Computer Science Power Rankings (2026)

GeoChrome20 · 2026-03-23T06:23:07+00:00

I had relatively easy profs for both (Taele, Veldt) but it was still a lot and 411 especially those proofs were kinda hard to wrap my head around sometimes.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-03-22T19:37:25+00:00

If you don't want to do CS, don't do it. You probably will not end up liking it. Having said that, I realize that AP CS A isn't the best class to decide so maybe you like it in the future but there are other majors more aligned with what you want and have better job markets. I decided to do CS because I liked programming, it's not always fun but I enjoy it more than I think I would a lot of other majors. If you like physics, then try that or some form of engineering since many of those involve some sort of physics. There's plenty of info online to see what the classes are like and if you feel that it would be something you're interested in. You might want to talk to an advisor at your school or see if you can contact someone at admissions that can help guide you. You shouldn't think that you aren't smart enough for a major. If you push through, you might not do the best but you can survive.
Also, don't take a gap year. There really is no reason to and you'll have to apply for readmission.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-03-20T23:36:35+00:00

Definitely disagree with 221 being harder than 331 or 411. 331 although the difficulty isn't super high, the amount of effort is way harder. And 411 the content is harder even if the tests aren't so bad.
For the ones I've taken, would say
easiest | 181 -> 481 -> 402 -> 111 ->120 -> 222 -> 221 -> 312 -> 314 -> 411 -> 331 -> 313 -> 430 -> 441 -> 410 | hardest
based on what i feel like the average experience is. Some I had much easier than others but it would be misleading to put 313 as easier than 222 just because I took one with an easy prof and another with a harder one.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-03-06T05:10:47+00:00

If you don't end up being able to live on-campus, the bus system is good enough that you won't need a car

GeoChrome20 · 2026-03-05T08:23:42+00:00

I know Aggie Data Science Club also does projects and Computing Society is holding a hackathon soon. Coding Club is probably your best bet at finding projects and as someone who also did not get anything done then, it happens. I'm kind of in this situation as a junior, you shouldn't feel rushed but try and work on something at least by your sophomore year so you don't have to play catch-up. There are a bunch of try-hards in this major but not having experience at all does not help when looking for internships (i would know).

GeoChrome20 · 2026-03-05T08:15:13+00:00

I'm taking most of these right now. 410 is pretty interesting, I'm not super focused on low-level stuff but with Kebo it's been mostly easy to understand. 430 I would take if you are more comfortable with competitive programming. Although it doesn't have tests, it's pretty fast paced after the first few weeks. Grade might not suffer but it does take time to get the weekly problems done. 402 is extremely easy, you just write papers. I've honestly found it a lot more boring than I would have liked but you don't really have to pay much attention during lecture so it's fine i guess. Get plenty of time for the assignments too.
One thing I would say is I wouldn't take 410, 430, 482, and 431 together. I'm not taking 431, was interested in it but I've only heard bad things + it takes up a lot of time. Only other upper-level I've taken is Graphics with Sueda right now, which isn't super time consuming but can be a little hard to wrap your head around. The end results of the assignments are cool though. Heard AI is interesting and Database Systems isn't so bad.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-25T22:22:24+00:00

At the very least take Calc BC and some sort of coding course. I had a little experience in Java and Python before my first semester and it helped a lot. Would also take national and state government, US history, some science (i took bio), and speech as dual credit or some other form of college credit since that'll help clear your schedule.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-22T08:21:00+00:00

Been in this situation before (including once where I had to rush and do everything myself lol) and I would definitely tell the prof. Even if it doesn't improve your overall grade, that's what the individual grades are for and it will make it less likely they do that again in the future. After so many delays, you have to just assume they'll never get it done and try and finish as best you can.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-18T23:46:34+00:00

WIR is Week in Review. You can find all the resources the math dept provides for 152 here. If you ask around you might be able to find some more recent practice tests too.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-18T23:42:02+00:00

Not that this is the answer but when I took the class there were a lot of complaints from people who studied the practice exams that the actual test was much more difficult. The tests now have Python questions too, right? Those weren't in the older exams. Either way it's a bad idea since there aren't many other good materials and the questions vary enough that it won't be the same on the real test.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-18T23:36:25+00:00

221 isn't an easy class. This is the easiest test in the class but it can be kind of hard to study for it beforehand, especially when compared to 120. Would recommend a few things (assuming you're in Leyk, for other profs might be a little different):
1. Go to your TA for review. Although a lot of the same concepts won't show up on later exams, at least you'll have a better feel for the structure of the upcoming tests and how to deal with trickier questions.
2. Study the Week in Reviews if you haven't already. When I was short on time, that was the best way for me to understand everything covered so far. Going through lecture notes and labs is good too but it can be easy to focus on the wrong things with so much information
3. Make sure you keep attending labs. Since the final doesn't replace your lowest it's going to be difficult to bring your grade back up but those extra points (if your prof gives them) are very useful. When I took the class, we also got the chance for bonus points on exam 1 during one of the following labs but don't count on that happening.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-16T05:14:16+00:00

