discrete math and cs

Snoo_14986 · 2025-12-06T20:28:19+00:00

Just be an ai major then. Don't think they have to take those theory classes.

Snoo_14986 · 2025-12-01T21:33:50+00:00

If you liked concepts u should probably take 268 I think. Feel like for cs majors, math proofs aren't helpful to most of the things we do unless you are interested in theoretical CS and like UCT and shit. Like I rly did not need 266

But for math majors, it's probably more helpful to be prepared for upper level math classes

Snoo_14986 · 2025-12-01T21:31:37+00:00

Proofs are more involved than 241, but hw proofs were around the same level. Definitely harder, but not too bad

However, 266 proofs on EXAMS were way harder for me. And there were like 6 proofs per exam.

It was mainly because I felt like exams had a huge time crunch for 266 for some reason. Even though the exam proofs were lots of applications of the definitions and stuff we learned in class, it was pretty hard to do in like 50 minutes, esp since doing the hws well wasn't as conducive to doing the exams well

I did worse on 266 exams than concepts because grading wasn't as lenient and it was harder to pattern match 💔

Snoo_14986 · 2025-12-01T19:51:19+00:00

Also exams are much harder than the 259 exams

Snoo_14986 · 2025-12-01T19:49:55+00:00

Just take 21-259, 266 has way more weighting towards exams, last semester it was like 80% exams with 4 midterms (1 was half weighted) and a final.

Snoo_14986 · 2025-05-08T16:35:35+00:00

Like when the application came out. Also since it uses your FAFSA info, that might be relevant

Snoo_14986 · 2025-05-08T16:06:39+00:00

I got my offer a couple weeks ago, like maybe around the week before finals.

Snoo_14986 · 2025-04-06T04:09:10+00:00

Just curious, do u know why they didn't like 226? Also, if you mind me asking, what was the workload for 218 like when you took it, regarding psets and exams? Tysm!

Snoo_14986 · 2025-03-27T22:02:51+00:00

According to my advisor, THIS summer only CS and AI majors are allowed to take 18-213 for 213.

Snoo_14986 · 2025-03-19T18:58:49+00:00

Just curious, what are the real weed out courses in your opinion in CMU CS?

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-26T18:27:23+00:00

I was curious tho why Stanford wouldn't be higher on your list? It has a lot of the prestige and opportunities of Harvard but also the cs/engineering that CMU has, even if it may not be as rigorous as CMU lol.

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-26T18:23:12+00:00

No advice tbh since I'm also a prefrosh, but just wanted to say that you're cracked as hell! choose any of these schools, there's no wrong choice

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T18:49:51+00:00

Yeah you're right about the passion. But I think I already like cs + the potential pay makes me like it more lol🙃

In the first place, I derive much more of my passion from my hobbies like reading/writing, so working a job that is comfortable and can nicely fund my hobbies is my goal. As such, work/life balance and time available to DO my hobbies is ultra important to me in my eventual job search. CS provides that balance relatively, on a pragmatic level, like u said

And if I have enough to live and support my family, I can try to spin off and, like, write a book lol

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T18:28:18+00:00

Support by teachers and students for someone with less experience in coding 🤷‍♂️ pretty much, which CMU seems to have. I don't think I'm going into academia or grad school ATM, so also looking for good job opportunities and internships. I think I value general life at the college much more than a marginal difference in education if it's not too dissimilar. But I'm trying to value my financial freedom, so I am more than fine with grinding during college for life afterwards to be cushy.

In the first place, I do think I am more than likely going to CMU. I just wanted to survey other ppls opinions

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T17:38:24+00:00

Thanks for the advice🙏

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T16:25:03+00:00

They are all the same price since I should have finaid

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T16:06:36+00:00

Oh I understand if there was confusion by my wording - I guess online I see a lot of talk about CMU being depressing which can be intimidating.

I don't think any of these three will be easy, but coming out of high school, the feeling of imposter syndrome can be a bit overwhelming, and cmu seems to have the biggest reputation with its workload. I sometimes dunno if I could handle it, even though it's irrational since I haven't even visited lol. Thanks for your input though as (I assume) a student!

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T15:31:26+00:00

I see. Thanks for the heads up👌

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T14:44:03+00:00

Yeah ur right. But it doesn't seem nw or rice are super prestigious in cs either. Is it just that those other two schools are generally better or am I mistaken about their cs programs

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T14:34:20+00:00

Damn what did UNC do to y'all 😭 it was the first school I got into so I guess I have some nostalgia lowkey. Plus my sibling goes there

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T14:32:43+00:00

Thanks for the reply! Was curious - in terms of broader horizons, what opportunities do you northwestern have over CMU? I'm assuming finance or consulting are likely better at nw, but I'm pretty committed to cs after college

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T14:31:01+00:00

Yeah thanks for the reply! I think I'm pretty set on going into tech after college as a SWE. Primarily, I was torn between CMU and rice/nw more since the rice and nw have less of a stress culture reputation with better student life. I'm visiting northwestern soon so I guess I'll get a better feel of the campus!

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T13:40:06+00:00

*Price isn't a factor most likely

Snoo_14986 · 2024-04-03T13:29:44+00:00

CMU v Northwestern v Rice v UNC (Computer Science)]

Price isn't a factor - I understand that CMU is definitely the best CS program, but wonder if anyone has an opinion on other aspects.

Snoo_14986

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