I'm 34 and recently applied to a local community college. Since my state offers two years of free community college for people without a bachelor's degree, I figured this would be a good opportunity to return to school. I haven't been in school for quite a while, so I'm wondering whether I should start preparing before classes begin in the spring. Would it be better to arrive with no prior knowledge, or should I spend the next few months learning the basics? I've heard about CS50 and 100 Days of Code, but I'm not sure whether either is a good starting point. I'd appreciate suggestions for what to study, which tools to install, or how to practice effectively before January.
4 Answers
Start as soon as you can, but keep the first projects simple. Learn the basics of one language, follow a tutorial that builds a small project, and then try changing or improving it yourself. Searching for specific solutions as you go is a normal part of programming.
Getting comfortable with programming before class will probably help a lot. CS50 is a solid free option, but any beginner-friendly course can work if you actively type the code yourself, run it, and experiment instead of just watching. Even a small head start will make the early material feel less overwhelming.
The biggest challenge is staying consistent after the first couple of weeks. Also, starting at 34 is completely fine—older students can absolutely succeed and move into development careers.
CS50x is worth checking out because you can audit it for free. It gives a broad introduction to computer science and programming, so it may be more useful than jumping randomly between short tutorials. You don’t need to master everything before class—just focus on building familiarity and a regular study habit.
You could begin with the command line and basic scripting, then move into Python or another language used in your classes. Pick a small problem, solve it, and gradually improve the solution. Save your work with version control so you can track changes and get used to a tool like GitHub.
That makes sense. I’m going to find a beginner course and set up the tools I need so I can start practicing this week.