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Greg Utas wrote: Your profile says you're in the US but you call it university rather than college?!
The 'U' in MSU (where I graduated from) doesn't stand for 'College'! And I'm in the states!
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Oh yes, lots of "U"s in university names, but hardly anyone calls it that!
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Well, I read you describe yourself and it seem like you're describing me.
Let first start by telling you something about doing what we (programmers) do. It's because we love it. It's because we're curious and it's because we love the feeling of accomplishment, almost as if we were performing magic when we make something work for the first time.
Now, if you share some of that sentiment, you're likely on the right direction and on the right path, everything else is learned, including the way of thinking.
I for one, always learned best with books. As you said, doing it at my own pace, with the book open over my lap or desk, while I would try whatever I had just learned. It takes time. Fortunately when I started I had time, I was 14 years old when I read my first book. My first book was from the series "teach yourself in 21 days", which was obviously impossible for me with a book of over 700 pages, doing hands one. It was more likely 21 weeks.
What I also didn't know at the time is that I have ADHD (actually ADD, which is the mostly inattentive version). That said, books were one of the only things that actually captured my attention and focus. But yep, in that sense it also made me a slow learner. I started treating myself for the condition just now, over 20 years later, back then I was completely oblivious of the situation, as a matter of fact, I have spent a lot of my life being oblivious about too many things. Too much time in my head and I am thankful for discovering programming (by accident), which gave me some direction.
When I actually went to university, I already knew so much that I would spend my time in class helping others, rather than learning myself, this let me slide through CS classes quite easily and the prior knowledge removed the pressure to learn all of these subjects at the same time. As I never liked to do homework, I could use my spare time in class to do exercises on subjects I was not very savvy about, like physics and calculus.
So maybe you should ask yourself if it's the right time to do Uni of if you could take it slower. I am not sure about the education system there, but have you considered if you can take less classes at a time? I think this could help you focus and give you room to properly learn stuff. There is no point on rushing through uni if you cannot retain what you're being fed with. It's just a waste of time and money. You should realize what you're experiencing as a red flag and you need to reassess your goals.
I think it's no shame on taking longer in the uni if that's all that's at stake. Having that said, you need to also realize why you don't have time. Do you don't have time because you work full time? If your goal is to learn programming and you learn better with books, then why attending uni in the first place? Of course it has a lot of valuable stuff difficult to get from books, but then, maybe now is not the right moment. A lot of us are self taught anyways. My first formal job as a programmer was before I even started uni. So think about this. Put your logic skills to good use and evaluate your life rather than a computer program.
I hope you figure it out and good luck!
To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson
Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia
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You need a "co-op" type program: go to school for 6 months and "apprentice" for 6 months, or thereabouts.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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Well, that will not work for me. I'm not good at jumping from one thing to the other.
modified 3-Jun-21 21:01pm.
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You'd have six months to catch up on your schooling while learning the ropes.
If you think that is "jumping from one thing to another", then yes, you should just throw in the towel. I think you're allergic to work.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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Gerry Schmitz wrote: I think you're allergic to work.
Really?  And how did you come up to that conclusion? I never met you  Did you read that from the tarrot cards or see that in a crystal ball? Maybe you should try another fortune teller lol
modified 3-Jun-21 21:01pm.
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The problem is that CS is a complicated field, which a massive variety of subfields: in terms of languages alone there are dozens that are in common use in the real world, and each of those is used with different aims in mind, with different parts of the frameworks available being used depending on the task.
Just in terms of environments under which an application will run, there are four main contenders: Windows, Web, iPhone, Android: and each of them uses a different framework (or frameworks - there are many different ones in each environment!. Some environments traditionally enforce a specific language: Java for Android, Objective C for Apple, HTML / Javascript plus a backend language for web based.
So there is a huge amount to learn: the course doesn't know what you are going to be good at or interested in so it has to - initially at least - give you an overview of everything so that you know that it exists even if you can't really code in it (and trust me on this, almost nobody leaves a degree course in CS being able to code well in any language, much as their exam results may beg to differ!)
And there's the rub: out in the real world, you have to keep switching about - you can't just focus on one thing for a long period of time, because everyone else is waiting for that bit so their bits can work. And you have to keep on learning, all the time - new ideas, new methods, new frameworks, new languages ... it never ends!
It takes a specific mindset to do this, not that many people have it, and as far as I know it can't be taught - it has to be learned and that's a big difference!
I'd suggest talking to your tutor, and seeing what he can suggest or do to help - if nothing else this will be a problem he has met before and he knows you better than we do.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Amen ! 
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
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I would take issue with your usage of CS.
CS IMO is the study of computing in the abstract - algorithms, complexity theory, etc. In order to apply CS in the "real world", we use computer languages, operating systems, etc. The difference is analogous to that between physics and electronics.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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Precisely so. Computer Science is infested with wannabe mathematicians, and Software Engineering is infested with wannabe engineers. 
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Thanks for your reply, sorry I'm late with it. I took a week off just to program some real stuff and see if my programming skills go anywhere. And actually it was a good choice. I learnt a lot and gained confidence in myself. It looks like I'm not that dumb as I thought. I really progressed so maybe I have a chance to work as a programmer if I keep up studying and practicing. At least i hope it will lead to a job someday.
