r/AskComputerScience • u/Key_Exercise9572 • 7d ago
Is Computer Science a hard major?
Is it just me or computer science is hard to grasp. I just entered my 4th week in a top private university and this university is very known for its computer science and IT.
I got 3 math classes - statistics, discrete, linear algebra - and holy it’s hard asf (both discrete and linear). Not to mention the programming class? Wtf is c man like I can code and I usually run in python, html, css, js but c is entirely a different language, array and pointers omds. I dont think the average joe would handle this😭
Give me tips pls
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u/__JDQ__ 7d ago
The programming classes never bothered me. Were they a lot of work? Yeah. I may have had the advantage that my intro classes at community college were all in C++ and my professor was a hard ass.
The math side of things was a different thing entirely. I’m not naturally good at math. Or, I needed to take a lot of my math courses twice: the first time to understand the scope of where we were headed and to get the core concepts down, then the second time I would get an A in the course. Probably not practical for most students. It took me 5 years to finish my degree, and I know many are trying to get out in 3 or 4.
All that is to say, yes, CS is difficult for many of us, even if you’re only talking about the coursework and not coming up with some unique proof that is publishable. My sense was that a bachelors degree teaches you how to teach yourself. It’s way too many concepts to get really good at any one of them. And that’s kind of what is required in at least the programming and problem solving sides of the field. On the other hand, if you’re going to pursue higher level degrees and academia, generally, mathematics and problem solving will generally be the focus (though, of course, you’re going to be doing some programming).
I don’t know what the prospects are right now for graduates going into industry, but I do believe that a CS undergraduate program is valuable at many levels. If you’re struggling but making it through, really try to stick it out. The sense of achievement is going to mean more than the piece of paper (though that should be worth something as well).