I'm a failed Computer Engineering student and I need advice.
Posted by arkruffian@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 30 comments
I'll be 4th year next semester and I know literally little to nothing about computers and programming. I can write some very very basic programs but that's just it. I haven't studied and learned anything during these past 3 years. I've tried to start several tutorials about programming with Python and C++ and I've just stopped doing them cause I am lazy. Recently I am trying to start OSSU but now I'm having doubts about whether or not that's the correct path for me. What I want to be is a really good computer scientist/engineer and I know that I got the potential for it and interest but I am just so used to comfort, it was hard breaking out of it but now I'm somewhat able to change it for good. What do you guys think should I do? What tutorial etc. should I follow? Know that I'll give my 100% from now on.
Note: It's like Computer Science = Computer Engineering in my country.
Aglet_Green@reddit
This is something you need to discuss with your professors and teachers. I'm sure you're not literally failing, or they'd have long ago expelled you for failing, so you are probably being too hard on yourself. However, if you mean you are just barely getting C grades and a 2.0 score, or whatever the minimum is in your country, then again, this is something you need to discuss with professors and teachers-- they can assign you mentors or give you extra homework or study materials. There's no random advice someone on the Internet can give you that's better than the individual advice and attention you can get from real-life teachers who actually know you; go check in with the dean and teachers now and go see what your syllabus is for next semester so you can get a jump-start on it.
arkruffian@reddit (OP)
I actually would try to do this but our uni laid off some important professors because of some political things.
ComprehensiveLock189@reddit
You make too many excuses. Not doing yourself any favours
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
There’s always someone. It can be daunting telling lecturers that you haven’t been putting in effort, but it’s the best approach to get on a path to learning.
A simple conversation with them will put you in the right direction but it will also fill you with a sense of responsibility and accountability. Isolating your issue will make it worse.
If not past professors, reach out the 4th year professors.
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
Do this OP.
TheInventoryOfSobs@reddit
A lot of people want you to quit because they think that one single person leaving the job market will somehow open up an opportunity for them. What id do is pick a project or topic you want to start, and lock in. Also try to do any good extracurriculars your school offers to you. And if you’re stuck in tutorial hell then ask your professors for help. Nobody ever goes to office hours at my school, and then they complain the teacher doesn’t teach.
Fuarkistani@reddit
Mfs want the rewards without doing the work. What times we live in.
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
Do you want $1M? I’m giving it away.
Ahh shit you probably don’t want rewards unless you work for them… nvm
Fuarkistani@reddit
What a bizarre and bitter response.
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
It’s sarcasm.. thought your post was also sarcasm but I guess not. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.
aqua_regis@reddit
"I want to be an excellent computer scientist, but can't be bothered to invest the effort to get there."
That sums up your post.
You have brought this situation upon you.
You invest nothing, you get nothing.
You will need to work hard. There is no magic formula.
Jumping from tutorial to tutorial will not improve the situation. Pick one resource and work through it from start to finish. Practice. Play around. Fail.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions in the sidebar for plenty recommended learning resources.
SprinklesFresh5693@reddit
Indeed, the moment i read:" i tried some tutorials but stopped cuz im lazy" is when this post stopped being something serious and more kind of a joke.
I'm not a computer scientist but i know that if you want something, you need to work for it.
CodeTinkerer@reddit
I think you have to ask yourself how you got here in the first place. You've decided to give 100% now? But, not before? I suspect it's because learning this stuff is not exciting, and you'd rather play video games.
That's your dilemma. Keep on trying, figure out from your coursework what you should have learned. I'm guessing you didn't keep the stuff from the first 3 years? Try to relearn those topics, especially those related to programming. The easiest way is to redo what you should have learned.
arkruffian@reddit (OP)
For the last 3 years I was always ready to give my 100%. But I just couldn't make it happen. My mindset has also changed during this time. Thank you for your advice.
AlhazredEldritch@reddit
Then you were not ready to give 100%. How can you even make this claim?
You also said it here. Your mindset has also changed this time? Did it change to be less than 100% now? Or are you really trying to say that being ready to give 100% but then doing nothing is different than being ready 0% and doing nothing. The outcomes are literally the same.
