Got this software engineering job set up once I graduate, honestly I think I was lucky, but on to the rant. I'm realizing that I didn't study core CS knowledge 1/2 as much as I should have (c++based). I need this core knowledge for my job, so how can I best prepare with the remaining months? Friends said to just code something, but I have no idea what I would make.

I don't want to be the new guy that just had a nice resume and good extracurriculars, I want to get interested in code! I want to love this field, but have no clue where to start or get the motivation. I want to swap my video game hours with useful ones. Thanks fellow devs.

It's not a competition, just be ready to learn, maybe review a couple of books. Save your energy for learning their codebase.

Swap your video game hours with useful ones?

If you have free time (I realize you do), combine gaming and programming!!

Make a very low level game in a terminal with c++ or a high level one with Unity. Imagine a Candy crush game made in half a day with Unity. Personally it took 2 days for a small 2D game but the result was sooo rewarding! The feel of a game made by you is the real thing!! I wish I had more time for game development...sorry, I lost my flow.

As I was saying, I totally recommend Unity but if you want pure programming then do a simple User Interface but complicated in code game. That reminds me of an assignment that I had once. "Try to simulate the cos(x) in a terminal with ASCII characters and C". Can you do that? Python is good for small scripts and mind bending (just saying...)

Freedom to gamers!! I just felt I should say that.