How do I get through to startups for a summer position?
mrtron: Carleton or UofO?  Are you in the co-op program or looking for a general summer position?Startups tend not to hire co-ops, because they cannot afford the risk of getting a dud.  I worked for a term at a startup and it actually was very difficult to dive into, it was a very niche technology and nobody had time to guide me.This early in your career, maybe working for a large company doing a small project would be ideal.  You would probably get paid better and have a boss that has time for you.If you want to volunteer at a startup and find the right team it would probably be the best opportunity for skill growth.