 3 (Disability):

"I have [disability] which means [how it affects you]. The tech industry talks about 'moving fast and breaking things,' but when you need accommodations, moving fast often means being left behind.

During my university coding bootcamp, all workshops were held in a venue with no elevator. When I asked about accessibility, I was told I could 'watch the recordings later'—which meant missing the networking, the spontaneous Q&A, the connections that actually matter. I learned to advocate fiercely for my needs, but I shouldn't have to fight for basic access.

Remote work should be a game-changer for people like me, but many tech internships still require in-person components or don't have established accommodation processes. Outreachy's clear commitment to accessibility and remote work means I can focus on the work itself, not on navigating barriers others don't even see."

Key principles for these essays:

  1. Be specific

    • Don't say "I faced discrimination"
    • Say "When I [specific situation], [specific thing happened]"

  2. Connect to your tech journey

    • How did this affect your learning?
    • What did you have to overcome?
    • What skills did you develop because of it?

  3. Show resilience without downplaying impact

    • You can acknowledge struggles AND show you persevered
    • Don't minimize your experiences to seem "strong"

  4. Be genuine

    • This isn't about writing the "saddest" story
    • Outreachy understands systemic barriers—they're not looking for trauma
    • Share your truth, not what you think sounds most deserving

  5. Explain what this opportunity means

    • Why Outreachy specifically?
    • What would this enable for you?
    • How would this change your trajectory?

Important note: You're not required to share trauma or deeply personal details you're uncomfortable with. Focus on structural barriers rather than individual incidents if that feels better. Outreachy understands that marginalization takes many forms.

What if you don't have dramatic stories?

Not everyone has experienced overt discrimination or extreme hardship. That's okay. Structural barriers can be subtle:

  • Being the only [identity] in every tech space you enter
  • Lack of role models or mentors who share your background
  • Economic barriers that required you to work while studying
  • Geographic isolation from tech opportunities
  • Cultural expectations that discourage women from technical fields
  • Health issues that required accommodations others didn't need

Subtle, persistent barriers are still real barriers. Write about YOUR actual experience, not what you think is "bad enough."

Essay Checklist:

  • [ ] Shared specific experiences, not just categories
  • [ ] Connected experiences to your tech journey
  • [ ] Explained structural/systemic barriers, not just individual incidents
  • [ ] Showed how this opportunity would help you
  • [ ] Stayed within word limits
  • [ ] Proofread for clarity (have someone read it)
  • [ ] Felt authentic to your experience
  • [ ] Didn't compare your struggles to others ("I had it worse than...")

Phase 2: Finding the Right Project

Once your initial application is approved, you enter the contribution phase. This is where the real work begins.

Step 1: Browse Organizations

Outreachy lists participating organizations with their project ideas:

What to look for:

  1. Technology match

    • Do you know (or can you quickly learn) the primary languages?
    • Is the codebase size manageable for a beginner?

  2. Project clarity

    • Is the project idea specific and well-defined?
    • Are there clear deliverables?
    • Has the mentor explained what success looks like?

  3. Mentor responsiveness

    • Do they respond to questions in their chat/forum?
    • Have they onboarded previous interns successfully?
    • Are they active in the community?

  4. Your genuine interest

    • Does this project actually excite you?
    • Can you see yourself working on it for 3 months?
    • Do you care about the problem it solves?

Red flags to avoid: 🚩 Project description is vague: "Improve the documentation" 🚩 Mentor hasn't responded to anyone's questions in weeks 🚩 No activity in the repository for 6+ months 🚩 Community channels are dead or hostile 🚩 Project requires technologies you've never heard of and has no learning resources

Types of projects you'll encounter:

  • Coding: Build new features, fix bugs, write tests
  • Documentation: Write tutorials, improve docs, create examples
  • User Experience: Design improvements, usability testing, accessibility
  • DevOps/Infrastructure: CI/CD setup, deployment automation
  • Community: Content creation, outreach, event organizing
  • Research: Data analysis, user research, technical writing

Pro tip: Apply to 1-3 projects maximum. Spreading yourself too thin is worse than focusing deeply on fewer projects. Mentors can tell when you're mass-applying.

Step 2: Join the Community IMMEDIATELY

Don't wait. As soon as you pick a project:

Day 1 actions:

  1. Find where they communicate

    • IRC channels (yes, many FOSS projects still use IRC!)
    • Zulip / Mattermost / Discord / Slack
    • Mailing lists
    • Matrix rooms
    • GitHub Discussions
    • Forums

  2. Introduce yourself thoughtfully

Bad introduction: "Hi, I want to apply for Outreachy. Please tell me how to start contributing."

