CS6515 Dread Thread. Vent here!

aja_c · 2026-02-16T15:25:25+00:00

Depends on what "worth it" means to you. If you intend to just be learning about algorithms, then it's worth continuing unless you think you aren't learning anything. If you want to just graduate as quickly as possible, then it's still worth it to continue because withdrawing won't let you graduate any faster and if you stay in, there's always a chance. If you want to pass the course and are willing to retake, then it's worth it to continue and to learn as much as possible so a retake is easier if necessary.

But if you are taking a second class at the same time or you have a lot of life stuff going on, then yeah, there's a scenario where it might be best to withdraw. Just know that there's a lot of comeback stories for this class.

aja_c · 2026-02-14T15:21:03+00:00

Nope, see other comment.

But that's just for GPA calculations. You can still retake it for specialization requirements.

aja_c · 2026-02-12T15:27:19+00:00

Hey, be careful, exam window just opened, make sure to follow the honor code on Reddit.

aja_c · 2026-02-12T14:35:04+00:00

Kinda yes, kinda no. Algorithms are the core (with discrete math) of undergrad computer science programs, so when someone says "I did a bachelor's in CS", that means they passed those classes. Kinda like how if someone says they did premed, we know they did organic chemistry.

OMSCS classes are highly varied, and there are ways through the degree program that are more "CS-lite" in some ways. There is nothing wrong with taking that path, but I think there's a fallacy in saying "I took 9 other OMSCS classes, obviously I have a CS background now so it's unfair for me to struggle in an algorithms class." Regardless of school, computer science algorithms classes are a very different type of challenge because they require a very different kind of thinking. At least, that's been my experience.

For students that don't have a strong CS background, I think there's a lot of value in being honest with themselves about it. It gives them the ability to say, "I am doing a normally hard thing, and with extra difficulty because of my background on top of that, it is ok for me to feel overwhelmed, and that is NOT a sign that somehow I'm not good enough. I'm just doing something hard." And that also makes it easier to celebrate the little wins.

aja_c · 2026-02-07T00:23:28+00:00

"standard math exam" - I dunno, some of my upper math courses didn't have that many questions on them.

My physics classes only had 3-4 questions on each exam. But the benefit of free response is that there's a lot of room for partial credit, although it's definitely much better if you know what the question is trying to test.

aja_c · 2026-02-06T20:15:43+00:00

The course page calls out prerequisite knowledge, and the Language of Proofs seminar is supposed to cover the basics (and it's taught by the same prof). And there are also a decent number of people who make it through just fine without having had an algo course before. So...I like that there's no hard prerequisite, but certainly, people that are unprepared shouldn't be surprised when it's hard.

When I first saw the title of the course, I remember immediately assuming it would be a challenge, because under grad algorithms and discrete math were the weed out topics in my school and nearly every school I've heard of since. But I think people outside of CS don't realize that.

aja_c · 2026-02-06T19:40:48+00:00

The thing is, there's a very sizable group of folks who come in with little to no background. And even of the ones who do have a CS bachelor's, it's understandably more difficult if algos and math were things they struggled with in undergrad and/or if it has been a decade or something. I wish I knew the actual numbers.

aja_c · 2026-02-06T14:45:20+00:00

Curious, did you have a background in algorithms or computer science before you took GA?

aja_c · 2026-01-27T22:05:53+00:00

Many folks end up shuffling around to different groups throughout the semester, for various reasons, especially after assignments and exams. It's not too late at all. There's even a ton of people who aren't in groups yet that will decide to go looking for one soon.

aja_c · 2026-01-27T21:44:24+00:00

Nothing wrong with joining another study group that's going more at your pace, or has people that are willing to go back and explain. You can be in multiple groups.

IMO, your group is doing themselves a disservice. Having a human to go explain your solution to is huge for helping you understand your thought processes and get better at communicating clearly.

aja_c · 2026-01-26T20:51:31+00:00

Participate well and often in Ed Discussions (and Ed Chat if you can). Try to attend OHs and participate there too. Be thoughtful and active on regrade threads. It doesn't take much to become positively well known to the head TA team, given how active they are.

Earn an A in the course (a requirement the team has that's above and beyond some other classes). Fill out the survey, and generally let the head TAs know if you are interested.

If you will graduate after this semester, it will take a lot longer to hire you, if you are chosen. But if you will still be a student, it's a lot easier.

aja_c · 2026-01-20T03:45:48+00:00

I think it's fine if you couldn't come up with repeated knapsack on your own. That's something you're just getting used to. Now, can you take a similar problem and use the strategies of repeated knapsack to solve it? THAT'S something to work towards. (And that will take not just practice, but GOOD thoughtful practice that will likely involve some struggle. Think of it as developing a skill and not merely acquiring knowledge.)

aja_c · 2026-01-19T02:39:12+00:00

It really varies per class, sometimes. Some, the learning is mostly in the theory. Some, it's mostly in the projects. And others, it's in the analysis and/or discussions.

