<p>Hi I was admitted as a mechanical engineering major to UCLA, but I plan on switching to computer science and engineering. I don't have any programming experience so I would like to get a head start by learning one of the programming languages. Which should I learn to get a headstart at UCLA?</p>
<p>also is computer science and engineering the same thing as EECS at berkeley where you just basically take EE courses instead of humanities?</p>
<p>The introductory courses teach C++. CSE students still have to take humanities courses, unfortunately. It’s part of the GE requirement.</p>
<p>Or fortunately, it’s good to have a broad base of knowledge and learn about something that’s not in your comfort zone lol.</p>
<p>Best resources to learn C++:
[C++</a> Language Tutorial](<a href=“http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/]C++”>http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/)
[Amazon.com:</a> Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days (5th Edition): Jesse Liberty, Bradley L. Jones: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Sams-Teach-Yourself-Days-5th/dp/0672327112/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238559669&sr=8-2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Sams-Teach-Yourself-Days-5th/dp/0672327112/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238559669&sr=8-2)</p>
<p>You can probably find that book (or something close to it) at your local library. The “Sam’s Teach Yourself” series is really really good for beginners (it is what I used, and I aced CS31 and CS32).</p>
<p>The intricacies of the language aren’t the hard part; the hard part is being able to logically think out problems and then produce programs to solve them. Learn how to think as a programmer, and you’ll do quite well. Good luck!</p>