My journey through the Uber Career Prep (UCP) program over the past seven months has been truly transformative. As an international student venturing into the competitive tech industry, I felt a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. I questioned which skills were most crucial and how to refine my abilities to meet the demands of the professional world. The UCP program became the vital bridge connecting my academic foundation with the practical skills needed for a successful tech career, and I am deeply grateful to have been part of the 2024 cohort.
The program attracted over 2,000 applicants from across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. From this highly competitive pool, just 80 were invited for interviews, and ultimately, only 50 students were accepted – an impressive 2.3% acceptance rate. Being selected was a significant honor, and I still vividly recall the excitement of receiving my acceptance email in the Rice Library. That initial thrill fueled my dedication and enthusiasm throughout every challenge and triumph within this enriching program.
The Core Mission of the Uber Career Prep Program
The Uber Career Prep program isn’t just another coding course; it’s strategically designed to maximize our potential impact in future engineering roles and cultivate us as leaders. This comprehensive seven-month fellowship places strong emphasis on not only technical skill enhancement but also on understanding failure as a crucial learning opportunity. Navigating challenges and setbacks is essential for building resilience, a vital trait in the fast-paced and dynamic tech industry. This focus is what truly sets the Uber Career Prep Fellows Program apart.
Immersive Workshops and Dedicated Mentorship
Throughout the program, we engaged in five intensive workshops meticulously crafted to cover essential aspects of thriving in the tech industry. These workshops focused on technical and behavioral interview best practices, effective communication strategies, design document creation, core engineering competencies, and practical, real-world software development experiences. One aspect that deeply resonated with me was Uber’s unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), encapsulated in their powerful motto: “Weave equity into the way the world moves.” This dedication to inclusive design – creating products that are thoughtfully designed to respect every aspect of an individual’s identity and experiences – struck a chord with my values. It became clear how deeply DEI is ingrained in Uber’s operational success and how it fundamentally shapes both its product development and company culture.
A cornerstone of the program was the personalized, actionable feedback we received through four mock interviews and dedicated one-on-one mentorship sessions with experienced Uber engineers. I had the distinct privilege of being mentored by Justin Phan, whose generosity in sharing his extensive knowledge and invaluable insights was truly remarkable. During our fourteen one-on-one sessions, I felt comfortable asking any question – from detailed feedback on mock interviews and tackling challenging homework assignments to gaining insights into Justin’s own career trajectory at Uber. Complementing these sessions, I also completed four “mock” mock interviews with Justin, each strategically designed to sharpen my coding proficiency and communication effectiveness.
Furthermore, I had the pleasure of participating in technical workshops and engaging office hours led by Emma Ziegellaub Eichler, whose infectious passion for algorithms and teaching was truly unmatched. Emma’s workshops not only provided in-depth exploration of algorithmic thinking but also ignited in me a deeper appreciation for the art of problem-solving. I made it a point to attend every office hour session, eagerly absorbing knowledge on intricate topics such as memoization and topological sorting. Emma’s vibrant energy and open willingness to share her wisdom made each session feel not just informative, but a genuine privilege.
Key Learnings and Achievements from the Program
One of my most significant achievements through the UCP program has been the substantial growth I experienced in algorithmic thinking and practical implementation. The homework assignments were thoughtfully structured to reinforce learning. Instead of overwhelming us with a vast number of questions across disparate topics, UCP’s assignments focused on building a robust understanding of fundamental data structures and core algorithms. We were challenged to implement structures like binary search trees, heaps, tries, singly and doubly linked lists, and queues, laying a solid groundwork before tackling complex algorithm-specific problems. Throughout the program, I diligently practiced problem-solving by revisiting each homework problem three times. My mock interview performance consistently improved, culminating in achieving “Double Thumbs Up” ratings on two separate occasions. This demonstrable progress is a clear testament to the program’s well-structured guidance and the immense benefits of consistent, repeated practice.
Beyond just technical proficiencies, I absorbed invaluable problem-solving methodologies. UCP equipped me with the skills to methodically break down complex problems into manageable components and instilled in me the confidence to seek help when needed – a critical skill applicable not only in tech but in all aspects of life. Through the engaging workshops, I frequently reflected on strategies to maximize my impact and effectively navigate challenges and failures with a proactive growth mindset.
Perhaps most importantly, I found a strong alignment with Uber’s company culture, particularly its deep-seated commitment to inclusive design and its proactive, “go-get-it” mentality. The principle of weaving equity into the world’s movement is more than just a slogan; it’s deeply integrated into the very essence of Uber’s operations, which I find profoundly inspiring. A workshop hosted by Oona King, Uber’s Chief DEI Officer, left a lasting impact, offering invaluable insights on celebrating successes, maintaining perspective by not taking things personally, and achieving a balanced approach to both life and work.