Good introduction: "Hi everyone! I'm [Name], applying for Outreachy. I'm interested in the [specific project] because [genuine reason].

I have experience with [relevant skills/technologies] and recently worked on [similar project/problem]. I've read through the contributing guide and set up the development environment.

I'm looking at issue #123 as a potential first contribution—does this seem appropriate for a newcomer, or would you recommend starting elsewhere? Also, I noticed [something specific about the codebase/docs]—is this intentional or worth addressing?

Looking forward to contributing! GitHub: @yourusername"

Why the good version works:

  • Shows you've done homework (read docs, set up environment)
  • Demonstrates genuine interest with specific details
  • Asks smart, specific questions
  • Includes GitHub handle (easy to track contributions)
  • Shows initiative without demanding attention

Phase 3: The Contribution Phase (Where You Win or Lose)

This is the most critical period. You have roughly 6-8 weeks to prove you're the right candidate.

Week 1-2: Get Your Bearings

Priority actions:

  1. Set up your development environment

    • Document every issue you hit (might become your first contribution!)
    • Ask questions when stuck
    • Share solutions that worked for you

  2. Make your first contribution

    • Start small: fix typos, improve error messages, add code comments
    • Goal is to get familiar with the workflow, not solve hard problems
    • Just get ONE merged PR to understand the process

  3. Be consistently present

    • Check the chat daily
    • Respond to discussions
    • Help other applicants (yes, your "competitors")

Mindset shift: Other applicants aren't your enemies. Helping them shows you're collaborative—a quality mentors value highly. Mentors often select people who help others over people who only focus on themselves.

Week 3-5: Build Momentum

Escalate your contributions:

  • Week 3: Tackle "good first issue" labeled tasks
  • Week 4: Fix actual bugs or add small features
  • Week 5: Take on medium-complexity issues

Quality over quantity:

✅ Better: 3 well-researched, thoroughly tested, properly documented contributions

✅ Than: 10 rushed, half-working, poorly explained contributions

What mentors are watching:

  1. Consistency - Are you showing up every few days?
  2. Communication - Do you explain your thinking?
  3. Independence - Can you solve problems without handholding?
  4. Collaboration - Do you respond well to feedback?
  5. Growth - Are you learning and improving?

How to Actually Get Noticed (Without Being Annoying)

DO:

1. Show genuine initiative

"I noticed the error message for [X] is confusing. I spent some time looking at the code and the related issues #123 and #456. I'm thinking we could improve it by [specific suggestion].

I've drafted a potential solution locally—would you like me to open a PR, or should we discuss the approach first?"

2. Ask smart questions

"I'm working on issue #234 and I've traced the bug to the validate() function. I see two possible approaches:

  1. Add validation at the input level (prevents bad data earlier)
  2. Add error handling at the processing level (more flexible)

I'm leaning toward approach 1 because [reasoning], but I wanted to check if there's a project convention I should follow?"

3. Document your work

  • Write clear PR descriptions
  • Add comments explaining complex code
  • Update documentation as you go
  • Blog about what you're learning (share links in community)

4. Review others' work

  • Yes, even as an applicant!
  • Test other people's PRs
  • Provide thoughtful feedback
  • This shows you understand the codebase

5. Be reliable

  • If you commit to something, do it
  • If you can't finish, communicate early
  • Don't disappear for weeks without explanation

DON'T:

1. Spam mentors with DMs

❌ Private messaging mentors repeatedly ❌ Asking questions that are answered in the docs ❌ Demanding immediate responses ❌ Following up after just a few hours

2. Only show up when you need something

❌ Radio silence for 2 weeks ❌ Suddenly: "Hi, can someone review my PR?" ❌ Radio silence again

3. Treat other applicants as enemies

❌ Refusing to help others ❌ Being competitive instead of collaborative ❌ Claiming issues without contributing to them

4. Argue with feedback

❌ "But my way is better..." ❌ "Why do I need to change this?" ❌ Getting defensive about code review comments

5. Make excuses constantly

❌ "Sorry I'm late, I was busy with..." ❌ "I couldn't finish because..." ❌ "I would have done it but..."

Reaching Out to Mentors: A Human Approach

Mentors are just people. They want to work with someone they enjoy working with. Here's how to build that relationship:

Early in contribution period (Week 1-2):

"Hi [Mentor name], I'm [Your name], one of the Outreachy applicants interested in the [project name] project. I've made my first contribution (PR #123) and I'm getting familiar with the codebase.

