Are the first programming courses in the Computer Science major supposed to be hard?

naokifresh
Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:39:35 +0000

Yeah, I never actually programmed before I came to college and this class. So my feet are definitely getting wet for the first time haha.
I do feel like it’s my cup of tea in that it’s not boring to me, I do really get in to it, it’s just really hard.

I just feel like I take longer to think things through before I can write out an algorithm that makes sense to me. Using the language is not a problem and I’m fairly quick with that, just using it in clever/tricky ways I am not always good at (it’s like an either you get it or you don’t situation). I feel like I was so focused on learning the language aspect that I stink at constructs and methods of programming, which are actually what really count…

The thing is I really want to go graduate school to get a Masters in Computer Science… At a really good university so I want to get at least a 3.67+ GPA or so.

If I get past the courses needed for acceptance into the major, (the next is a similar Structures of Programming 2 except in Java, and also a Discrete Math course) do you think it will get better?
Just wondering if the ones for being accepted in the major are usually the hardest?

I’ve been working through everything myself and going to office hours for TA assistance A LOT (probably the only reason my homework scores are decent)…is that how it usually is, self study?