I will be a junior and I know CS to the extent of AP CS A which I got a 5 on this year - not more. I want to learn more CS because Bio/Neuro+CS is what I want to study in college. That being said, I have the option to take Web Dev or Independent Study CS at school. I want to learn some C++ and Python and create a neuro related project.
Do you have any suggestions whether Indep. Study is a good idea and what programming languages I should learn by myself.
Any textbook/reference sources?
Any ideas on what kind of project I should do (iphone app/website/program?)?
Wow… I got a 1 and I’m going to be a junior this year. I definitely need to retake it for when I apply, so I’d be interest in anyone’s suggestions for studying. I already have a lot of CS knowledge. I even have a nice looking github profile. I just didn’t really study well for Java and the CS test… So disappointed and need help.
My advice for you is to pick up Python and start looking at other Bio/Neuro programming projects. Look at the code. Then try and come up with your own idea or look for ideas online. Python is really easy and a great language. The best way to learn at this point is to DO! Use online resources. If you get stuck and you’ve googled a bunch already, then ask for help on a forum. For projects, do what you want. I’m not a big fan of iPhone apps despite being a Mac and iPhone user. Web dev is a little over populated.
If you want python and c++ specifically you should probably read a book. I think iPhone is mostly objective C and web is mostly html JavaScript and possibly some sql or ruby etc… IPhone c is transferable since it is really similar but web development will do no favors. Independent study is a good idea since you’ll get enough c time to actually work daily.
First read a book or take a course (online maybe). For python. Or c++.
Then try to contact a professor or something. I doubt it will work that nicely unless you have connections so expect to do independent research with compsci.
If you are open to other languages, I would explore web and app development.
All is up to your interest but you need a base. Without knowing the language first, you can’t do a project with it.
@andyis Thank you so much! I will at least get help from my APCS teacher because he will be my indep. study mentor. Do you have any txtbooks you recommend that work well? Websites? I know codeacademy is good.
Hahahahhaahhh. for our apcs final, we made a dna base paring using java and java panels and images. The start button was an image with a mouse listener at the coordinates. Twas sketch- but it worked.
It really depends on the kind of learner you are. Some prefer websites (like codeacademy) and others prefer reading. I like textbooks because I can flip back to a page and review the code faster than rewinding a video. Also, I think any textbook or course will work but try to find a fairly recent one, like within 3 years, since computer science is an evolving discipline. A key part is actually downloading a compiler and writing code. Don’t shirk on that. Asking for recommendations and advise from ap cs teacher is definitely good. If you get close, you could ask your teacher for a letter of rec in the future. Regardless, the most important thing is to get started ASAP. All other points are more trivial.
After you know one language, you can learn another language easier. Python should come fairly easy to you. C/C++ have some new concepts and you’ll need to learn the concepts in addition to the syntax.
Some people learn well by just finding small programming challenges and solving increasingly harder ones. If that is you, try the USACO training and/or Project Euler. Start in Python and make yourself learn the new syntax from online documentation.