I have a question about the project scope: [specific question about the project idea on the Outreachy page]. I want to make sure I'm understanding the goals correctly as I plan my contributions.

No rush on responding—I know you're busy. Thanks for mentoring this project!"

Mid contribution period (Week 3-4), after you've made several contributions:

"Hi [Mentor name], I've been contributing to [project] over the past few weeks (PRs #123, #234, #345) and I'm really enjoying working on [specific aspect].

I wanted to share some thoughts I've been having about the [project feature]:

[Your analysis of the problem] [Potential approach] [Questions or concerns]

I know you're busy with reviews, but whenever you have a moment, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm also happy to discuss this async here or draft something more concrete first if that's easier."

Later in contribution period (Week 5-6), when discussing your application:

"Hi [Mentor name], I'm working on my final application and wanted to discuss the project timeline with you.

Based on my contributions so far, I've identified these potential challenges:

  1. [Challenge with your understanding of the solution]
  2. [Question about scope]

For my project timeline, I'm thinking:

  • Weeks 1-4: [Phase 1]
  • Weeks 5-8: [Phase 2]
  • Weeks 9-12: [Phase 3]

Does this seem realistic given the project goals? Are there aspects I'm underestimating or overestimating?

Also, are there any concerns about my contributions so far that I should address in my application or before the deadline?"

Key principles:

  1. Respect their time

    • Don't expect immediate responses
    • Batch questions instead of asking one at a time
    • Do research before asking

  2. Show your work

    • Don't just ask "how do I do X?"
    • Show what you tried, what happened, what you learned

  3. Be professional but human

    • You can be friendly and personable
    • Just stay respectful and professional

  4. Accept that silence isn't personal

    • Mentors are volunteers with day jobs
    • If they don't respond in a week, gentle follow-up is okay
    • If still no response, they might be overwhelmed—not ignoring you

Phase 4: Navigating Unusual Tools and Technologies

Outreachy projects often use tools that aren't in typical coding bootcamps. Here's what you might encounter and how to prepare:

Common "Niche" Tools in FOSS Projects

Communication tools:

  1. IRC (Internet Relay Chat)

    • Yes, it's from the 1980s, but many FOSS projects still use it
    • How to learn: IRCHelp.org guide
    • Clients to try: HexChat (desktop), The Lounge (web-based), IRCCloud (web/mobile)
    • Pro tip: Stay logged in and catch up on conversations—don't expect real-time

  2. Mailing Lists

    • Communication via email threads
    • How to learn: Read archives before posting, understand email etiquette
    • Tools: Mailman, Google Groups
    • Pro tip: Use email filters to manage volume

  3. Matrix

    • Decentralized chat protocol
    • How to learn: Try Element.io client
    • Why FOSS uses it: Open protocol, no corporate control

  4. Zulip

    • Topic-based team chat
    • How to learn: Free to use, good documentation
    • Pro tip: Threading makes conversations easier to follow

Version control beyond Git:

  1. Mercurial (hg)

    • Alternative to Git, used by Mozilla and others
    • How to learn: Mercurial tutorial
    • Pro tip: Commands are similar to Git but not identical

  2. Phabricator

    • Code review and project management
    • Used by Wikimedia and others
    • How to learn: In-project documentation

Build tools and systems:

  1. CMake

    • Build system for C/C++ projects
    • How to learn: CMake tutorial
    • Common in: Systems programming, game engines

  2. Meson

  3. Autotools (./configure, make, make install)

    • Traditional UNIX build system
    • How to learn: Learning by doing (project-specific docs)

Documentation tools:

  1. Sphinx

    • Documentation generator (Python ecosystem)
    • How to learn: Sphinx tutorial
    • Output: Beautiful HTML docs from reStructuredText

  2. Read the Docs

    • Documentation hosting
    • How to learn: Explore existing projects

  3. AsciiDoc / Asciidoctor

Testing frameworks (beyond Jest/Pytest):

  1. Selenium / Playwright

    • Browser automation and testing
    • Common in: Web projects needing E2E tests

  2. Hypothesis (Python)

Containerization:

  1. Docker

  2. Podman

    • Alternative to Docker
    • Used in: Red Hat ecosystem

CI/CD platforms:

  1. Jenkins

    • Automation server
    • Common in: Enterprise FOSS projects

  2. GitLab CI

    • Integrated CI/CD
    • Common in: Self-hosted projects

  3. Zuul

    • CI/CD for OpenStack and others

Learning strategy: Don't try to learn all these upfront. Wait until you join a project, then learn what THAT project uses. Most have getting-started guides for their specific toolchain.

