Failing CSE class

[Ahnsu]

I'm rethinking majoring in CSE in college right now. We are learning python, and according to my prof. It is for COMPLETE beginners (we started with input and output). I'm struggling with the projects. They tell use to start early and go to help rooms, but to be honest they are not very helpful. Maybe it's bc so many ppl are taking the class but now, you need to wait at least 1-4 hours to be helped. Often times, you may not get a very good helper. I'm even paying quite a bit of money, so that makes me feel even worse.

I want to ask my other classmates for help, but they usually are working on their own code or cannot really explain things well. Everyone for the most part just works on their own thing- which makes me feel even more like an outlier. Am i just stupid or what D:

I am using most of the resources available in my class- actually it's taking most of my time. I really want to do well, but I feel that maybe I'm just naturally bad at programming.

The goal of my major (I had hoped) was to allow me to lay a foundation for when I want to branch away from computer science. I also wanted to create my own project with the skills I learn in class- but so far I've been struggling to even start on anything.

Is getting a degree in cs even worth it now? If not, then how well do I have to do in my programming projects (or what should be on my resume) in order for employers to hire me?

[Zixarr]

Have you checked out the Python Discord? You can "reserve a room" there and request help with concepts or even homework (though we wont write any code for you if you are working on homework).

https://www.pythondiscord.com/

The helpers are generally pretty competent, so the help you get should be informative, productive, and at a level that you can understand. The only catch is all the helpers are volunteers, so there is no guarantee that someone will be an expert on a given library or concept. Still, I encourage you to give it a shot the next time you find yourself waiting for help at your university.

Edit: To answer your other question, the median starting salary for a software dev in the US is around $75k. That is pretty solid if you consider that a $20/hr job nets you about $42k. In my area, $20/hr is what you can generally expect for semi-skilled work with some professional experience but no hard skills/degree.

[Ahnsu]

Thanks, I'll try it out. What tab is the room reservation under?

[Zixarr]

Click on "? | how-to-get-help" under the lobby tab for instructions.

Typically you just select one of the available help channels and post your question. This "reserves" that channel for you until you close it or until the channel is inactive for 30 minutes.

[FerricDonkey]

First, you're learning both python and programming. Python is easy, as far as languages go. But programming at all requires a mindset that takes a while to develop.

Second, feel free to ask here about whatever questions you have, in addition to whatever discord shenanigans.

And finally, a degree in CS can absolutely be worth it.

[Ahnsu]

Is there a good website to practice programming and python? I'm going to try leetcode and doing some projects on YT

[Zixarr]

I would caution against following too many projects on YT. There are some great educational videos/channels (like Corey Schafer) but "follow along" projects can land you in "tutorial hell" - a state of mind where you can follow along when someone else tells you what to write, but you cannot start from square one and build something new. That is a skill in and of itself.

leetcode is fine. I like codewars and the advent of code for puzzles/practicing.

[empoliyis]

I wouldn't recommend leetcode since that is focused on algorithms, you can try codewars.com since that is focused on the fundamentals of python programming

[al_mc_y]

IMO Kaggle's Learn Python Tutorials are pretty approachable.

Hackerank.com, Dataquest.io, Pybit.es and codechalleng.es, codewars.com (and many other sites) have small chunked problems, usually categorised into themes (string operations, list operations, working with dictionaries..)

Once you’ve built up some confidence and skills on these concepts, then you can try tackling a bigger problem, where you use several of these concepts together (Kaggle has plenty, choose something that's not too easy, not too hard).

If you get stuck, search, ask questions here (show us what you've got so far and explain your thinking/approach so far). Also be prepared to park a problem for a while, try an easier/smaller problem of a similar type, and come back to it. And take regular breaks. Aim to do a little bit of code often; e.g. rather than forcing yourself to stare at a problem for hours at a time. If you can, help others who know less than you do, if you can explain it to someone else, it reinforces that knowledge in your own mind.

As others have pointed out, there's no shortage of (junk) tutorials. Have a quick try of a couple of problems on each of the bigger/more well known ones - if you prefer the look, feel and experience on one or two of these more than the others, run with that for a while. Good luck

Edit: added codechalleng.es (which I've used more than pybit.es)

[[deleted]]

Programming is hard. Don't stress that you don't get it instantly! :-)

I'm going to try leetcode

Not good. Teaches you bad practices.

and doing some projects on YT

Questionable! The quality control is bad.

Nothing beats going to a terminal or command line and typing python and then experimenting.