Computer Engineering student interested in chip design. what should I be doing now to prepare for a career in VLSI/semiconductor?

I’m currently a Computer Engineering student transferring to a four-year university and I’m starting to seriously explore careers in chip design and the semiconductor industry. I am based in SoCal right now but wouldn’t mind moving even internationally career wise.

My background is a little unconventional. I previously worked professionally in cooking before returning to school, so I’m still building my engineering foundation. I have some experience with programming, using an Arduino, digital logic, and basic hardware concepts, but I haven’t taken many upper-division VLSI or semiconductor courses yet. I am considering the standard hardware route or the semi conductor industry. My school has a clean room and if I pursue my masters here I think making my own tape out would be a cool project to bring to interviews. I would also have the opportunity to get my masters in 5 years total instead of 6.

I’m particularly interested in eventually working in areas like digital design, ASIC/FPGA development, computer architecture, or potentially physical design.

For people currently working in the industry or who recently went through school:

•	What courses would you consider essential for someone targeting chip design?

•	How important are Verilog/SystemVerilog, FPGA projects, and RTL design for getting an internship?

•	What kinds of personal or undergraduate research projects actually stand out on a resume?

•	Is it worth learning tools like Cadence, Synopsys, or similar EDA software independently?

•	How important is semiconductor device physics compared with digital design and computer architecture?

•	Would you recommend trying to get research experience in a university cleanroom/fabrication lab?

•	For internships, what skills separate a student who has taken the required courses from someone who is actually competitive for semiconductor companies?

•	Are there particular areas of chip design that are more accessible to students entering the field today?

I’m trying to build a roadmap rather than just collect random skills, so I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have hired interns or started their own careers in the semiconductor industry.