📝 GSoC Application Process

Learn how to write a compelling proposal and successfully apply to Google Summer of Code.

📅 Application Timeline

2025 Dates:

• March 24: Applications open
• April 8, 18:00 UTC: Application deadline
• April 29: Accepted contributors announced

📋 Application Requirements

What You Need

1. Google Account: For the GSoC portal
2. Proof of Eligibility: Age verification (18+)
3. Project Proposal: Detailed plan for your project
4. Contribution History: Evidence of engagement with the organization
5. Contact Information: How mentors can reach you

Proposal Components

A strong proposal includes:

✅ Project Title: Clear and descriptive
✅ Abstract: Brief project summary (2-3 sentences)
✅ Detailed Description: What you'll build and why
✅ Implementation Plan: How you'll build it
✅ Timeline: Week-by-week breakdown
✅ Deliverables: Concrete outcomes
✅ About You: Your background and qualifications
✅ Contributions: What you've already done
✅ Availability: Your time commitment

✍️ Writing Your Proposal

1. Project Title

Good Examples:

• "Implement OAuth 2.0 Authentication for Mobile App"
• "Add Real-time Collaboration Features to Document Editor"
• "Improve Performance of Database Query Engine"

Bad Examples:

• "Make the App Better"
• "Fix Bugs"
• "General Improvements"

2. Abstract (100-150 words)

Summarize your project in 2-3 sentences:

• What problem does it solve?
• What will you build?
• What's the expected impact?

Example:

This project aims to implement OAuth 2.0 authentication for the XYZ mobile application, replacing the current basic authentication system. The implementation will support multiple providers (Google, GitHub, Facebook) and include secure token management. This will improve security, enhance user experience, and align with modern authentication standards.

3. Detailed Description

Explain your project thoroughly:

Problem Statement

• What's the current situation?
• Why is this a problem?
• Who does it affect?

Proposed Solution

• What will you build?
• How does it solve the problem?
• What technologies will you use?

Benefits

• Who benefits from this?
• What improvements will it bring?
• How does it align with project goals?

4. Implementation Plan

Break down the technical approach:

Architecture

• System design overview
• Components and their interactions
• Technology stack

Technical Details

• Key algorithms or approaches
• Libraries and frameworks
• Integration points

Challenges & Solutions

• Potential obstacles
• How you'll address them
• Alternative approaches

5. Timeline

Create a realistic week-by-week plan:

Community Bonding (May 1-26)

• Week 1-2: Finalize design, set up environment
• Week 3-4: Deep dive into codebase, create detailed plan

Coding Period (May 27 - August 18)

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4)

• Week 1: Implement core authentication flow
• Week 2: Add OAuth provider integration
• Week 3: Implement token management
• Week 4: Testing and bug fixes
• Milestone: Basic OAuth working

Phase 2 (Weeks 5-8)

• Week 5: Add multi-provider support
• Week 6: Implement refresh token logic
• Week 7: Security hardening
• Week 8: Integration testing
• Milestone: All providers working

Phase 3 (Weeks 9-12)

• Week 9: UI/UX improvements
• Week 10: Documentation
• Week 11: Performance optimization
• Week 12: Final testing and polish
• Milestone: Production-ready code

Buffer Time

• Account for unexpected challenges
• Plan for mentor feedback iterations
• Include time for documentation

6. Deliverables

List concrete outcomes:

Code Deliverables

• Feature X implementation
• Test suite with Y% coverage
• Performance improvements (specific metrics)

Documentation

• User guide
• API documentation
• Developer setup guide

Other

• Blog posts about your work
• Presentation/demo
• Migration guide (if applicable)

7. About You

Showcase your qualifications:

Background

• Your education/experience
• Relevant coursework or projects
• Programming experience

Skills

• Languages you know well
• Frameworks and tools
• Relevant expertise

Why You?

• Why are you interested in this project?
• What makes you a good fit?
• What will you learn?

Example:

I'm a third-year Computer Science student with 2 years of experience in mobile development. I've built 3 Android apps using Kotlin and have experience with authentication systems from my internship at XYZ Corp. I'm passionate about security and user experience, which makes this OAuth project perfect for me. Through GSoC, I hope to deepen my understanding of authentication protocols and contribute to a project I use daily.

