Struggling with C and C++ After a Crash Course – How Can I Catch Up?

How well have you been doing on the homework assignments? These should help prepare you for the final. It's worth checking if there are any tutoring sessions available or office hours to get additional help. Sometimes professors or TAs can provide extra resources.

Make sure you're actually doing the exercises given to you in class. Then create your own practice problems to solve. It's all about practice and repetition. The more you code, the better you'll grasp the concepts.

University isn't just about being taught; it's about learning how to teach yourself. Break down your studying into manageable tasks. Start with simple programs like a 'Hello World' to get familiar with the syntax. Use resources like cppreference or online tutorials to deepen your understanding. It's crucial to focus on problem-solving and software design principles instead of memorizing syntax.

Just remember to focus on what’s going to be on the exam. It sounds boring, but just learn the essential parts that will be covered. You can always dive deeper into C and C++ concepts later.

Check out the Harvard CS50 lectures on YouTube, especially lectures 1-5 for a solid refresher on the basics. I find watching these while coding along in a text editor really helps. Try writing down every program the instructor covers and compile it as you go to see the results firsthand. Books can be overwhelming at times, so working on beginner projects like creating a simple Tic Tac Toe game or your version of the 'cat' command can really solidify your understanding.