Hello

[MVP]

Hi, my name's Will. I found this site on Yahoo Answers.. looks like a pretty cool community, I'm a freshman to computer science but a sophomore in college. Just like to welcome myself to the board, I'll start structured programming and introduction to computer science next semester, I'd really like to get an early start in programming and have a better understanding instead of going in blind folded, so I'll be viewing hoping to learn from you guys.

[Analysis Mode]

Well, what course are you taking and what language are you going to be using?

Also, where do you go for university/college? (I put that slash there in the off chance you're an American undergraduate, in which case you would be attending what they call a college)

[MVP]

Analysis Mode @ Thu May 07, 2009 8:11 pm wrote:

Well, what course are you taking and what language are you going to be using?

Also, where do you go for university/college? (I put that slash there in the off chance you're an American undergraduate, in which case you would be attending what they call a college)

Hey, thanks for the reply.

My major is computer science, I'm at both a university and a community college. Basically, taking my assc. degree at the community college and getting my bachelors at a university, my grant won't pay for the university because it's public, I'll have to pay for that out of my own pocket.

Here are the classes I'm currently taking.

http://www.newriver.edu/images/publicdocs/AS/computer%20scienc1.pdf

I'm not sure about languages and etc. I'm a newbie at this stuff! If you could explain to me fundamentals that I'll need to know before making decisions, I'd appreciate it.

[Tony]

Well the typical heads up at this point is that you shouldn't jump ahead of the curriculum, but you should catch up on what might be expected of you as a student.

Be familiar with your computer.
Be familiar with the use of command line and tools.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Your COSC 111 course will be a broad introduction to CS, necessarily shallow, so you might ask here about more details if you are curious.

Your COSC 231 course uses C++. Not the best first language, alas, but not fatal if you take the trouble to understand the correspondence between the statements of your program and what actually happens on the machine when you run the compiled code. They will probably not teach you this to the extent needed, so once again the onus is on you to realize when you don't quite have enough information and ask or look around.

You really should take 111 before 231, but I understand that you're not following a regular timetable. It might be a good idea to read ahead in your 111 textbook. I would not suggest trying to get too far ahead on 231 material.

[MVP]

Prabhakar Ragde @ Fri May 08, 2009 5:50 am wrote:

Your COSC 111 course will be a broad introduction to CS, necessarily shallow, so you might ask here about more details if you are curious.

Your COSC 231 course uses C++. Not the best first language, alas, but not fatal if you take the trouble to understand the correspondence between the statements of your program and what actually happens on the machine when you run the compiled code. They will probably not teach you this to the extent needed, so once again the onus is on you to realize when you don't quite have enough information and ask or look around.

You really should take 111 before 231, but I understand that you're not following a regular timetable. It might be a good idea to read ahead in your 111 textbook. I would not suggest trying to get too far ahead on 231 material.

I appreciate the suggestions, here is my new schedule.

Fall 2009

10322
230
002
Structured Programming
3 hours
5:30-7:00
MW

10633
290
001
Topics in Computer Science
3 hours
11:30-12:45
Tuesday & Thursday

10166
101
002
General Mathematics
3 hours
1:00 - 3:50
Thursday

10046
100
001
Introduction to Business
Three hours
WEBCT




Summer 01 | 2009

10586
111NR
001
Introduction to Computer Science
Virtual, CA
WEBCT

10650
101NR
001
Physical Science Survey
Three hours
WebCt

[Prabhakar Ragde]

290 is an ASP.NET course, labelled as a fourth-semester course. It could be trivial but it could also be pretty intense if you haven't programmed before.

Do you have an academic advisor? You should discuss this sequencing with them.

[MVP]

Prabhakar Ragde @ Fri May 08, 2009 12:39 pm wrote:

290 is an ASP.NET course, labelled as a fourth-semester course. It could be trivial but it could also be pretty intense if you haven't programmed before.

Do you have an academic advisor? You should discuss this sequencing with them.

Yes I went to see my academic adviser today and they placed me in different classes. Unfortunately, I couldn't apply for introduction to computer science and etc. because I haven't completed the expected math class yet, I won't be eligible for those courses until my spring semester in 2,010. So this semester will be regular courses, over the summer I'll be taking web programming, which I'm sure I'll be asking a lot of questions on here about the tutorials if that's alright?