I'm a software engineer and I love it. I code every single day both at work and in my free time. It's insane amounts of work though and a lot of it isn't the fun stuff, but that's what it takes. Hard work and pushing yourself to be better.
CodeTinkerer@reddit
To expect a sudden change of behavior is wishful thinking. Saying you're ready to give 100% when you haven't is not really being read.
Remember, it's the doing that matters. I imagine you'll still be tempted to play a lot of games when watching videos and doing exercises bore you. Maybe 85% effort will do when you've been giving a lot less in the past.
random_troublemaker@reddit
To quote an old movie, "Do or do not. There is no try."
If you did not give 100% in the past, then you weren't ready to give 100% in the past. Reddit can't make you work to better yourself- it's entirely on your end.
pmojix@reddit
Be honest, do you enjoy doing programming?
i-Blondie@reddit
That’s a lot of money to spend to learn nothing. Maybe it’s not for you, better to avoid any more sunk cost fallacy with education if it’s not.
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
He obviously passed 3 years already. Maybe not well, but passed nonetheless.
arkruffian@reddit (OP)
I'm not paying any money to study at my uni.
putonghua73@reddit
That's the issue: you have no intrinsic and external motivation.
You need a lot of self-reflection because you haven't displayed any demonstrable evidence to support your claim that you have either the potential or interest.
I'm amazed that you've made it to your 4th year without flunking - which doesn't paint your course or education institute in a flattering light.
As others have said, if you are serious about a mindset change, then you fundamentally need to learn how to be disciplined and consistent.
You need to answer two fundamental questions:
Your first focus should be how to salvage something (anything) from your Computer Engineering degree. Whilst the course may be free [financially], you've wasted the last 3 years.
If you are serious with your intentions - must be reinforced by demonstrable action - make sure that you do not waste any more valuable time.
"No tears please. It's a waste of good suffering".
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
Focus on the coursework. Go to past lecturers to get notes if you didn’t keep them. And start learning from there. Tell them your situation, isolating yourself from lectures and coursework is the worst thing to do.. you need it more than the A students.
Fourth year builds on concepts learned in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year.
There’s this concept in learning called “comprehensible input”. If you go into 4th year and the lectures don’t even make sense, you won’t learn much. Likewise, if you spend time learning separately online, undirected by your university, you risk only partial crossover with the prerequisites for 4th year and what you’ve learned.
Focus on what you missed, learn it as you were supposed to. This way 4th year lectures will make sense and you can grow without falling further behind.
Cram for 2-3 months and you’ll honestly be fine. But you need to start now, or risk never learning it.
Smart_Reason_5019@reddit
Also, get the primary recommended reading for each course/subject you didn’t cover well. Normally one book covers the module (in my experience).
Just focus on being prepped for 4th year and get away from distractions.
jorangery@reddit
Programming sucks for a lot of people (including me). It tooke me a long time to acknowledge that. People try to make it look all cool with ah I'm a developer I make so much money I'm so smart but it's just not for everyone. Try to learn it, stay consistent, but if you realise it's not for you, accept it better sooner than later. I'm in my last semester of college for comp sci and am 95% sure that I can't and won't be doing programming later on in my job bc it's sucking the life out of me for real. Be honest to yourself
ORangrez@reddit
You think you failed honestly you still have time and ur luck y for it Still you can change things as right now in your life you don't have big responsibility or depression
Just try to code a little bit everyday no need to finish everything mut make sure that your good as basics, that gives you a little motivation and confidence to learn more.
Check out chai ur code, Akshay saini, TUF on YouTube go through the playlist checkout things
U still have time u can fix it
Beletron@reddit
You don't need to follow guide/advice about computer but about discipline.
Super_Preference_733@reddit
There is always project management and or business analyst positions, etc.
If that fails there are the trades...
qdov@reddit
This comes to mind: https://youtu.be/eFnV6EM-wzY
It should calibrate your definition of really good and give you perspective of how things may go if you exit.
MartyDisco@reddit
Choose your path