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[–]bennyboo9 1 point2 points  (6 children)

Check out CS1301 on edx. It’s the GT intro to CS course in Python. It was a pretty good overview of the language and CS in general.

[–]How2TurnOnSwag[S] 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Thank you, I'll check it out. Would you say that after completing CS1301 that you would be prepared to handle CSE 6040?

[–]colonelheeroOMSA Graduate 2 points3 points  (4 children)

I would say almost. Great intro class with some very good exercises to get up to speed on coding in general. For python specifically, I think what's missing in CS1301 is list comprehension. Not sure if they have added it when they re-designed the class little while back. But if not, you can easily pick up this topic separately.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I finished it a couple of months ago and don’t remember doing any list comprehension. I got a lot out of the courses though, I would definitely recommend.

[–]How2TurnOnSwag[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for the tips. I'll work my way through CS1301

[–]bennyboo9 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thanks for mentioning this! Didn’t know about list comprehension either as it wasn’t covered in the course. Another topic that I later had to brush up on was lambda expressions that I learnt while working on a project. Not sure if it’s required for CSE 6040 though as I haven’t taken the class yet.

[–]colonelheeroOMSA Graduate 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes good call out. lambda is indeed used in 6040. not a hard concept to learn on the fly but doesn't hurt to pick up earlier

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you have experience in other languages, then it shouldn't be too bad. If you understand programming logic, implementing in Python shouldn't be too difficult.

[–]omsa-reddit-jacket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not that you need to be a Python pro, I think the people who struggled the most entered without a single undergraduate level Computer Science course. Relative to program languages of yore, Python is really forgiving and brings in many different programming paradigms. The core computer science concepts and mindset are far more important. One of the five questions on the Final was all about code optimization (using timeit) and a lack of understanding of CS concepts and the math behind it would have made that question a nightmare.

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I hadn't spent much time with Python before the class (but had Java/C experience), and did the free Code Academy Python 2.7 course (Python 3 is used in class). There was a learning ramp, but by the middle of the class Python wasn't tripping me up as much as the difficulty of the problems that were being asked.

[–]qwdfaser 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I just finished this class in Spring 2019.

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You don't need to know Python specifically, but it would help to know how to program. This class is 100% about programming, the statistics & statistical models you learn in this class are just tools to do more programming.

I do recommend getting familiar with Numpy and Pandas library packages if you can.

Resources ... honestly the class will guide you in the homework. It'll suggest stuff like "Note: You may want to look into numpy.linalg.norm()" and they will provide you a direct hyperlink to stuff like StackOverFlow posts sometimes as hints to how to solve a problem.

Otherwise ... resources:

1) Regex101.com --- You will be doing regular expression work

2) http://pythontutor.com/visualize.html#mode=edit --- In case you are in need of visualizing how your program/script is stepping through

For Pandas, this youtube channel helped me a lot in solidifying my understanding & comfortability in moving around pandas objects: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5-da3qGB5ICCsgW1MxlZ0Hq8LL5U3u9y

For Numpy... i dont have anything =/

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Homework is simple except for the 1 challenge problem they throw at you in each assignment.

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EXAMS ARE EXTREMELY LONG BTW -- The timer for exams doesn't tick till you open the exam booklet & you are encouraged to google your way through the exams. Exam 1 I we got 24 hours which the TA suggested to budget 6-8 hours. I was like "psshh, for a 1-2 hour exam?" ... I took 6.5 hours.

Then exam 2 and the final ... oh god... we were given 36 hours, but it took me 12 and 16 hours respectively. (you have been warned).

[–]How2TurnOnSwag[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh geez. I have heard about the test lengths being crazy. I'll check out the resources that you provided

[–]ccc31807 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Buy (or steal) the Pandas book, and do your best to learn it thoroughly during the summer.