I'm finishing my second year of computer science, but I feel like I haven't learned much. The pace has been intense, and I've dealt with some personal issues, which made survival my priority rather than mastering the material. I often relied on chat tools for my coding assignments and scraped through math courses. Despite that, I've picked up some useful lessons. I'm looking to use my summer break to strengthen my coding skills and fill the gaps I missed in my first year. What do you recommend? Should I take an online course or sign up for a bootcamp? I believe I can improve my coding skills without necessarily going through university, especially since so many young coders are out there teaching themselves. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Starting with small projects is definitely the way to go! Begin with simpler tasks and progressively make them more challenging. Take some time to plan these projects out on paper first. You might also want to check out some project ideas and practice sites—I know there are great resources in the sidebars of programming communities. They can really help you brainstorm what to work on next!
I totally get where you're coming from! I graduated in programming too, and I had those same feelings. Honestly, college didn't teach me much either. I’d recommend focusing on one programming language at a time. Pick something like Python and create a learning roadmap for yourself. Start with the basics, make some mini projects, and then gradually explore more complex topics. This way, you'll build a solid foundation and really learn the language well.
Thank you, I appreciate the advice!