I'm starting my third semester in Computer Science at university. My first semester was a bit of a disaster learning C; the teachers weren't great, and I didn't put in enough effort, but at least I passed. In the second semester, I took Object Oriented Programming with Java and worked a lot harder, which paid off—I got an A! I even made a game for my project, and the teacher loved it. Now that summer's here, I feel like I still need to dive deeper into programming, but I'm torn between continuing with my OOP projects or starting on Data Structures and Algorithms, which is coming up in the next semester. How do some people seem to really excel within just one semester? Any advice on how to get better?
5 Answers
Focus on learning how to learn! If something’s confusing, don’t hesitate to research it or ask questions. Also, definitely utilize office hours with your instructor to get the best help available—it’s an underused resource!
Absolutely! Getting one-on-one help can really clear things up.
If you’re uncertain, I’d recommend working on your OOP projects for a bit. The best way to retain what you learn is to keep using it. Writing more code will make that knowledge stick.
Programming is a never-ending journey. It’s beneficial to learn some low-level concepts even if you're focused on high-level programming. Specializing in a particular area can come later; just remember that every field has its complexities to explore.
A big part of understanding programming is about experience. Just like a pianist learns melodies over time, you get better by building things. Try creating projects that interest you, and don’t be afraid to remake them later; you’ll see how much you’ve learned. It’s all about practice!
Programmers often know what to do because they've practiced similar problems and built up experience. Sometimes, you can spend a long time figuring out an issue before writing code! Those who excel quickly typically have background knowledge or have just spent more time tinkering on related projects outside of classes.
Totally agree! It helps to explore outside the classroom to really grasp the subject better.
Yes, exposure and extra practice can make a huge difference!
Yeah, office hours can make a world of difference.