On GSoC and Participating in Open Source (selenic.com)

In summary: work with us, don't go off in your own corner and work by yourself. This was roughly my experience with GSoC. I could easily have tackled the technical challenges on my own. But learning to work with a team is the most valuable thing I learned.

I agree with what he said. Unfortunately for me, I did exactly what he said not to do and GSoC wasn't as fulfilling as it could have been as a result.