After months and months of studying, interviewing, and (mostly) getting rejected from many, various, companies, I finally feel like all of this was worth it.
I just accepted an offer from Microsoft, although I also passed my Google interviews and would be in "Google limbo" where I would get matched up with a potential future team. Getting this close to a Google offer is certainly very enticing, but I'm really drawn to the Microsoft Explore program where I would get to experience all three roles of software (development, testing, and program management). It's a program that I haven't seen implemented in other companies and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; after this year I would no longer be eligible for it.
I can't even put into words how good it finally feels to have an (awesome!!) internship in tow for the summer. After averaging 3 interviews a week for about two months, stressing out before hand, ditching class in the hope that an extra few hours of studying would pay off during interviews, or thinking about this summer and not having a place to call home - it's finally all done and I have an offer I am so very proud of, in my favorite city in this country. So often I have imagined myself living in Seattle among all of the other tech geeks, now it's finally going to happen.
This post has no benefit to anyone else, just me. It's my self-congratulatory message to myself. After months and months of difficulty I feel like I am allowed to pat myself on the back, just this once. Thanks to my family, friends, and friendly Microsoft recruiters for their support :)
