# Intermediate Technical Interview Prep (TIP102): Key Links and FAQ

## Key links
* [Course portal](https://courses.codepath.org/courses/tip102/pages/getting_started)
* [Course overview and syllabus](https://courses.codepath.org/courses/tip102/pages/getting_started#heading-course-structure)
* [Groupings](https://courses.codepath.org/courses/tip102/pages/groupings)
* [HackerRank FAQs](https://courses.codepath.org/courses/tip102/pages/hackerrank_assessments)
* [Leetcode FAQs](https://hackmd.io/@djbungay/leetcode_faq)
* [My Report FAQs](https://hackmd.io/@djbungay/report_faq)

## Live Sessions
### BEFORE THE SESSION
- [ ] Download [Zoom](https://zoom.us/download) (make sure you have the most updated one)
- [ ] Make sure you have a copy of your personal member ID found in the course portal.

- [ ] **Join at least 5 minutes before the session** to make sure that any technical difficulties that you have are resolved before the lecture begins
- [ ] **Use the email address used in the CodePath application** to make sure that we know that you showed up for the class.
- [ ] Remember your group number in case you get disconnected from the session (the link to the groupings are at the top of this document)

#### Where can I find the Sesssion Link
* This is found on the calendar invites. If you have not received them, reach out to [e-mail] or through Slack
* TIP102 coordinator: Monique Truz ([@Monique](https://codepath.slack.com/team/U0231HUHHA6))

### DURING THE SESSION
* Prepend your group number to your Zoom name. You can change your Zoom display name **by going to Participants -> Find your name and hover over it -> Click on More -> Rename**.

* Example: if Caren was in group 1: she would rename herself as 1 - Caren Chang


* **Click Show Caption.** If you want automated captions to appear on your end, click the CC button at the bottom of the screen.

* After the lecture, students will be grouped and placed into breakout rooms

* **Make sure to turn your camera on and actively participate during the breakout session.** This is required as part of your attendance and greatly helps for easier group collaboration.

#### How do I join the breakout room?
* We set up Zoom so you will be automatically routed to your breakout rooms

* If in case you weren’t routed to your room, the host will need to invite you to join the room

* Click Join.


* If you missed this prompt, click on the Breakout rooms button at the bottom of the window


#### I need help while in a breakout room
* You can get help by clicking on “Ask for help”

#### Why are my other groupmates not in the breakout room?
* It’s most likely due to either of these reasons:
* They are not attending the session today
* They got disconnected and need to be assigned to your breakout room
* They have been assigned, but have not clicked on the Join breakout room button.

#### Our Coach/TF is absent. What do we do?
* We encourage you to continue to work on the task and discuss the problems amongst yourselves.
* Click on the “Ask for help” button if you are stuck and need help.

#### How do I know if it’s time to leave my breakout room?
* An announcement will be made when groups are being called back into the lobby for a wrap-up.

### AFTER THE SESSION
* The session recording will be posted on Slack once it is available.
* Complete the assignment by the deadline.

## Course Policies

### Be present.
* **Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.**
* All students are allowed **up to 3 absences** throughout the entire program. Students do not need to submit a request to use these absences.
* We check attendance multiple times throughout a class session and may mark you as absent if you are missing for the majority of a session.
* Students who are absent must still submit the coursework for a unit by the posted deadline.

### Participate.
#### Class Sessions
* Students are expected to actively attend and participate in each session.
* **Camera and microphone usage** is required as part of active participation.
* During lecture and independent work time, we **strongly encourage** students to turn their cameras on to increase focus and participation.
* During any group work time, students are **required** to have their cameras on and verbally respond during breakout room sessions in order to collaborate with their peers, build relationships, and practice professionalism. If students do not have their cameras on during group work portions of class, they will be marked absent.

#### Assignments
* Students are required to submit one HackerRank assignment each week at the end of the unit. These HackerRanks are for you all to be able to log lots of practice, get your own scores, and become very familiar with HackerRank screens.
* All students are **allowed up to 2 deadline extensions** of 72 hours to be used on **2 separate assignments**. Students do not need to submit a request to use these extensions; they will be automatically applied.
* Students must submit all assignments before the deadline or deadline extension in order to stay actively enrolled in the course. **Students are not allowed to have any missing assignments at any point during the course.**

### Communicate.
* Students are placed in pods with the same peers and coach throughout the entire course run. Practice professional courtesy and let them know 24 hours in advance if you will not be attending the class session.
* If you have an extenuating circumstance that affects your attendance or assignment submission, please email [e-mail].
* If you have technical difficulties that require your HackerRank to be reset, please email [e-mail] **before the deadline** or your submission will still be counted as missing.

## Course Policy FAQs
### Homework and practice problems

What are the homework tasks for this course?
* HackerRank Assessments (Assignment)

Do I need to manually submit coursework to CodePath?
* We automatically scan your HackerRanks so you don't have to do anything except submit directly on HackerRank through the links we provide and with your Github and email matching the ones associated with this course.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid transparent; border-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 10px; border-radius:4px; color: #a94442; background-color: #f2dede; border-color: #ebccd1;">➡️ Reach out to us at <a href="[e-mail]">[e-mail]</a> if you are having issues with submitting your assignment.</div>

#### What happens if I miss a submission during the deadline?
* The 72-hour extension will be automatically triggered and you can still submit your assignment within that timeframe. You are allowed **2 late submissions** for the whole duration for the program.
* If you still have not submitted your assignment after the 72-hour extension, you will then be moved to Observer status.
* If you need additional time extension due to **extenuating circumstances**, email [e-mail].

#### Can I skip homework entirely?
* No, all coursework submissions are required and need to be submitted within the deadline.
* Missing any of the assignments will result to your grades not being recorded anymore and not getting any course completion certificate

#### I received a missing submission email by mistake
* This usually happens because of the following reason:
* The account is incorrectly mapped because the email/Github you used for your submission was not matching with the ones associated with this course
* The submission could not be found
* Reply to the email and let us know and we’ll look into it further.

#### I’m stuck, how can I ask for help?
* Post your question on the help channel and tag your section TF group or the coach assigned to your group.
* TF slack user groups to tag:
* @tip102-tfs

### Attendance and absences
#### How many absences are allowed?
* You are allowed 3 absences for the duration of the course.
* Your grades will no longer be monitored and will not get any course completion certificate if you exceed this
#### What happens when I miss a session?
* You will receive an email acknowledging your absence
* You will still be required to complete the assignment by the deadline.
* The session recording will be posted so that you can watch them at your own time.

#### I was marked absent by mistake. What do I do?
* This typically happens if you join the session using a mobile device. To make sure this doesn’t happen:
* Use a laptop/PC device
* Register using the email used in your CodePath application
* You did not finish the class and left early. Students are required to attend **vast majority of the class duration** to be marked present.
## General Admissions
#### Will I receive a certificate of completion?
* Yes, as long as you did not exceed the allowed absences and have sumitted all the required assignments. We’ll send out digital certificates a week after the course wraps up.
#### Does my access to the course have an expiry?
* No, you will continue to have lifetime access to this course as long as you use the same github account associated with your CodePath application.
### Withdrawing from the Program
#### How can I withdraw from the program?
* You can do this from your course portal. At the top right you will find Quick Actions, where you can select Withdraw from course from the drop-down.

#### What happens when I withdraw from the program?
* You will be given observer access to the course. Some key elements on how this is different from participating in the actual class:
* You will continue to have access to the course materials online but are not part of a class
* You will not have access to the Slack channels
* No due dates or any expectations of observers imposed by us

Check our [Knowledge Base](https://support.codepath.org/hc/en-us) for more FAQs about the course.