MLH Fellowship - Open Source Track

Grades

High school and above (no explicit grade restrictions stated, though program is designed for 'aspiring software engineers')

Age

No specific minimum age requirement explicitly stated; program runs year-round with multiple batches

Citizenship

No citizenship restrictions mentioned; program serves 30+ countries worldwide

Prerequisites

Basic coding ability required; must have audio/video setup; must be able to commit to full-time 40-hour work weeks; English communication ability required; must be comfortable in UTC-friendly timezone or one of the major supported timezones

Steps

1. Complete online application (tell about yourself, experience, why you want to be an MLH Fellow)
2. Phone/video interview with program coordinator
3. Technical code discussion with one of MLH's mentors
4. Provide required documentation
5. Sign participation agreement
6. Attend orientation before program start

Materials Needed

• Resume/CV highlighting any coding projects or technical experience
• Cover letter or personal statement explaining interest in open source
• GitHub profile (if available; demonstrates coding work)
• Any portfolio work or personal projects
• Valid identification for documentation
• Proof of current education status or high school enrollment

Timeline

Applications are processed on a rolling basis and close a few weeks before each batch start date. Program runs in batches starting every few months throughout the year. Students should begin applying 2-3 months before desired batch start date to allow time for interviews and processing.

Cost

Free to apply; no application fee. Participants receive educational stipend (amount not specified in materials) to offset program costs during selected programs.

What Judges Look For

• Demonstrated coding ability and programming fundamentals
• Genuine interest in open source software development
• Ability to work collaboratively in a remote team environment
• Clear communication skills and ability to articulate technical concepts
• Growth mindset and willingness to learn from mentors and peers
• Commitment to full-time 40-hour weekly participation
• Previous GitHub contributions or personal projects (if available)
• Understanding of why open source matters in tech industry
• Diversity and underrepresented backgrounds (actively encouraged)

Scoring

Not publicly available; based on official site, evaluation appears to combine application materials, interview performance, technical coding discussion, and demonstrated interest

Common Mistakes

• Overestimating or underestimating coding ability in application
• Not having a GitHub profile or portfolio to demonstrate work
• Poor communication in written application or interviews
• Unclear articulation of why you're interested in open source specifically
• Not being prepared to discuss past projects or coding experience in detail
• Not demonstrating understanding of what MLH Fellowship teaches
• Lack of commitment to full-time schedule (red flag for remote program)
• No examples of collaborative work or team projects

Acceptance Rate

Not publicly disclosed; program is selective but not extremely competitive for qualified applicants

Applicants

Not publicly disclosed; MLH reports 500+ program graduates across all tracks

Winners / Selected

Approximately 50+ fellows per batch across all tracks combined; exact numbers for Open Source track not specified

• Start learning Git and GitHub NOW before applying; these are fundamental to the program
• Build a GitHub profile with 3-5 personal projects showing coding ability; even small projects help
• Contribute to a real open source project before applying if possible; demonstrates genuine interest
• Write application essay explaining specific interest in open source, not just generic software engineering
• Practice explaining your coding projects verbally; the mentor interview will test this
• Emphasize your ability to work remotely and stay self-motivated for 12 weeks
• Highlight any collaborative projects, team hackathons, or group coding experiences
• Research MLH values around diversity; if you're from an underrepresented group, highlight this authentic connection
• Be honest about current skill level; the program accepts people at various levels
• Prepare specific questions about open source projects and collaboration processes for the interview
• Show enthusiasm for learning and growth, not just technical skill
• Have your computer setup and internet connection verified before applying (A/V requirements are real)
• Apply early in the batch cycle to maximize selection chances
• Follow up on application status if you haven't heard within 2-3 weeks

How to Prepare

• Learn Git and GitHub fundamentals (use free resources like GitHub Learning Lab)
• Complete 1-2 small personal projects in your preferred language (Python, JavaScript, Java, etc.)
• Make your GitHub profile public with clear README files explaining your projects
• Study a popular open source project (read documentation, explore code structure)
• Practice explaining your code and reasoning out loud (pair programming simulation)
• Read about open source culture and how collaborative development works
• Familiarize yourself with pull requests, code reviews, and contribution workflows
• Write a draft cover letter explaining your interest in open source specifically
• Set up your computer with development tools (terminal, code editor, GitHub account)
• Join programming communities (Discord servers, Reddit forums) to learn from others
• Review MLH Fellowship values and think about how you align with them
• Practice technical interview questions on platforms like LeetCode (light practice)

Resources

• GitHub Learning Lab (free interactive courses): https://lab.github.com
• Official Git documentation: https://git-scm.com/doc
• First Timers Only (curated beginner-friendly open source issues): https://www.firsttimersonly.com
• Open Source Guides: https://opensource.guide
• Contribute to actual OSS: GitHub Issues labeled 'good first issue'
• Coursera: Introduction to Open Source Development (free courses available)
• YouTube: Traversy Media Git & GitHub tutorial
• Books: 'The Art of Community' by Jono Bacon (free online)
• Practice projects: Build a simple CLI tool, web scraper, or calculator in your language of choice
• MLH Fellowship past participant blogs and retrospectives (search Medium)
• LeetCode Easy problems for coding interview prep
• System design YouTube videos (optional but helpful): Designing Data Intensive Applications concepts

Time Needed

4-8 weeks of preparation recommended for a strong application. Minimum viable prep: 2-3 weeks focusing on Git/GitHub learning and 1-2 personal projects. Full prep includes: 2 weeks Git mastery, 3-4 weeks building portfolio projects, 1-2 weeks researching open source projects, 1 week practicing interviews.

MLH Fellows typically demonstrate: basic to intermediate coding ability (not necessarily advanced), genuine curiosity about how software works, comfort with collaborative learning, ability to communicate technical ideas clearly, and diverse backgrounds (50% underrepresented, 50% non-CS majors). Successful applicants show initiative through personal projects or hackathon participation, but rarely have prior professional internship experience (many are high school or early college students). They view the program as a learning opportunity rather than just a resume line. Many come from non-traditional tech pathways and backgrounds.

MLH Fellowship carries strong prestige in college admissions, particularly for computer science and engineering programs. Admissions officers view it as: (1) Legitimate professional experience equivalent to traditional corporate internships; (2) Demonstration of self-motivation and ability to work independently; (3) Real contribution to widely-used software projects; (4) Proof of collaborative teamwork and code review mastery; (5) Strong signal of serious commitment to software engineering. Many selective universities (MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, CMU) see MLH Fellowship as equivalent to or better than typical summer internships because the work is public and verifiable. The program is particularly impressive because it shows students sought out meaningful experience rather than settling for routine tasks. Having 'contributed to [specific open source project]' in essays and applications is highly compelling. The stipend component also demonstrates MLH's confidence in participant quality. For college essays, this internship provides excellent material about learning in teams, handling code reviews, and contributing to global software projects.

• Congressional App Challenge — Tier 3, competition
• ARML (American Regions Mathematics League) — Tier 3, competition
• AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) — Tier 3, competition
• National Science Bowl — Tier 3, competition
• Science Olympiad — Tier 3, competition