So I came to a realization the other day, I graduate in a year. I will have completed my four year degree in about two and a half (I went to a school that goes full time year round). Anyway, I want to get a job, as a programmer, when I graduate. The problem is, I feel like I am no where near ready. In the last year I cant say I have made any spectacular projects. I know that my advanced programming courses are coming up, but by the time I take them, I will be graduating in 6 months. Not nearly enough time to really take what I learn, apply it, and create something to show for myself. I want to push myself ahead of the game; mainly because my major is Computer Information Systems, so the focus is not programming. In fact, I only get, 4 programming classes. Before anyone says anything, CIS is the closest to a programming major at my school that I am able to do. So the questions come down to this: 1) What can I do to really step up the speed at which I progress (on my own) 2) Should I be aiming for a certain amount of projects in my "Portfolio." 2a) Should they be big projects? P.S: The language we have used in school in c++, I do take a Java class in the spring, and .net over Summer; if any of that matters for anything.