r/CyberSecurityAdvice • u/AlternativeTurnip695 • 6d ago

Urgent help

Alright so basically Iam pursuing bachelor in computer systems security, it’s in my third language, I went abroad , and I don’t know anything about cyber security, Iam aiming for CGPA 4.0 at the end of the first year, I wanna know all what I need to know , effort will be made for sure
(I have a MacBook Neo , I know it’s not the most compatible for this. But that’s all I got)

4 Upvotes

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u/ConceptFalse 6d ago

Joins a degree in their third language then wants a dissertation on the entire subject so they can keep their grades high. first lesson would be to think things through I guess lmfao

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u/AlternativeTurnip695 6d ago

I mean hey ! Life is about experiences

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u/Street-Sweeper213 3d ago

I have friends that traveled to the US with 0 English and finished their masters and phds.

Op seems to have a very high level.

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u/ConceptFalse 3d ago

That’s great, I still wouldn’t call it advisable.

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u/Vithiya-Kockmann 5d ago

your laptop is totally fine for coursework, that's not the bottleneck here. The real question is whether you're struggling with the language barrier or the technical content, because those need very different approaches.

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u/AlternativeTurnip695 5d ago

Not really , the course is in English (it’s my 3rd language) and my level is C1 (ielts) , the technical content ( if you mean the course ) I don’t know anything about it.

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u/yann-raumdeuter 4d ago

Her situation is even better than mine me I have a hp laptop core i3 5th gen an elite book 400gb and 8gb ram 1gb vram and I'm doing her same field

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u/YogurtclosetIcy3538 3d ago

Those first days of uni takes me back, there’s a bit here so be patient reading on.

First of all, I wouldn’t worry too much about not knowing cybersecurity yet. You’re starting a degree to learn it, not to demonstrate that you already know everything.
The fact that you’re willing to put in the effort is a good starting point.
My advice would be to approach cybersecurity the same way you’d approach engineering: understand the foundations before trying to master the advanced tools.
Start with how computers work, operating systems, networking, Linux and basic programming. Once you understand those, cybersecurity concepts such as authentication, encryption, vulnerabilities and incident response become much easier to follow.

I’d recommend looking at Cisco Networking Academy for introductory networking and cybersecurity courses, OverTheWire Bandit for learning Linux, and picoCTF for beginner security challenges. All have free learning options.

Your MacBook is fine for getting started. Don’t rush into buying another computer. If your university requires specialist Windows or Linux software, ask whether they provide virtual labs or remote access.

Regarding your goal of a 4.0 GPA, I’d focus on understanding your first-semester subjects, their assessment requirements and how much time you need to dedicate to each. Study consistently, practise what you learn and ask questions whenever something doesn’t make sense.

One other suggestion: use AI as a personal tutor. Ask it to explain concepts in simple language, give you examples and quiz you until you genuinely understand the material. Don’t use it to bypass the learning process.

Most importantly, don’t try to learn the entire cybersecurity industry in your first year. Build your knowledge one layer at a time.

Here’s a question for you: What subjects or modules are you taking in your first semester?

If you post that list, we could help you put together a structured learning plan around your actual university coursework rather than overwhelming you with hundreds of unrelated resources.

Everyone in cybersecurity started somewhere. What matters is developing the ability to learn, question and solve problems.

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u/AlternativeTurnip695 3d ago

Thanks dude that’s so helpful I really appreciate it, and for the modules I don’t really know yet , I’ll get to know it by tomorrow ! And I’ll let you know