Hey everyone! I'm a 16-year-old STEM senior who's about to dive into a BS in Computer Science. I've started learning programming and I had a question about how to approach it before classes start. Should I focus on mastering one language, like Python, or is it better to dabble in multiple languages even if I can't master them all right away? I'm worried about keeping up in college and I know programming can be challenging, but I want to make sure I don't overwhelm myself. I'd love to hear thoughts from anyone who's been in a similar situation or has advice on how to get started! Thanks!
5 Answers
Focusing on languages isn’t as important as picking a project you’re excited about. Find something fun to build—like a web app or a data science project—research which programming languages fit, and get to solving those problems. You’ll learn a ton just by doing. But if you're interested in learning programming languages deeply, I'd suggest checking out 'C - A Modern Approach' by K. N. King to get a solid foundation in C, which makes understanding other languages easier later on.
Solid fundamentals make it easy to switch between languages. Learn the syntax for what you’ll use most, but focus on good coding habits and concepts like data structures and algorithms. These will transfer well no matter which language you pick later! That way, you can adapt to different projects without a huge learning curve each time.
You might want to check what languages your upcoming college courses will focus on. In my experience, my first year started with Python, and everything afterward relied heavily on C/C++. So learning programming fundamentals in Python first and then transitioning to C or C++ would help set you up for success in data structures and algorithms courses.
It’s totally fine to give yourself a head start! You don’t need to learn multiple languages right now. Python is a versatile choice to get comfortable with programming fundamentals. Once you nail the basics, picking up C or Java later will feel much easier because you’ll already understand the core concepts. College will give you plenty of opportunities to learn more languages, so take your time!
In my opinion, stick with Python for now. It’s beginner-friendly and lets you grasp core programming concepts without getting lost in complex syntax. Just get proficient—understand the basics like loops, functions, and file handling. Once you’re comfortable, you can branch out to other languages. Try to learn what your college uses for teaching—if it’s Python, great! If not, you'll have a head start once you switch to it in your courses.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll definitely check out that book. Do you have any tips on how to pick a project to work on?