Building a Network of Invaluable Relationships
The relationships I cultivated throughout the UCP program stand out as some of its most rewarding outcomes. I was privileged to connect with an array of incredible individuals, from my dedicated mentor Justin, to insightful panelists, accomplished engineers, and my fellow cohort members, each contributing uniquely to my growth journey. I also want to extend special gratitude to Zach Singleton, the visionary founder of the program, for his motivational speeches that consistently fueled our enthusiasm, and to Julia Alberts, MPA, the program’s dedicated staff manager, who ensured the seamless execution of every detail, playing a critical role in the program’s overall success.
Additionally, I want to acknowledge Anne-Marie Freeman, whose dynamic energy and recruiting expertise were incredibly valuable, as well as Yara Radwan and Luis Filipe Sales, who skillfully led numerous workshops and provided essential technical interview preparation advice. Finally, Jacquelyn Villena and Emma Ziegellaub Eichler were instrumental in facilitating and leading technical workshops, providing unwavering support at every stage of our learning journey.
The UCP Journey: A Beginning, Not an End
Although the formal program has concluded, it genuinely feels more like a commencement than a conclusion. Despite being a virtual program with participants spread across various time zones, I never experienced a sense of disconnection. Julia and the entire UCP team were exceptional in fostering continuous engagement, proactively sharing essential documents, contact details, and comprehensive post-workshop materials. This ensured we remained deeply connected to the wealth of knowledge we gained. Even now, as UCP alumni, we continue to actively network through the dedicated LinkedIn alumni group, and I am confident that the valuable relationships forged during this transformative time will extend far into the future.
Reflecting on my experience, it’s challenging to fully articulate the profound impact this program has had. I have significantly enhanced my technical capabilities, sharpened my problem-solving acumen, and – most importantly – developed a clearer, more confident sense of my place and potential within the tech industry. Inspired by the program, I now aspire to contribute back to this community that has given me so much. Observing UCP alumni leading workshops was incredibly motivating, and I sincerely hope to one day have the opportunity to pay it forward, contributing to the growth and development of future UCP cohorts.
Ultimately, the UCP experience has transcended algorithms and coding. It’s been about cultivating leadership qualities, learning to embrace failure as a stepping stone to growth, and nurturing the essential mindset needed to flourish in both my professional endeavors and life’s broader journey. I am profoundly grateful for the program, to every individual involved in making it exceptional, and to the new friends and mentors I’ve gained along the way.
Returning to Uber: Summer Internship 2025
These enriching workshops and dedicated mentorship sessions were purposefully designed not only to elevate our engineering skills but also represented Uber’s strategic investment in our potential. They were preparing us to return as highly capable software engineers, equipped with exceptional skill sets and ready to make a significant impact. Our performance throughout the program, coupled with the final two conversion interviews, provided us with the incredible opportunity to return to Uber the following summer as official software engineering interns! I am incredibly excited and proud to announce that I was among those selected, and I eagerly anticipate meeting all these remarkable individuals in person for the first time at Uber’s offices!
Final Thoughts: Connecting the Dots
Exactly one year prior to starting the UCP program, during the Fall 2023 semester at Rice University, I enrolled in a venture capital class. For my research paper, I chose to analyze Uber, delving into its market size, innovative business model, competitive landscape, and financial performance. I was genuinely amazed by the substantial growth this relatively young, 15-year-old company had achieved. Despite its current global success, it’s fascinating to remember that back in August 2008, the initial concept of a “next generation car service” was simply a slideshow presentation on founder Garrett Camp’s computer.
At that point in time, it was unimaginable that just one year later, I would be immersed in such a remarkable program at Uber, connecting with this welcoming and exceptionally talented community. And now, looking ahead two years, I will be joining this pioneering company in a role that truly excites me.
I deeply appreciate Steve Jobs’ insightful quote from his 2005 Stanford Commencement speech: ‘You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.’
For me, I can now clearly see how my diverse academic, leadership, and technical experiences have converged. Guided by faith, my supportive family, mentors, and friends, I’ve actively created new ‘dots’ through proactivity, unwavering passion, and deep gratitude. I trust that these concerted efforts will indeed yield positive outcomes, and all these seemingly disparate dots will ultimately connect to form a meaningful path, perhaps with a few curves, but always leading towards my destined goals.
I am filled with anticipation for what the future holds! While the specifics remain unknown, I am confident that whenever opportunities arise, I will be ready to –
GO GET IT!