How to Quickly Get Up to Speed

When you encounter a new tool:

  1. Check the project's documentation first

    • Most have "Setting up your dev environment" guides
    • Look for "New contributor" or "First time setup" docs

  2. Ask the community

    • "I'm new to [tool]. Are there any resources you recommend?"
    • Others likely had the same question

  3. Use official docs and tutorials

    • Start with "getting started" or "quickstart"
    • Do the official tutorial before asking questions

  4. Document your learning

    • Take notes on what you learn
    • Share back with community (helps next newcomer)
    • Might become a contribution itself

Meta-skill: Learning to quickly pick up new tools is MORE valuable than knowing specific tools. Show adaptability, and mentors will be impressed.

Preparing Before Application Opens

3 months before:

  • [ ] Get comfortable with Git/GitHub
  • [ ] Learn basic command line (bash/terminal)
  • [ ] Try contributing to ANY open source project (experience matters)
  • [ ] Set up accounts on common platforms (GitHub, GitLab, IRC)

1 month before:

  • [ ] Browse previous Outreachy projects to see common tools
  • [ ] Try Docker basics
  • [ ] Learn Markdown
  • [ ] Practice writing technical documentation

When applications open:

  • [ ] Learn tools specific to your chosen projects
  • [ ] Don't try to learn everything—focus on what you need

Phase 5: The Final Application

After 6-8 weeks of contributing, you submit your final application.

What you need:

  1. Project timeline - Week-by-week plan for your internship
  2. Past contributions - Links to all your PRs, issues, etc.
  3. Why you're the right person - Essay connecting your contributions to the project

Writing your project timeline:

Bad timeline:

Week 1-4: Learn the codebase
Week 5-8: Build the feature
Week 9-12: Testing and documentation

Why this fails:

  • Too vague
  • Unrealistic (4 weeks to "learn the codebase"?)
  • No specific deliverables
  • Doesn't show you understand the complexity

Good timeline:

**Week 1-2: User authentication foundation**
- Implement JWT token generation (issue #123)
- Add password hashing with bcrypt
- Write unit tests for auth utils
- Deliverable: PR with working auth foundation

**Week 3-4: OAuth integration**
- Add GitHub OAuth flow
- Implement session management
- Handle edge cases (expired tokens, etc.)
- Deliverable: Users can log in with GitHub

**Week 5-6: Authorization system**
- Implement role-based access control
- Add permission checking middleware
- Write integration tests
- Deliverable: Different user roles working

**Week 7-8: Security hardening**
- Add rate limiting
- Implement CSRF protection
- Security audit with mentor
- Deliverable: Security review passed

**Week 9-10: Admin dashboard**
- Build user management UI
- Add role assignment interface
- Write E2E tests
- Deliverable: Admin can manage users

**Week 11-12: Documentation and polish**
- Write API documentation
- Create user guides
- Fix bugs found in testing
- Prepare final report
- Deliverable: Complete, documented feature

**Risk mitigation:**
If OAuth integration takes longer, I can scale back the admin dashboard to focus on core auth functionality. I've built similar auth systems in [project], so I'm confident about timeline.

Why this works:

  • Specific, testable deliverables each period
  • Shows understanding of the complexity
  • Realistic pacing with buffer time
  • Demonstrates technical knowledge
  • Includes risk mitigation
  • Connects to past experience

Describing your contributions:

Don't just list links. Explain what you did and what you learned:

## My Contributions

**PR #234: Fixed authentication bug**
[Link]
This was my first significant contribution. The bug was causing users to be logged out incorrectly. I traced it through three different files before finding the issue in the session management code. The PR got extensive feedback—I learned a lot about the project's testing requirements and code style.

**PR #345: Added password strength indicator**
[Link]  
After my first PR, I felt confident tackling a feature. I implemented a visual password strength checker using zxcvbn library. This required understanding the frontend architecture and webpack config. I also added tests and updated the documentation.

**Issue #456: Improved error messages**
[Link]
I noticed several error messages were unclear. I opened an issue proposing better wording, got feedback from the community, and implemented the changes. This taught me how important clear communication is in UX.

**Documentation improvements**
I updated the getting started guide based on issues I hit during setup. This contribution has helped three other newcomers since then.

**Community participation**
I've been active in the Zulip chat, helping 5+ other applicants with setup issues and reviewing their PRs. I also participated in the weekly community meetings.

Common Mistakes That Kill Outreachy Applications

❌ The Late Starter

Starts contributing in week 6 of an 8-week contribution period.

