I’m a senior in high school and I’m planning on going to community college. I definitely am interested in Computer Science or Business. I did very bad in high school and I really regret not trying harder in school. I go to a very competitive high school and being demotivated as well as bad study habits didn’t help my case. My plan, as of current, is to transfer to USC as a sophomore and if that doesn’t work out, stay one more year and transfer to UC’s. I was wondering if this is a realistic goal since I’m not really good at math. I’m currently in Algebra 2 so that’s saying something about how proficient I am at it… UCLA requires taking Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Calculus 3, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra. I was wondering how difficult these courses are. I’m also wondering if I should change my major? (I’m pretty scared that I’ll take Computer Science and learn in the middle of the semester that it’s too difficult/disinterested and I’ll have to restart) Please help!
Is there any reason you want to do CS? Have you coded anything before? Do you enjoy logic?
Math isn’t always a huge hinderance to CS, but you better enjoy programming / logic.
I did some coding in my free time making some simple games, not with java, but with a specific program that was created for making game applications.
What language? What games did you make? Did you enjoy making the game or making the logic behind the game?
I wouldn’t let math hold you back too much on its own, but CS has a grounding in logical concepts that are present in math. Boolean logic, validity, proofs, and complex data and algorithms are very important backbones of CS and all have underlying mathematical principles. While you will rarely explicitly use math while coding, pieces of discrete math and calculus will be present in your programs. It’s possible and not that uncommon to understand them in practice but not in the pure math form and to be very successful in CS.
If the games you were making were graphics based / low logic complexity, I would say to at least try making some more data driven programs before going the CS route. Basically, you can be good at CS without being good at pure math, but first make sure you get a full taste of CS and its logic, and see if you are good at / enjoy its logic.
Try CS for a semester- if it’s not for you, then you will know. Many students do this the first couple of years of college, and switch majors/ sounds like you are ready to get serious and make up for what you didn’t learn in HS- good for you!
It was a very basic and beginner friendly program called corona sdk. I just created some games where I added physics to blocks and messed around with it as well as adding characters with objects floating around rapidly and you interact with the character to avoid the objects by holding down the mouse. I thought that was SUPER fun and really enjoyed making it, my friend is also interested in coding and introduced me to that realm of coding and languages.
I’m not familiar with that program, but it looks like the app is essentially taking a lot of the coding out of making the game. I would suggest going on codeacademy and trying Python. If you still like it, I would agree with KaffeineKitty and try it for a semester and go from there. Maybe as an undeclared student first so you don’t have to go through the hassle of switching majors if it doesn’t work out.
I’ve been doing code academy recently as well. Wouldn’t doing so (trying it for a semester) result in me staying longer in CC? If I’m set on doing comp sci, I might have to stay in for 3 years, not including the added semester.
I’m not sure of the particulars of CC to University transfers, but why couldn’t you just apply after 2 years? Many people in college switch majors and often aren’t delayed because of it if it’s early. I don’t think 1 semester should delay you.
Because the math that is required by UCLA and some of the UC’s is way too much to be taken in 4 semesters. I have to take 6 math courses to even be eligible to apply. All 6 are required.
UCLA is on the quarter system. The six math courses there should be covered by four semesters of math at semester schools. But you are behind a semester because you need precalculus.
Quarter system?