What's your advice for future CS students?

Quick thoughts:

• If you can get courses where you happen to be going on basic set theory and graph theory without needing a bunch of prerequisite courses, try to make a point to take them. Both are exceedingly helpful for understanding a lot of common data structures and algorithms used very widely in computer science. Statistics is also a good math course to pick up as an elective, but that's more because of it's general utility in any engineering focused field, not just CS.
• Make certain you get an internship. Even if it ends up being unpaid at a company you really don't like. Almost nobody wants to hire a CS student who has no applied experience, and an internship is a good solid way to get such experience. Alternatively, do everything you can to make (useful) contributions to FOSS projects (this gives you a similar demonstration of practical experience you can put on a resumé, which one is better depends on where exactly you're applying, but a lot of big name companies still seem to favor internships over FOSS contributions).
• Try to make a point to learn to use version control software, even if you have to do it on your own time. One of the biggest complaints I here out of people hiring developers is that the new hires have no idea how to use version control properly. Git is probably your best bet here, as it's very quickly becoming the de-facto standard and it also has reasonably good tutorials and supporting documentation. The aforementioned graph theory will help with this too (many of the large-scale VCS operations are easiest to explain in terms of manipulating a graph representation of the sequence of changes).
• Learn to use Linux or BSD. The likelihood is consistently decreasing that you will not need to know about UNIX-like environments when you eventually get a job as a developer (pretty much, unless you're doing only business software or bare-metal embedded work, you will almost certainly have to use Linux or BSD at some point).
• Diversify your skill sets as much as you reasonably can, especially if you're in the US (for some reason, a lot of universities here still seem to think that all you need for CS is Java and C++, which is horribly wrong). This is especially important for employability, as it's becoming rarer as time goes on for any given project to only need one or two languages.

1. Stay curious. There is a lot of learn, now and in the future. Staying curious will only help in the in school, and after it.

2. Go beyond the curriculum. Odds are your school wont teach you a bunch of different languages (JavaScript, Python) nor will they teach you a bunch of different tools you may need (like git, github, Linux). Also, doing more to show off only helps down the line when you graduate. Build stuff if you have time, save all of it with the idea of showing it off when you go on the job search.

3. Try to be a jack of all trades as reasonably as you can. Not specializing will only help keep more doors open, staying flexible helps you learn and grow faster than if you stick to just one thing.

4. Some math is overrated. I had to learn calculus and physics, yet haven't touched either since graduating. If you don't plan on going into anything related to physics, you wont ever need this knowledge.

5. Some math is critical. "Computer science math", IE data structure, and algorithms is the single most important thing to learn from school. It applies in all code, all languages, and all use-cases.

6. Be a team player. Learning how to work with others is an excellent time to learn team dynamics. Odds are you will end up working with other people, so learn to be nice 😄

7. Take advantage of the schools networking and job opportunities. This is hands down the #1 reason to go to school, as colleges usually provide services to help with the job search. Take advantage of job fairs, internship opportunities, scholarships, and networking opportunities. This is the closest thing to a "sure-bet" way of getting a job or at least an internship. Don't expect to be 100% hire-able when you graduate, but getting experience before graduating sets you a head above the rest.

8. Finally, enjoy it! Going to college/higher education seems like it will take forever, but before you know it it will be over. Stick to your guns, work hard and stick it out. (Usually) no one forces you to go to college, and its totally fine to not go through with it, but ask yourself if not doing it is worth it. Computer Science is all about learning, why not get something official out of it?

As a CS student myself, I would say:

• Think twice. Are you a gamer? That doesn't mean that your meaning in life is to work in CS. How does the graduate profile look like?
• Do some research. Talk with people that are studying CS, that already have their title, and with people that drop off, that are working as devs after leaving college. That will really help you to set your priorities.
• Learn more. Don't just stay with the classes, there is a lot more out there.
• Network. Make some friends. If you end up alone, helpless and bored, you'll drop off.

edit: I forgot, start a blog!

• Travel to a 3rd world country
• Get a CS degree for cheap
• Get an experience at an internationally known company for a year or two
• Return back to your country
• Enjoy the money since you're not drowning in debt

~ Tips based off of my experience

NOTE: This path requires you to study harder but hey, you're not in debt :P

As a Systems Engineering student, i would look back in keeping my programming side projects as a way to learn how to code and work without the fear of doing mistakes, since that's a good way to learn.
Try to rush the science and non CS subjects first so you can learn by doing if you land a job while studying in all the programming stuff.
Work will demand you to learn even more useful stuff, but don't feel overwhelmed and take it on your own pace

1. Persevere. There is always something to learn, no matter how much experience you have. Persevere through the challenges and keep up a positive attitude!

2. Failures = Steps to success. Don't be afraid to fail. Learn from your failures. Without them, you won't know what to avoid and what to do to get you to finally succeed.

3. Learn source control. Normally not taught in school. It's crucial for professional work.

4. Learn soft skills too. Written and verbal communication skills, ability to work well with people, being collaborative are all skills that will earn you a promotion faster and will generate more $$$.

5. Learn project management. Software is complex and majority will require adequate project management. Again, extra $$$ if you can do this.

• You're going to need to teach yourself / research just as much as or even more than what your professors will teach you if you are to succeed.
• Practice - just like any skill, practice is the only way to get better. This coincides with my first point. Go beyond completing your school assignments to get that practice in.

Good luck!

I'll keep it small and simple.

• don't be afraid to go on your own. I see a lot of people, i did it also, thinking: "i'll just finish this module and than I will know more and then I will be able". Start learning on your own, and when it gets difficult and you are hitting the wall, try harder.
• Socialize. All those people around you are also trying to get a job, learn something, know someone in some company. When you need tips, help, introduction to someone being good with others will help.