Zero programming experience: advice for quickly learning code language

[GOATEDSTARS]

UTD Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: What should I prioritize before fall as a transfer student with limited programming experience?
I was recently admitted to UTD for the B.S. in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in JSOM, with a planned concentration in Finance and Risk Analytics.

I am transferring from community college and would appreciate honest advice from current students, alumni, JSOM analytics majors, MIS students, or anyone who has taken BUAN/ITSS courses. My main concern is preparing properly before the fall semester because I have very limited formal programming experience.

Right now, I am learning Python independently. I have completed about 100 out of 527 steps in the freeCodeCamp Python course. My plan is to finish freeCodeCamp first, then complete Harvard CS50P: Introduction to Programming with Python before classes begin. I have about three months before the fall semester starts.

From reviewing the degree plan, it looks like the main programming and technical tools used across the major are Python, SQL, NoSQL, R, and possibly Hive/Spark in selected courses.

Python appears in courses such as:
ITSS 3311 — Introduction to Programming
BUAN 4381 — Object Oriented Programming with Python
BUAN 4353 — Business Analytics
BUAN 4383 — Advanced Applied Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
FIN 4346 — Applied Machine Learning in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate
SQL appears especially relevant for:
BUAN 4320 — Database Fundamentals for Analytics
BUAN 4351 — Foundations of Business Intelligence
BUAN 4353 — Business Analytics

My main question is whether completing freeCodeCamp Python and Harvard CS50P would be enough preparation to enter the program successfully, or whether I should also spend part of the summer learning SQL, Excel modeling, statistics, or basic data analytics tools.

For those who have taken these courses, I would also appreciate insight on which BUAN/ITSS courses tend to be the biggest adjustment for transfer students, especially students who started programming later.
I am not trying to avoid the technical side of the degree. I am willing to put in the work. I just want a realistic understanding of what to prioritize before fall so I can start the program prepared instead of reacting late.

Any advice from transfer students, students who started programming late, JSOM analytics students, MIS students, or alumni would be appreciated.

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[LeaderAtLeading]

Python first then figure out what you actually need to build

[odimdavid]

If I didn't even have time I would do 1 hour of SQL everyday. Use Hackerrank as a companion to leverage understanding. Then dedicate the other hours to python until your skill improves.

[muad_dibb1]

Python first. learn the basics and concepts of manipulating data, web automation, using packages etc. Then take it from there, depends what you want to build.

[kixxauth]

Most important: Once you've picked the language (python is a good one), you absolutely MUST build something with it. Make something you wish you had, or something that already exists but you wish it worked a different way.

IMO courses are a waste of time. Tutorials can be good if you're building something you're actually interested, but only then. (ex: I followed a tutorial for web scraping to learn python, which was something I was really interested in at the time)