The student application period for Google's Summer of Code is now open. If you are a student interested in applying for an SBCL-related project, great! There's an application template at the SBCL organization page: at the very least any application must include all the requested information.

When applying, it's worth realizing that both SBCL mentors and Google SoC administrators have a say in whether students are accepted onto the programme. I can't really say anything about what SoC administrators are looking for, but SBCL mentors are likely to be positively disposed towards applications which demonstrate:

• clear understanding of the proposed project: well-articulated final goal, detailed descriptions of intermediate deliverables;
  
• understanding of the project context: a description of how the wider SBCL user and developer community will benefit from the project;
  
• applicant engagement: evidence that the period leading up to application has been put to good use in interacting with the SBCL community.
  

There is still time for any prospective applicants to work to provide the basis for these demonstrations: applications to the SoC programme close on Friday 3rd May.

Members of some of the other, longer-participating projects in Summer of Code have also posted on the subject of student applications; they are perhaps worth reading for any prospective applicants. I've seen a blog post from a Debian mentor and the Clojure guidelines; there are probably others, saying similar things: communicate, demonstrate, self-motivate.