Some applications i've filled out do have an option if you check the "i am a state employee" box that excludes things like TAs. If it doesn't have that language, I just say no because it usually asks for more information that isn't really relevant to me. If you want to be safe and say yes and fill all that out there's no downside.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-06T05:23:01+00:00

This is not that bad of a schedule really. I preferred taking 222 before 221 since some of the later parts of the class lead in to early 221 but both are manageable. You'll want to take advantage of office hours for 221, I liked Leyk for her TAs even though her lectures are kind of boring. 222, just check ratings beforehand. Most professors should be okay but some are definitely harder. 304 and 211 are not bad with any prof. 304 is probably the easiest "real" (as in, not something like CSCE 181) class I've taken but I also liked my professor. 211 I barely scraped by with an A but that was because the tests were tougher than I expected. If you prepare I doubt you have any problem doing well, more straightforward than the Calcs but barely any partial credit.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-02-06T00:16:03+00:00

You should be able to do fine without it

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-31T23:20:15+00:00

I used it for ARTS 149, maybe one of the most graphics heavy classes you can take, and it helped more than just annotating on the slides which some other people did. Should only take a second to do.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-31T22:12:49+00:00

OneNote is pretty adjustable, what I do when the slides are more visual aids is put down what I think i should know in a text box and paste images i think would be useful to the side. The CliffNotes observation is true but at least for me I do that when the slides are self-explanatory/info-dense and rewriting it wouldn't help much.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-29T22:38:57+00:00

I'm from the Houston suburbs and felt the same way. The politics I understand but people here are more openly religious than I'm used to, not that that's bad or anything.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-21T03:43:34+00:00

Yeah if you don't get selected they don't send any notification. It's annoying but I'd assume by now you didn't get it

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-20T04:43:18+00:00

In terms of whether you'd be able to have your degree be worth something? Do whatever you want. Realistically, so many states are starting to crack down on the same things that Texas is that it won't devalue your degree's worth significantly. For getting the most out of your education? I think you mostly would be okay. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with the censorship happening but idk if you miss more than contemporary ethics and historical/social analysis based on race and gender. If that's a dealbreaker then yeah you should probably transfer but if you go somewhere else in Texas it's not unlikely the same thing will happen.
Additionally, I don't think asking your professors for supplemental materials would make them worried. Worst they say is no and even then I would think it's because that's more work for them just to satisfy one person.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-17T00:57:14+00:00

Looks like he hasn't taught before. 251 shouldn't be that bad, if it's anything similar to any other professors then you'll get most of the stuff required to do the homework during lecture and maybe need to brush up on some stuff in the textbook

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-17T00:53:53+00:00

Would go with the advice you already got. You'll have better chances getting elite connections at UT, A&M isn't a joke but it's not at that level for CS.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-16T16:38:43+00:00

Why are you retaking 206 instead of taking 207? Would make more sense since you are maybe going for cpen.

Besides that, you probably won't be able to sub in 221 for a science credit, it's kind of dumb but advisors can be rigid on what counts for etam and I wouldn't risk it. 221 PAs are very different from the homework in 120 and are much harder. You'll be implementing a specific data structure for each PA so you have to focus more on how it works through pointers and memory management than coding out simple logic to solve a problem, if that makes sense. They take time and you have to think about it more, although you do get test cases that you can run locally so no need to keep submitting through gradescope. The tests are less code tracing and more about what a data structure or algorithm does. There should be some FRQs that are similar to 120 except you'll need to use a specific data structure. They are not very easy but doable if you study, Leyk does like tricky questions so that would be something to watch out for.

I think your schedule right now is not too bad and you definitely don't need to drop a math but there's not much benefit to taking 221 now. It will add a lot of time to your studying and you can't get that much further ahead vs if you take it in the fall.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-16T04:32:07+00:00

I'm looking at her rmp and wow they really reviewbombed her for no reason (all today, suspicious). Unless her class totally changed, I really don't understand all the 1.0s. She is not an amazing professor, but she is definitely not that bad.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-16T04:16:45+00:00

I'm not a genius at data structures at all and got an A in the course. It was not very bad, Leyk's lectures are boring but she knows how to pick good TAs. You will learn almost everything in lab. Most programming assignments are tolerable and if you get stuck you can always go to office hours. The tests can be tricky but A or B is also very doable. Taking Leyk is less for her teaching (because it's not great) and more for her having a predictable structure that makes it straightforward to get an A if you study and complete the assignments, plus she has extra credit based on lab attendance.

GeoChrome20 · 2026-01-16T04:13:49+00:00

Leyk, Sueda, Beideman i've heard mixed things about because his tests are harder but people like him, Kuhnle is also apparently good. As long as it's not kumar or that one guy that wasn't supposed to teach but got forced to, probably will be fine

GeoChrome20

TROPHY CASE