<p>HI everybody, I'm new to this forum. My situation: I have already finished my 60 credits of core classes at a community college (much cheaper than university) and have decided to transfer to University of Maryland College Park's Computer Science program for the fall semester. I do not have any experience in comptuer programming (though I am pretty good with web stuff like HTML and I know how to work my way around a computer pretty well) and math has never been my strongest subject (I'm currently in Calc I). </p>
<p>Even though when I told UMCP my situation and they told me that its ok that I dont have any any experience programming, its really stressing me out because I dont want to transfer to just fall on my butt and fail. I dont usually want sympathy but does any computer science majors or anyone else have any comforting words for me?</p>
<p>man if u havent done any programming yet, I dunno if this is the best decision for you, programming is all gravy until you get to all that object oriented type stuff. It gets real sophisticated. If you have the drive to do it, then go for it, but keep in mind that you might be going up against dudes whove been programming since the tender age of 7. And also keep in mind that it takes years of experience to get prolific at it, and the guys who are usually the best at it, do it for a hobby.</p>
<p>First, keep in mind that computer science and computer programming are two very different things. </p>
<p>You'll be taking some fairly high level math (back in my day it was Calc through DiffEq, Linear Algebra, and a formal logic class the name of which I can't remember). There will be some architecture & principals type classes, enough algorithms to choke a Cray, and maybe 3 or 4 classes where you actually do some programming. </p>
<p>Looking at UMd curriculum suggests that if you haven't already gotten a start with C & C++ you should snag one of those "Learn C in Your Sleep" type books and work through it before you transfer. (The College Park department website is not responding just now so I'm looking at the UMBC pages.)</p>
<p>If you have the opportunity, take some management classes.</p>
<p>Incidentally, the best programmers I know mainly do music as a hobby - almost every place I've worked for the last 30 years has had programmer rock bands, string quartets, jazz trios... you name it. When I worked at a 3-letter agency (back in the days of huge programming staffs) they actually had a small chamber orchestra.</p>
<p>I started studying computer science rather late, and I ended up studying textbooks on my own over two different summers so that I was able to skip a couple of different classes and thus not take too long to finish. You have enough time before you start at your new school to gain some background in computer science if you are willing to put in the work. I would also say, don't be intimidated when you show up for your introductory classes and some other students already "know" a few programming languages. This feat is less impressive than it sounds, and you will know that once you have used a few different languages yourself. Also, pay attention and work hard in every math class you take.</p>