<p>I'm really into the idea of computer science. I've read that it is really fun and it pays really well after college. I'm really interested and plan (hope, really) to do Northwestern University's five-year bachelors-masters program. (I'm also applying to MIT, Georgia Tech, Harvard, and CalTech. Obviously, I have backup colleges). However, I'm a little nervous because I'm a high school junior, and have ABSOLUTELY no programming experience.</p>
<p>Questions -
Do they teach you how to program and wrote code on college?</p>
<p>Is computer science a really cut-throat major?</p>
<p>Will I be at a disadvantage in college because of my no-experience?</p>
<p>Is it possible (I mean, not difficult) to do the five year program?</p>
<p>I LOVE math, but is that enough?</p>
<p>I plan to take a few extra math classes, programming, and pre-engineering classes at my local community college. I hope that this looks impressive in college applications. Any advice would be great. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>If your high school offers any computer science classes, I highly recommend taking them. It helps you to see if you really want to do compsci or not, plus you can get college credit for it if it’s AP or something and at many colleges it’ll let you skip the intro level compsci class. And yes, of course they teach you how to code in college, from the ground up, so you don’t need to know a lick of programming before you go in, but it definitely helps to have some experience. Math really isn’t terribly relevant to compsci. Even though I can do really well at math classes, I honestly really hate math classes, but I LOVE compsci classes. Liking math certainly helps and is probably somewhat related to liking compsci, but they’re definitely not directly related. Compsci is more about problem solving and puzzles. When I think of math, that’s not really what I think of, but maybe that’s just me.</p>
<p>Definitely try to experience compsci before you make the decision to be a compsci major. I have seen too many people go into compsci because they hear it pays well, but then they fail miserably and then end up changing majors because they can’t code well and can’t handle the projects and stuff (Specifically, at my school there’s this data structures class that’s kind of the pre-requisite for basically the whole rest of the compsci track, and it’s also the weed out class, and if you fail that class, you’re kinda f-ed since you’re now a whole semester behind. And don’t even mention failing that class TWICE, though I have seen that happen). So maybe that kinda answers your question about it being cut-throat.</p>
<p>If you find out that you genuinely enjoy programming, then definitely go for compsci. I love programming and I’m a compsci major, and I’ve never regretted it once. What you’ve read about comspci is completely true, if compsci is the right thing for you. School is the most fun thing in the world for me right now. And yes, it does pay really, really well. If you can manage to grab the best internships for the summers, you can expect to make as much as $50 per hour. And that’s just an internship.</p>
<p>Theoretically colleges are responsible for teaching you from the ground up. But do take into account the potential peer pressure which you may encounter. If you go to Caltech or MIT, most of your classmates will certainly have coding experience at their disposal; some even got internship before. Catching up to them will therefore pose certain difficulties.</p>
<p>There are a plethora of online intro compsci classes. I liked the Udacity python course. This should help you get experience and exposure if there are not good options at your high school.</p>
<p>Every college I know of offers classes at the basic level in every subject (assuming only a high school level algebra, etc). There will be introductory programming classes at your school, but if this is a special concern, you can always look at the course catalog of the schools you are interested in. You may have to start at a lower level than other students, but I guarantee that you will not be the only student in that class. Many students have no prior experience in their major, and they still graduate successfully. Everyone has to start somewhere. Don’t let not having programming experience RIGHT NOW deter you from ever getting any. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>What I love about computer programming is that its puts you in a situation where YOU get to control the computer and all of its amazing capabilities. I just started learning Java and I can tell you its pretty fun and gets you thinking. I would encourage you to look at some beginning tutorials in Java or a similar language (C?). While you don’t necessarily have to get in depth with it, having a foundation will probably help. I’m lucky enough to have a dad who knows many programming languages so I am slowly taking in things on a day by day basis. I can’t wait till college. Good luck!</p>