PRE-PISCINE HANDBOOK
You’re about to take your first steps into our Piscine, and while it might feel a bit chilly at first, don’t worry, we’re here to offer some guidance to make your initial dive with us as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
This page provides a glimpse into the experience that awaits you. While we can’t cover everything there is to know about the Piscine — because part of the excitement lies in discovering it for yourself — we’re happy to share some key information that will be especially helpful as you begin your journey
WHAT DOES THE PISCINE
LOOK LIKE @ 42 BERLIN?
OPENING HOURS
- Cafe, Auditorium, Kitchen, Nap room and Entertainment Rooms: Workdays from 08:30 to 18:30
- All other areas: open 24/7
Visitors: only pisciners and students are allowed on site. Guests must be signed in at the front desk and are permitted only from 09:00 to 18:00.
CAMPUS & LOCATION
Location: Harzer Straße 42.
We are kid-friendly 👶: there are rooms for parents who would like to bring their kids along.
We are dog-friendly 🐶, however there are also spaces which are dog-free.
OVERVIEW OF THE 4 WEEKS
The piscine is a 4-week marathon, so take your time to ease into it. It may seem daunting or difficult at first, but once you’re warmed up, it will be much easier to face coding challenges of increasing difficulty.
The piscine is not a race to see who is the last one standing, and there is no competition for places. What’s most important is to Work hard, Progress and Collaborate.
You will find our most vital tools at your fingertips: 42 Intra for projects, Slack for communication, and Notion for information. Embrace the challenges, lean on the community, and together with your peers you will excel.
If ever you need an extra helping hand, our 🐻 Grizzlies 🐻 — a team of students dedicated to making your journey smoother — and Staff members are here to guide and assist.
Agenda
The following information is an overview of the basic events and activities that you will encounter during the Piscine (non-academic events may vary for each Piscine):
MONDAY – THURSDAY
Morning Activities: May include coffee sessions, meetups, or challenges.
Afternoon Events: Themed meetups (Women+, LGBTQIA+, community talks, etc.).
Evening Activities: Additional project work, games like Mario Kart, or career-related sessions.
FRIDAYS
Exams: There are 4 exams in total
First 3 Fridays: 14:00–18:00
Final Friday: 10:00–18:00
WEEKENDS
Rushes: Group projects, there are 3 of them in total
When? Friday 18:42 – Sunday 23:42
What are Rushes?
Rushes are intensive, 48-hour coding projects designed to test your skills under pressure. They emphasise teamwork, problem-solving, and writing clean, efficient code.
You’ll face real-world challenges, manage tight deadlines, and improve through peer reviews, making Rushes a crucial part of your growth as a programmer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 🧑🚀
Do I have to be onsite every day?
Do I have to participate in all events ?
I can’t come to the exam(s) or rushes, is that a big problem?
What is the structure of the learning process?
Do I have to complete all the projects to be selected?
Can I use chatGPT or any other AI helping tool?
We advise against using AI as a learning tool when learning how to code as it may hinder your ability to come up with your own solutions. Imagine trying to learn a new language using google translate instead of working it out yourself first.
However, tools can.be helpful in the hands of curious individuals, eager to learn how these tools can help them without depending on them.
Copy-pasting or any form of plagiarism is, of course, strictly forbidden and may result in expulsion.
Where can I find more information about the events and activities happening during the Piscine?
On Intra you will have an overview of all the events, on Slack you can post and reach out for help and will see the latest news unravel and on Notion you will have access to all 42 Berlin related topics (house rules, exam rules, resources)
Are there are limited number of people who can be selected at the end of the Piscine?
Nope, we do not currently have any restrictions on our intake of students. The Piscine is a space for collaboration rather than competition.
How many hours a day should I spend studying?
Can I do the piscine with a full / part-time job?
As mentioned above, you are free to organise your time and schedule. Nevertheless, it is strongly advised to put your focus fully on the Piscine during these 4 weeks, as you’ll soon discover that it takes as much energy and time as a full-time job.
We recommend taking holidays, asking those around you for extra support and freeing up as much time as possible for the piscine.
What happens if I can’t make it to the exam/rush/evaluation?
If you can’t make it to a certain event, don’t worry. All we ask is that you send an email to [email protected] to explain why you can’t make it so we can take that into account. We urge you to try your best to make it to the Final Exam.
Can I bring my baby?
You sure can, we have a child-friendly room on the ground floor. Speak to the operations team beforehand to ensure there will be enough space for everyone who needs it.
Are animals allowed inside the campus?
Friendly, well-behaved and clean dogs are allowed inside the campus. If you want to bring your dog with you, please read the House Rules on Notion.
Is there any place on campus where I can rest and sleep?
We have a nap room, which is located on the first floor. You are welcome to use it. Nevertheless, we do also have some House Rules on Notion, please read them.
With whom can I talk to in case of any kind of issues?
First of all, Don’t Panic! This is your first experience in peer-to-peer learning, so feel free to ask your peers as they may already know the solution.
If you’re unsure, you can always ask our students who will be helping you during such events – Grizzlies! They may be bears, but fear not – they don’t bite. They will be happy to provide insight into the 42 Berlin experience, however they’re not there to help you with your code! Finally, our
Campus Life Manager will be your go to person if you’re facing challenges, need someone to talk to, or have a rant with. He is there and available to support you through the highs and lows of the Piscine.
What happens after the Piscine?
After the final exam you’re going to have an amazing afterparty. We will contact everyone by mail with the selection results within 2 weeks.
Why are there ducks on campus?
Otherwise our code might be buggy.
USEFUL LINKS
42 Slack
Find the link in you mailbox or check the Readme.md file
on the desktop of a cluster computer.