8. Contributions

Document your involvement:

Pull Requests

• List merged PRs with links
• Describe what each PR accomplished
• Highlight complexity or impact

Issues

• Issues you've opened
• Bug reports
• Feature suggestions

Community Engagement

• Discussions participated in
• Questions answered
• Code reviews provided

9. Availability

Be honest about your time:

Time Commitment

• Hours per week you can dedicate
• Any conflicts (exams, work, etc.)
• Your timezone

Communication

• Preferred contact methods
• Availability for meetings
• Response time expectations

Example:

I can commit 30-35 hours per week to this project. I have final exams from June 1-15, during which I'll work 20 hours/week. I'm in UTC+5:30 timezone and available for video calls between 9 AM - 6 PM my time. I check email and Slack daily and typically respond within 24 hours.

🎯 Proposal Best Practices

Do's ✅

• Start Early: Begin drafting 2-3 weeks before deadline
• Get Feedback: Share drafts with mentors
• Be Specific: Use concrete examples and metrics
• Show Research: Reference codebase and documentation
• Be Realistic: Don't overpromise
• Proofread: Check grammar and formatting
• Follow Guidelines: Adhere to organization's template
• Include Links: To your contributions and profiles

Don'ts ❌

• Don't Copy: Plagiarism is grounds for rejection
• Don't Be Vague: Avoid generic statements
• Don't Ignore Feedback: Incorporate mentor suggestions
• Don't Submit Late: Deadline is strict
• Don't Overcommit: Be honest about capacity
• Don't Skip Proofreading: Typos hurt credibility
• Don't Forget Contributions: Show your engagement

📄 Proposal Template

# Project Title

## Abstract
[2-3 sentence summary]

## Detailed Description

### Problem Statement
[What problem are you solving?]

### Proposed Solution
[What will you build?]

### Benefits
[Why is this valuable?]

## Implementation Plan

### Architecture
[System design overview]

### Technical Approach
[How you'll implement it]

### Challenges
[Potential obstacles and solutions]

## Timeline

### Community Bonding (May 1-26)
- Week 1-2: [Tasks]
- Week 3-4: [Tasks]

### Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4)
- Week 1: [Tasks]
- Week 2: [Tasks]
- Week 3: [Tasks]
- Week 4: [Tasks]
- **Milestone**: [Deliverable]

[Continue for all phases...]

## Deliverables
- [Specific outcome 1]
- [Specific outcome 2]
- [Specific outcome 3]

## About Me

### Background
[Your education and experience]

### Skills
[Relevant technical skills]

### Why This Project?
[Your motivation and fit]

## Contributions
- [PR #1: Description and link]
- [PR #2: Description and link]
- [Issue #1: Description and link]

## Availability
- **Time Commitment**: X hours/week
- **Conflicts**: [Any scheduling issues]
- **Timezone**: [Your timezone]
- **Contact**: [Email, Slack, etc.]

## References
- [Link to GitHub profile]
- [Link to portfolio/website]
- [Link to relevant projects]

🚀 Submission Process

Before Submitting

1. Review Checklist

   • Followed organization's template
   • Included all required sections
   • Got feedback from mentors
   • Proofread thoroughly
   • Checked all links work
   • Verified timeline is realistic
   • Listed all contributions

2. Final Polish

   • Read it aloud
   • Check formatting
   • Verify technical accuracy
   • Ensure clarity

Submitting

1. Go to GSoC website
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Click "Register"
4. Complete your profile
5. Submit your proposal
6. Save a copy of your proposal

After Submitting

• Stay Active: Continue contributing
• Be Responsive: Answer any mentor questions
• Be Patient: Results announced April 29
• Have a Backup Plan: Not everyone gets accepted

💡 Tips for Success

What Mentors Look For

1. Technical Competence: Can you actually do this?
2. Realistic Plan: Is your timeline achievable?
3. Communication Skills: Can you explain clearly?
4. Commitment: Have you shown genuine interest?
5. Fit: Does this align with project needs?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Copying from previous proposals
❌ Unrealistic timelines
❌ No prior contributions
❌ Vague or generic proposals
❌ Ignoring mentor feedback
❌ Poor communication
❌ Submitting at the last minute

📚 Example Proposals

Study successful proposals from previous years:

• GSoC Archive
• Organization-specific proposal examples
• Ask mentors for examples

🎯 Next Steps

After submitting your proposal:

1. Explore Tools & Resources - Prepare for the program
2. Continue Contributing - Show ongoing commitment
3. Stay Engaged - Participate in community discussions

Need more help? Check out Tools & Resources →