Succeeding in Computer Science and Start-Ups 

Be proactive. A lot of jobs and startups that I was able to land were through personal connections and my personal projects. I had to go out of my way to research these companies and personally message their CEOs and their employees. Many places where I got a job weren't through an application process but through an email or a video call. 

Good grades are the bare minimum. Don't just go to class, do homework, and do well on tests. This is just the bare minimum. Step outside of your comfort zone. Make that DM, make that LinkedIn post, and make sure your connections and network are always growing. 

Make a Github and a LinkedIn account. If you already code, this should be a no-brainer.

Grind Leetcode. Many software engineer internships and jobs will make you take a difficult coding exam before moving on with the interview process. Leetcode is an online resource that complies with these questions that you can practice in advance.

Don't be afraid of the transfer route. With the increase in competition for computer science degrees from top universities, the transfer route is significantly easier than applying for Engineering colleges right out of high school.