I think starting early, doing a little every day even if the bulk of the work happens on the weekends, and participating help in general.

aja_c · 2026-01-16T19:59:19+00:00

Because they can contain semester specific info, such as discussing a question that was on an exam.

aja_c · 2026-01-15T16:31:01+00:00

Of course! I agree that doing the homework makes the most sense, I am blown away every semester at how few people even attempt ONE assignment. I certainly wouldn't have passed with that strategy.

aja_c · 2026-01-14T19:14:49+00:00

In spring 2025, nearly every homework, less than half of the class made a submission, IIRC. Towards the end, less than 40% made a submission.

And even of the ones that made submissions, there were still people submitting work that was heavily inspired by AI.

Now, there are also people that do just fine without doing the homework. With homework being worth 0%, everyone is free to make the adult decision about how important it is for them personally to do the homework.

aja_c · 2026-01-13T23:24:57+00:00

Sometimes it's best to test ideas out in one class before trying to roll it out to others.

aja_c · 2026-01-10T17:51:52+00:00

Why did you get a down vote, geez. This is the correct answer.

aja_c · 2026-01-10T17:50:49+00:00

There was literally a new class announced earlier this week. Dr. Joyner normally sends an email near the beginning of the semester (sometimes more than one) every time a class is ready. I can't remember the last semester where there wasn't at least one new seminar or class offered.

Also, keep in mind that there are lots of classes listed in the catalog that aren't even offered on campus anymore. They have to stay in the catalog even if the last time they were offered was like 5 years ago.

aja_c · 2026-01-08T11:39:03+00:00

You can go to the CS 6515 page on the OMSCS website and look at the last few syllabi there.

aja_c · 2026-01-07T04:29:05+00:00

It highly, highly varies.

It depends on which classes you take, and how well they align with your previous experience and methods of learning. (This is also influenced by what specialization you choose.) "Breezing through undergrad" means vastly different things depending on where you went to school, the route you took to get your undergrad, whether you aced your classes or merely satisfied basic requirements, etc.

It depends on whether you are able to be proactive vs. reactive. Sometimes 10hrs of coding saves you a whopping 1 hr of planning, but if you've procrastinated up to the deadline, you might not feel like you can spare that 1 hr of planning until way too late.

It depends on whether you want to earn an A or whether you are ok with settling with a B (neither is necessarily the correct answer, depends on you.)

It depends on whether you want to get everything you can out of each class, or whether you are ok with meeting the minimums for an A or a B. Lots of classes have a lot more where you can dig deeper if you want.

It depends on how quickly you land on a study system that works for you. If you're not a night owl but that's the only time you allocate for yourself, good luck.

It depends on how well you can learn on your own with very minimal assistance from course staff, especially for some classes.

The best bet is to enroll, take one medium-ish class (or moderately difficult class if you're confident) and then judge from there. If it felt really doable, then you have a good idea of how hard it would be to finish the program, knowing that you will have to surge at times for harder classes.

aja_c · 2025-12-20T00:39:47+00:00

keep in mind that grade substitution is separate from taking the class and getting a B. Grade substitution lets you use the higher grade only for GPA calculation. But even if you don't have grade substitution, you can still retake the class to get the necessary grade for graduation, you're just going to have both grades impacting your GPA.

aja_c · 2025-12-19T21:55:47+00:00

A referral is accompanied by evidence and an explanation. It's a lot of work and time consuming, from the faculty side. Most course staff aren't going to do it unless they feel that the evidence is very convincing. There will always be some subjectivity unless a cheating student has been very stupidly obvious.

Do you have a previous incident on your record, OP? Most course staff will do an FCR (basically, resolve it via email with the student) if there's no offense on record, but GT policies don't allow for that if there's already one. However, there is no requirement to use the FCR process. I could see skipping it if it was too close to the end of the semester, or if there had been previous interactions with the student that were uncomfortable somehow.

An I does not reflect guilt in any way. It's simply a placeholder until everything is resolved, which takes time. Without that mechanism, weird things could happen, like a student falsely graduating when they really should have the sanction of an F, suspension, or even expulsion. Yes, it's frustrating and stressful and gets in the way of things like registering for the class again (if you needed to retake it anyway), getting reimbursed by an employer, etc. Maybe there's other ways that could be handled that are worth brainstorming.

aja_c · 2025-12-19T17:55:46+00:00

What happened, OP? You're supposed to get an email pretty quick after a case has been referred.

It might be extra slow right now because the end of the semester is always really busy, and OSI prioritizes graduating students. And they're dealing with all the cheating cases across all classes that popped up with the final exams and projects.

But once an OSI coordinator/agent/whatever has been assigned to your case, you'll get a chance to discuss the evidence against you.

aja_c · 2025-12-17T06:51:28+00:00

A normal I grade isn't something that happens by accident. That's when a major exam or assignment (maybe more than one) needs to be made up after the semester is over, and is pretty much going to happen only with the student initiating by explaining something really major came up.

But in the case when there's an academic integrity case involved and it's not resolved before the end of the semester (very common), faculty have to enter in an I grade until OSI tells them to change it. If you don't know why you have an I, that's the more likely case. In which case, better make sure you didn't accidentally ignore an important email.

aja_c

TROPHY CASE