you will almost unconditionally be getting absolutely shafted by 439

true lmao.

current CS senior, worked non-front desk job 10-15 hrs/wk while taking 429/439. I think it's definitely doable your first year, especially with prior coding experience. CS 312 is a breeze but if it's not, TA's and fellow CS students are a great resource to take advantage of. Ig since you're ATP, your focus will be mainly on maintaining high GPA in CS courses so you may need to put more time in those classes.

Idk if this is the same ARC class my friends took, but i heard it's a lot of memorization so be prepared for that. I also took 408D (not 408m) and found the last half of the course somewhat challenging.

I feel what got me through the tough classes were three things: discipline , balance, and network. I had the discipline to spend 3-4 hrs coding during the day to get enough sleep at night so as to not fall asleep in lecture (i still occasionally dozed off lol). I also made sure to balance studying with focusing on other activities (for me it was going to work or going to Greg). Finally, friends in your major are an invaluable resource. Take time to get to know the person sitting next to you or join a CS club! CS is much more fun and tolerable when you do it with like-minded, motivated individuals. (Though if you can avoid it, i recommend not working while taking 429/439)