gsoc: add contributor faq

_activities/gsoc.md

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ The selection process in our organization will be split into two phases. All can
 
 ### For Students
 
-If you are interested in the HSF projects, please start by having a look at our [guidelines for students]({{ site.baseurl }}/gsoc/students-guideline.html).
+If you are interested in the HSF projects, please start by having a look at our [guidelines for students]({{ site.baseurl }}/gsoc/students-guideline.html) and [frequently asked questions]({{ site.baseurl }}/gsoc/faq.html).
 
 New projects for HSF GSoC in 2025 will be published by **February 11**. Meanwhile you can take a look at last year's HSF GSoC [projects]({{ site.baseurl }}/gsoc/2023/index.html#projects-in-2022) since many of those may also propose subjects this year. The student application period will begin on **Mar 24**, but discussions about student project ideas with mentors will take place starting on **February 27**, when the list of accepted Organizations is announced. You are encouraged to monitor this website in order to get acquainted with our projects and be prepared for contacting their mentors. Due to the high number of applicants for CERN-HSF projects, the application period procedure become more formal this year, so please try to follow our guidance.
 

gsoc/faq.md

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+title: "HSF GSoC Contributor FAQ"
+author: "Valentin Volkl"
+layout: default
+---
+
+
+## ![GSOC-Logo]({{ site.baseurl }}/images/GSoC/GSoC-icon-192.png){:height="60px"} HSF GSoC - Frequently Asked Questions by Contributors
+
+
+> How do Contributors typically get started in your organization? Are there any small tasks, papers, or code components I can explore to build credibility and become familiar with your workflows? Can I contribute outside of GSoC?
+
+It's important to understand that the HSF organization is an umbrella organisation, that allows many different open source projects related to particle physics to participate.
+So there is no single answer to this, it depends on the individual projects.
+
+The software used in our field is typically very open, but also very specialised and often requires a reasonable level of domain knowledge to contribute to. Be mindful that when trying to contribute as a newcomer you are most likely asking for quite some time and effort of the maintainers. The maintainers who do have the time and inclination to mentor will very often come forward and propose a project idea, so if you don't know where to start, we recommend to wait and apply to an interesting project idea on the webpage. That said, all projects value quality contributions and some may have a GitHub presence with issues marked "good first issue" or a contributor's guide. Also take a look at past editions of the programme to see what projects could be interesting for you.
+
+> Are the project ideas on the website the only possible topics, or can I propose a new topic?
+
+It's absolutely possible to write your own proposal, especially if you are already familiar with a project. Our prospective mentors put in quite some effort to come up with good project ideas though, and they are typically the most likely to succeed.
+Do make sure you have mentors in mind when you write your own proposal and contact them. Spontaneous submissions to the GSoC website are not likely to succeed.
+
+> When will the list of project ideas be announced?
+
+Project ideas will be added to the website starting in January. You should wait until the contributor application period starts before contacting mentors though.
+
+> My proposal has been accepted, but my planning has changed due to exams etc. Can the submission deadlines be changed?
+
+Yes, the GSoC programme is intended to be somewhat flexible, see <https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/faq#can_the_schedule_be_adjusted_if_my_school_ends_latestarts_early> , just e-mail the HSF GSoC admins. Please coordinate with your mentors though, and let us know well before the evaluation window opens - once it opens it cannot be modified anymore.
+
+
+### Note
+
+See also the general GSoC FAQ by Google: <https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/faq>
+
+For any questions not yet answered, please email hsf-gsoc-admin AT googlegroups com.