Chapter 2 Creating Your GitHub Account

GitHub is the foundation for many of the tools we’ll use in this course. Let’s get you set up with a free GitHub account using your university email.

Why use your .edu email?

GitHub offers free premium features to students and educators, including:

• ✅ GitHub Copilot (AI coding assistant) — normally $10/month
• ✅ GitHub Pro features (private repositories, advanced tools)
• ✅ Access to GitHub Education Pack (free software and services worth $1000s)

2.1 Step 1: Go to GitHub’s Website

1. Open your web browser
2. Navigate to: https://github.com

2.2 Step 2: Sign Up for an Account

Click the “Sign up” button in the top-right corner.

2.2.1 Fill Out the Sign-Up Form

GitHub will ask you to:

1. Enter your .edu email address
   • Example: jsmith@uark.edu or jane.smith@email.uark.edu

Important: Use your university (.edu) email to get student benefits! Don’t use Gmail, Yahoo, or other personal emails.

2. Create a password
   • Use a strong password (at least 8 characters)
   • Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
   • Example: MyG!thub2024Pass
3. Choose a username
   • This will be your GitHub identity
   • Choose something professional (you may share this on resumes!)
   • Examples: jsmith-uark, jane_data_scientist, agst_student2024

Username tips:

• ✅ Keep it professional (avoid silly or offensive names)
• ✅ Include your name or field (e.g., maria-agstats, john-doe-research)
• ✅ Shorter is better (easier to remember and type)
• ❌ Avoid numbers like user12345 (hard to remember)

4. Complete the verification puzzle
   • GitHub will ask you to solve a simple puzzle to verify you’re human
   • Follow the on-screen instructions
5. Click “Create account”

2.3 Step 3: Verify Your Email

GitHub will send a verification code to your university email.

1. Open your university email inbox
2. Look for an email from GitHub (check spam if you don’t see it)
3. Copy the verification code (usually 6 digits)
4. Paste it into the GitHub verification page

Email not arriving?

• Check your spam/junk folder
• Make sure you typed your email correctly
• Wait 2-3 minutes for email delivery
• Click “Resend code” if needed

2.4 Step 4: Customize Your Experience (Optional)

GitHub may ask you a few questions about how you plan to use the platform:

• What do you want to do with GitHub? → Select “Learn to code” or “Work on school projects”
• What is your experience level? → Select honestly (e.g., “Beginner” or “New to programming”)
• What are you interested in? → Select “Data analysis” or “Statistics”

You can skip these questions if you prefer — they don’t affect your account.

2.5 Step 5: Explore Your New GitHub Account

Congratulations! 🎉 You now have a GitHub account. You’ll see your GitHub Dashboard.

What you see on your dashboard:

• Repositories — Your code projects (none yet, that’s normal!)
• Activity feed — Updates from projects you follow
• Profile — Your public GitHub profile

2.6 Step 6: Apply for GitHub Student Benefits

Now that you have a GitHub account, let’s get your free student benefits (including GitHub Copilot).

2.6.1 6.1 Navigate to GitHub Education

1. Go to: https://education.github.com/
2. Click “Get benefits” or “Join GitHub Education”

2.6.2 6.2 Apply for Student Benefits

1. Click “Get student benefits”

2. Select “Student” (not teacher)

3. Fill out the application form:

   • Email: Your .edu email (should auto-populate)
   • School name: University of Arkansas (or your institution)
   • Graduation year: Your expected graduation year
   • How will you use GitHub?: Describe your coursework (e.g., “Statistical analysis for my Experimental Design course”)

4. Upload proof of enrollment (one of the following):

   • 📸 Photo of your student ID (make sure your name and school are visible)
   • 📄 Screenshot of your class schedule from the student portal
   • 📧 Official enrollment verification letter

Tips for uploading proof:

• Make sure the image is clear and legible
• Remove sensitive information (like student ID numbers) if you prefer
• Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, PDF
• Max file size: 5 MB

5. Click “Submit your information”

2.6.3 6.3 Wait for Approval

GitHub will review your application. This usually takes:

• ✅ A few minutes if everything is clear
• ⏱️ 1-2 business days if manual review is needed

You’ll receive an email when you’re approved!

What if my application is rejected?

Don’t worry! Common reasons and fixes:

• 📸 Photo unclear → Retake with better lighting
• 📧 Wrong email → Make sure you used your .edu address
• 📅 Already graduated → GitHub benefits are for current students only

You can reapply after fixing the issue.

2.7 Step 7: Confirm GitHub Copilot Access

Once approved for student benefits, you’ll automatically have access to GitHub Copilot. To verify:

1. Go to https://github.com/settings/copilot
2. You should see: “You have access to GitHub Copilot through GitHub Education”

Don’t see Copilot access yet?

It may take a few hours after approval for Copilot to activate. If it’s been more than 24 hours, contact GitHub Education Support.

2.8 Video Tutorial: Creating a GitHub Account

Video not loading?

You can also watch directly on YouTube: How to Create a GitHub Account

2.9 Summary Checklist

Before moving to the next chapter, make sure you have:

• ✅ Created a GitHub account with your .edu email
• ✅ Verified your email address
• ✅ Applied for GitHub Student Benefits
• ✅ Uploaded proof of enrollment
• ✅ Confirmed you have GitHub Copilot access (or application pending)

Keep this information handy:

• 🔑 GitHub username: ________________
• 🔐 Password: Store it securely (use a password manager!)
• 📧 Email: Your .edu email used for GitHub

You’ll need to sign in with these credentials in later chapters.

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Next: Chapter 3: Installing Visual Studio Code