I wanted to share my achievement š
Iām a non-CS student (did bachelorās in Arts), and wanted to learn programming. I heard a lot about cs50 course, but I was always hesitant to start. I finally made completed the course, it took me 2 months.
https://moocable.com/mooc/view/cs50-s-introduction-to-computer-science-20702
(tagging the course, @Junaid š)
Not only did I learn about computer science and programming, but also about myself. I know it sounds kind of cliche but I stand by what I say and hereās why.
I was pretty much like everyone when they first started. It starts off with an ambition and a drive. You have a picture of where you want to be in the future, whether itās building mobile apps or building your own AI machine, and you take on this course.
But, during the first few weeks, youāre hit with these really hard problem sets and theyāre not getting easier. After trying and trying for hours, your head hits a wall and you feel like giving up. You begin to question whether you can do this course. After all, the course IS from HARVARD, the most prestigious university in the world.
My Experience
Week 0: Scratch ā I thought, āOkay, this is doable!ā The visual block programming made it fun and interactive, a nice introduction without overwhelming me.
Weeks 1-3: C Programming ā Wow, the jump from Scratch to C was real! I had never worked with a language like C before, and it felt so low-level compared to what I had imagined programming to be. Debugging was tough, but once I got my head around the logic and syntax, it became a bit easier.
Weeks 4-6: Problem Sets ā These were intense. There were times when I was stuck for hours, rethinking every line of code. But each time I finally solved a problem, the satisfaction was unreal. I learned the importance of patience and breaking down problems into smaller, manageable pieces.
Week 7: Web Programming ā This week was so exciting! Finally, some more practical, real-world skills. Learning about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript gave me a taste of what I could build beyond the course. I even made my first mini-website!
Final Project ā I decided to create a web app to help match restaurants based on cuisines, location, and number of seats! The process was tough but so rewarding. This was the moment I realized just how much I had learned over the weeks.
If you are completely new to programming/CS donāt take cs50
I tried cs50 earlier, but it was very difficult. I donāt think its a beginner friendly course. I did Java MOOC first https://moocable.com/mooc/view/java-programming-47652, and then tried cs50.
Key Takeaways
Donāt Be Afraid to Ask for Help: The CS50 community is amazing, and I found that asking questions on Reddit, Stack Overflow, and the CS50 Discord made a huge difference.
Pace Yourself: The course can feel overwhelming at times, but itās important to take it one week at a time. You donāt need to rush through it!
Celebrate Small Wins: Every time I solved a problem set or debugged my code, I took a moment to celebrate the progress I made, no matter how small it felt.
Embrace the Struggle: Itās okay to feel stuck or confused. I had moments where I doubted myself, but these were the times when I learned the most.
I feel more confident in my coding skills now, but this is just the beginning! Iām planning to dive deeper into web development (considering taking a Full Stack course next) and maybe even explore data science. Who knows, maybe Iāll end up working in tech someday!