Why it fails: No time to build trust, demonstrate consistency, or show growth.

❌ The Ghost

Contributes actively for 2 weeks, disappears for 3 weeks, reappears to submit application.

Why it fails: Mentors need to trust you'll be reliable for 3 months. Ghosting shows the opposite.

❌ The Quantity Over Quality

Makes 20 tiny PRs (fixing single typos) but no substantial contributions.

Why it fails: Shows you're optimizing for numbers, not learning or genuine contribution.

❌ The Help Vampire

Constantly asks questions answered in docs, expects handholding, never helps others.

Why it fails: Mentors need interns who can work independently and collaborate.

❌ The Defensive Coder

Argues with every code review comment, gets hostile when feedback is negative.

Why it fails: Code review is constant in open source. Can't work with someone who can't take feedback.

❌ The Martyr

Shares struggles in eligibility essays but frames as "I succeeded despite everything, I'm stronger than everyone."

Why it fails: Comes across as comparing struggles. Outreachy wants vulnerability and authenticity, not competition.

What If You Don't Get Selected?

Outreachy is extremely competitive. Many qualified applicants don't get spots.

If you're not selected:

  1. This is NOT a failure

    • You learned open source contribution
    • You gained real-world experience
    • You built connections in the community
    • You have contributions to show employers

  2. Ask for feedback

    • Mentors sometimes provide specific feedback
    • Understand what you can improve

  3. Keep contributing

    • Many interns get accepted on their 2nd or 3rd try
    • Continued contributions show genuine interest
    • Previous contributions strengthen future applications

  4. Apply to the next round

    • Outreachy runs twice a year
    • You'll be much stronger next time

  5. Consider alternatives:

    • Google Summer of Code
    • MLH Fellowship
    • LFX Mentorship
    • Individual open source contributions

Success story: Many Outreachy interns were rejected their first time. They kept contributing, improved their applications, and got accepted in the next round. The rejection taught them what strong applications look like.

The Honest Reality Check

This is hard work:

  • 30-40 hours per week during contribution phase
  • Emotional labor of putting yourself out there
  • Learning unfamiliar tools quickly
  • Navigating communities with different cultures

But it is worth it.

Outreachy is not just an internship. It is an on-ramp into open source, global collaboration, and a career path that many people are locked out of by default.

If you approach it strategically, respectfully, and honestly, you give yourself a real chance.

Not a lottery ticket. A real chance.

Final Advice From People Who Have Been There

1. Treat Outreachy Like a Long Interview, Not a Hackathon

Mentors are asking one quiet question the entire time:

“Can I work with this person for three months without stress?”

Your job is to answer that question with your actions.

  • Show up consistently
  • Communicate clearly
  • Learn in public
  • Be kind under pressure

Technical skill matters. Reliability matters more.

2. Be Visible, Not Loud

You do not need to dominate conversations to be noticed.

You need to be present.

  • Regular small updates beat rare big announcements
  • Thoughtful comments beat clever comments
  • Helping others beats self-promotion

Mentors remember names they see often, in good contexts.

3. You Are Allowed to Belong Here

Many applicants sabotage themselves mentally.

They think:

  • “Everyone else is better than me”
  • “I do not deserve this”
  • “I am wasting the mentor's time”

That mindset shows up in behavior.

Outreachy exists because the system is biased, not because you are weak.

You are not asking for charity. You are applying for access.

4. Write Like a Human, Contribute Like an Engineer

Your essays should sound like a person who lived a life.

Your contributions should look like someone who respects other people’s code.

That balance is what Outreachy is testing.

A Simple Outreachy Checklist

Before contribution phase:

  • [ ] Read Outreachy rules carefully
  • [ ] Prepare your marginalization essays early
  • [ ] Refresh Git, CLI, Markdown
  • [ ] Block time on your calendar

During contribution phase:

  • [ ] Pick 1 to 3 projects only
  • [ ] Join community channels immediately
  • [ ] Make one small contribution fast
  • [ ] Communicate progress weekly
  • [ ] Help other contributors
  • [ ] Track everything you do

Before final submission:

  • [ ] Ask mentor about timeline realism
  • [ ] Write a concrete project plan
  • [ ] Explain contributions clearly
  • [ ] Proofread essays
  • [ ] Submit early if possible

Closing Truth

Outreachy rewards people who are:

  • Curious
  • Consistent
  • Honest
  • Collaborative
  • Willing to learn in public

Not perfection. Not genius. Not grinding silently.

If you take one thing from this guide, let it be this:

Start early. Show up often. Be human.

That is how people get into Outreachy.

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