HolyArrow

My school didn't offer ap computer science, but I'd like to dive right into CS61A instead of doing 3L. I've been just reading up on some programming books during the summer and doing some rudimentary programming so far with BASIC just to get the feel of things. Has anyone done this before? How doable is it? I see everywhere that "prior programming experience is heavily recommended" for that class. Am I going to be stuck in the dark on my first day, or will I be ok as long as I stay ahead of the course material?

strikemaster6

I haven't taken AP Comp Sci and I'm taking 61A so I hope it won't be too difficult. I'll study up a bit more during the summer, I guess haha.

ryanjulian

AP Comp Sci really has little to do with CS61A (it's closer analog is CS61B, but 61B is MUCH more in depth).

CS61A runs at breakneck speed. Believe it or not, you cover basically every area in Computer Science in a little under 15 weeks. The material builds, and missing one concept last week can leave you completely lost for the next five. Programming books won't keep you ahead of the curve, because 61A studies computer science, not programming.

Whether you're ready for 61A is really predicated upon how much programming experience you've had. For instance, if I said "Write me a program which recursively computes n! (using the language of your choice)", could you do it? If you couldn't you're DEFINITELY not ready for 61A.

As a lab assistant, my experience has been that those who are prepared for 61A find it truly enlightening, and those unprepared find it absolutely miserable. Students who took 3L before 61A were almost universally glad to have done so, and didn't think they could have handled the class if they hadn't.

The choice is yours, but taking 61A without mastery of at least one language + recursion comes with a big fat "abandon all hope ye who enter" sticker.

eliminator91

yeah i've heard a lot about how the 61 series classes are killer to those without much experience. I've barely touched upon programming stuff in the past, so I'm just taking the safe route and going 3L first.

J01001000

CS61A is like an 8 unit course because of the dense reading materials and labor intensive homework and projects. I enjoyed it though. It was the best class I've taken at Cal so far. I didn't think computer science could be hard until I took that course. If you do, just know that people who do well in that class usually reads ahead about a week or two in advance to let the material sink in while others are just starting to learn them.

klaith

I've heard that an understanding of recursion is important for jumping into the CS61A course. Is it that this specifically is important, or is it that a person needs to have a sound knowledge up to this point?

I understand recursion, and I have a pretty sound understanding of the basics, but I am just wondering if I might be missing something. My school did not have an AP Comp Sci either.

klaith

Maybe we can set up a study group for students who are in this situation. If I find that I am struggling a bit in the first couple of weeks, I think that I will look into doing that.

Azure326

Study groups are a great way to get through EECS courses. If you're ever struggling in an EECS course be sure to go to office hours to get help. Also, HKN (EECS Honor Society) offers free tutoring M-F 11-5 p.m. in 290 Cory and 345 Soda.