Have a nice day 
modified 3-Jun-21 21:01pm.
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You're welcome!
Good luck.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Member 14971499 wrote: If you want to pass the exams the school books and lectures aren't enough. You have to learn from other sources.
I won't comment on your situation, others have done that - but this quote is so true, yet so little understood. Even at school (I'm thinking 'A' levels in UK) it applies. Yet too many youngsters think that if they just do the minimum (turn up at lectures and read through the booklist) they'll pass with flying colours. There may be subjects where that's true, but in general doing well involves a lot more than that.
Ironically, it was the route I took - doing the minimum to check the boxes, and I completely wrecked my A-levels (resulting in D, E and O grades instead of the A, B, B I needed for my preferred uni course) and managed to scrape a 2:2 at Uni when with some application I'd have got a good 2:1. Fortunately exam grades are not the be-all and end-all and I rate my career as pretty successful. 
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You are sweating the small stuff. Concentrate on what it takes to pass the exams and ultimately get the degree. When you get your first job, you'll likely find that it has nothing in common with college exercises or exams. Buckle down and get through it.
My story: At 20, I was a struggling CS student...not particularly struggling with the CS classes, but with all the other required 'culture' classes...that and an inflexible computer lab schedule and an inadequate number of terminals when it was open. That combined with a lack of funds at the time brought my first college try to a halt. I got a pretty good factory job and did that for 10 years.
In the late 90's, I'd put back enough money to go live in a shack on my grandparent's farm and attend the local college, this time as a CIS major. I was a much better student the second time graduating at the top of my class and landing a job before graduation. 20 years on an I'm a co-owner of that company.
While I don't regret any of my choices, I would advise you to tough it out and get through it, otherwise, you may find yourself on a factory floor. From experience, it's much nicer (and lucrative) getting paid to use your head than your back...just my 2 cents.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
"Hope is contagious"
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enjoyed your post
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
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Thanks Bill!
Coming from a writer that means a lot! Cheers!
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
"Hope is contagious"
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You're forgetting the third possibility, it could be both. 
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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hahaha 
modified 3-Jun-21 21:01pm.
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I think it helps to have Asperger's syndrome. I can focus on my studies in spite of distractions, especially when doing something that requires little thinking. When I was in college, I worked multiple jobs earning money to cover my living and tuition costs, including working in a Xerox room, research assistant, in a candy store assembling the Sunday newspapers, and "private service." (As a member of a private service crew, I and my coworkers would provide service staff for private parties, doing such jobs as walking around with trays of drinks or canapes, setting the table for dinner, serving dinner and cleaning up afterward, tending a small bar and all of the other small jobs required to serve 20 to 50 guests in a private residence.) In addition, I worked as a female graduate student's personal servant and typist in exchange for tutoring in math. All of these jobs were part time and I had to keep a calendar to keep my work hours organized (Thank you DayTimer!! I am still a customer today, even though I am now retired.)
It also takes an organized and efficient way of thinking, rapidly breaking down any problem – academic, personal, just plain living – into small pieces that are quickly solvable. with the wide realm of technologies and the speed of technological innovation in computer science, you need to be able to rapidly learn new skills and paradigms.
Computer science is not for everyone. It is a tough, rapidly changing, demanding discipline that requires constant reading and learning.
See OriginalGriff's reply. There are some good suggestions there.
__________________
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept that there are some things I just can’t keep up with, the determination to keep up with the things I must keep up with, and the wisdom to find a good RSS feed from someone who keeps up with what I’d like to, but just don’t have the damn bandwidth to handle right now.
© 2009, Rex Hammock
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Thanks for your reply
modified 3-Jun-21 21:01pm.
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fyi: I started programming after age 40, and within five years was an about-box credited co-author of a best-selling consumer software program.
First, how do you know you have ADHD ?
Second, your description of your "basic CS course" is so absurd that I think you are making it up.
Other:
Nature speaks the language of mathematics.
In my experience, multi-lingual students have an advantage in learning CS.
Finally, quit making elaborate excuses for your lack of motivation, and/or laziness ... and:
Assess whether you have the aptitude for computer science.
If you have the aptitude, find a course or school where the introductory content is focused on algorithms and programming in one language.
Above all, find something to invest in that challenges you, that motivates you to grow.
Time's a wastin'
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
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Quote: Second, your description of your "basic CS course" is so absurd that I think you are making it up.
Yes, I agree, something is fishy about the post.
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CS- degree. My english is bad so my posts can be sometimes easy to misunderstand.
modified 3-Jun-21 21:01pm.
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My first weeks at university were also overwhelming. I simply could not follow courses, in part because I had no good study habits. I even failed my first exam.
This did not stopped me from finishing the 5 year course on time, with fairly decent grades.
It is normal that you feel "dumb", although I doubt that you are. Double down on the effort, pick up good study efforts and evaluate again in a few months. If you come to the conclusion that it is not for you, change. There is no shame in it.
The student loan can be daunting, but again relax. Nobody is going to cut-off your head or put you in prison for failing to pay it. Yes, it is a big deal, but not a life and death kind of thing.
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