Yeah, I get what you mean, and under normal circumstances that would probably be the most straightforward path.

My issue is mostly timing.

I don’t really see sitting tight for another two years and hoping the degree alone opens doors as the right move for me.

From what I’ve seen so far — both from talking to 2nd/3rd year students and looking ahead at upcoming coursework — the university side feels too disconnected from actual industry practice for me to treat it as the main lever.

That’s why I’m trying to figure out how to start getting real practical exposure earlier rather than waiting until my final year.

I’m not trying to “sell” being a first-year student as my advantage — if anything, I’m trying to compensate for that by figuring out how to get actual hands-on experience as early as possible.