Which skill is best for a CS student in 2025?

Learning how to think and solve problems. Master those, and the rest will follow. Also, many CS graduates struggle with how to learn, really. Even after having graduated, many struggle to pick up new skills. In CS these days, you NEVER stop learning. Ever. Master skills to learn new subjects is well worth the effort. The book, A Mind for Numbers, is a good place to start.

So, get a minor or second major in math, as that will teach you how to think and solve problems. Any CS degree will probably get you close anyway. Take linear algebra and discreate if you can. Also if you can, get some hardware experience, low level knowledge like Assembly, Digital Logic, Computer Architecture. embedded design if they are not required for your degree. These would all be great electives.

Another option is to hang out an extra year, maybe two, and get a masters. I would recommend software engineering, maybe hardware engineering, or maybe AI or Stats depending on your interests and goals. If you are just graduating, this will probably be the easiest time in your life to get a masters as well. That will set you apart well.

Just a few thoughts after 30+ years in the profession and 12 years full time in school, having started with my first full time software position at 18 years old writing LISP for an engineering company. What I mention above are things that I think would have significantly helped me. Well, that and realizing that I had a full ride tuition scholarship and somehow financial aid missed it. It’s been 30 years and I am still upset about that one.