<p>I am studying at El Camino College, and I am trying to get a degree in Computer Science. I want to become a game designer, and this is probably the best route to take. Currently, beside two other classes, I am taking both Calculus and Computer Science at the same time. </p>
<p>My professor in CS only teaches us some basic things, but our assignments are always a lot more challenging. I could do some coding with blind guesses, but I don't have a firm grasp of what I do. Most of my classmates seem to know what they are doing, or have experience in programming before. I realized that the professor is only there to grade and confirm what we know, and that comes from self-learning.</p>
<p>Calculus is the most difficult class I have ever had and I always feel going on a rampage every time I leave the class. I took it once last year, did really bad on it and ended up dropping it. Even when I retake the class again, I still can't get a clear understanding of what the heck is going. I failed my first test, scoring a poorly 63/100. Meanwhile, everyone else in class seems to be getting the materials and did well on the test. It's like I'm the only one who failed, meaning the stupidest student in class. I am angry, because I loved math and was really good at it, until I got to Pre-Calculus. </p>
<p>Every time going to class or doing Calculus homework is mentally torture to me. I hate it, along with CS. I had high hope before starting this, but I don't think I can keep this up for long. It's so stressful. I tried watching tutorials, going to tutoring, but I still can't do good in either class. Am I just good up until Pre-Cal? Is this the end for me and my dream? But if I don't do this, I don't know what else I could do. Being a game designer is the only thing that I like. When I was a kid, I wanted to become an engineer, but that is even harder. I have no other choice to choose, and I can't keep up with my only path.</p>
<p>I have cast aside everything else to focus on education, but I still suck so bad. I don't even have time to get a part-time job. My life is so boring that I... I don't know what else to say... :(</p>
<p>Have you tried going in to see your instructors during office hours? How long has you given tutoring a try? If these two subjects are requirements for your major, you will have to take and pass them. Perhaps you can see if you can just keep one of them for now and take the other next semester? I’d definitely recommend going in to speak with the instructor and/or teaching assistant about how you can improve.</p>
<p>You may wish to post this in the parents forum and you may get more advice. Some of the folks there are profs, and there are also parents of kids who have had problems with courses as well.</p>
<p>Yes, I did try to go to his office. However, I usually still don’t understand after he explains the problems many times. I might get a small fraction, or maybe the basics, the the rest is all luck. Like when doing problems on Webassign, I though I am doing them right, but the results turn out to be wrong. I ended up exceeding the limited tries and lose points on the homework. I have noticed something about their attitude as well: The first time you come in, they welcome you with open arms. The next time, quite the opposite.</p>
<p>I am so sick and tired of all this. My textbook is completely useless, online tutorials are helpful to solve simple basic problems. But when I have to solve more advanced problems, I’m done for. Every time I do Calculus, it feels like mental torture. I would get angry after 5-10 minutes getting stuck on a problem. CS is annoying me as well, but I can get by it by asking someone else for help. But I don’t know how I would do on the test next week.</p>
<p>I don’t think I can make it through the rest of the required classes, and without a computer degree, I can’t make it to a game designing career. I don’t have anything else I could do. Right now, my only hope is ******** all the way through to the end for a desperate C. After that, my brain will automatically dump everything to Planet Bye-bye, as I never use anything in Calculus in my life. I feel like most of these teachers are just here to give you a grade for self-learning, and not to teach you anything much. I have encountered way too many problems that have nothing to do with what was covered in class.</p>
<p>**** it, I just want to put a bullet through my brain right now.</p>
<p>Please talk with the counseling folks at your campus for help and to clarify your option. Our friend’s S did work in computer gaming with LucasArts and others w/o a CS degree, so it CAN be done.</p>
<p>I have talked to many people and they said, although I might not need a computer science degree for game designing, I would hardly get anywhere without it or being skillful in mathematics. I am not even sure what I could do with an advanced game engine if I can’t program. I tried Game Maker before, but had to switch to RPG Maker and worked on a fan game with it. I can spare some time to talk to a counselor, but at best what they could tell me is probably to pick another degree or try harder. </p>
<p>My mom is also not easy, so not getting a fancy degree won’t sit well with her. Heck, I wanted to be an engineer, but then I switch to CS, hoping that I could learn to write AI and design games as well. Looks like reality hit me hard. Now, I have a test in Calculus on Tuesday, which I am beating myself trying to study. That pluses a CS assignment and multiple CS questions due on the same day. Not to mention Japanese tomorrow, and English on Monday.</p>
<p>My teachers can’t teach for ****s. I had a Chinese woman last year, and a Russian man this year. They both can’t explain anything or make any sense. I tried watching tutorials on Youtube, but that only help me with basic problems. He threw in a bunch of advanced problems that were never explained in class, and I am dead. </p>
<p>My CS teacher? He is alright, but again, lectures and assignments are like day and night. CS is not as bad as Calculus, but I have no clue what to do for this current assignment. I did try to ask around the internet, but not many people would want to help someone who is completely clueless. They require me to have some work first, which I can’t if I have no idea what I need to do or how to start.</p>
<p>I can’t deal with this much longer. I have no passion left for these two subjects. I should be studying Japanese for tomorrow, but I spent all day for Calculus and now I need to stay up late to make up for it.</p>
<p>If you really hate it this much, would you really be happy doing this as a career? I really do think talking to an advisor will help you sort out what your options are and relieve some of the stress that you seem to be getting from the uncertainty. Have you tried finding a study group or spending a significant amount of time with tutoring? You would probably have more luck with useful information if you got it from people who are taking or have taken the class, rather than online.</p>
<p>You also need to learn time management so you can keep ahead of your work and not let it pile up and overwhelm you. You need to start with the counseling office. Prrhaps taking a lighter course load could also help you adjust.</p>
<p>I like game designing, but I just absolutely hate doing those math and programming problems. I don’t have a study group, but I do spend time watching and reading various tutorials. But either I can’t completely understand the materials, or the problems that I have to do are more advance than what I have learned. I sorta don’t like to talk to others, especially in a math class where there is barely any interactions and everyone but me seems to get the materials.</p>
<p>Even if I do talk to my counselor, what then? I can’t drop my classes, and I need to have over 12 units to get financial aid. I am a full time student because I want to finish school as quickly as I can to avoid stress like this. But now, I can’t figure out how to do the homework, nor can I avoid the classes. I’m in a tight position.</p>
<p>You want to be a game designer but can’t stand the math or programming? This seems like it could be a problem. I have a number of thoughts on this, but this article sums a lot of them up:
[Don?t</a> go to a ?gaming college? if you want to make video games for a living » BabySoftMurderHands - Gaming editorials and opinions](<a href=“BabySoftMurderHands.com | Gaming Interviews, Cosplay, and more.”>Don’t go to a “gaming college” if you want to make video games for a living | BabySoftMurderHands.com)
My thought: Jobs in the gaming industry are hard to come by and get. If you don’t get such a job, what then? If you hate programming, your options are less than limited with a CS degree.</p>