A Guide to Freshmen Year: Computer Science Edition

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The new semester has begun. For those already part of IBA, there is excitement to be back on campus and resume the fun while making it through the grind that comes along with a new semester. And oh, the enrolments, need to save stamina for that too!

But what about freshmen who are going to begin their journey here? Excited? Nervous? Full of energy? Or a mixture of three? Some of you would be starting a degree without any prior background, some would have taken a gap year to sort things out while some would be moving into the city away from home. Whatever you relate with, stay assured. It’s going to be all good once you know the hack.

Beginning the journey as a CS Freshie

The freshman year is a year of self-discovery, exploring your interests, and building your basics. Most of us doubt our program choice throughout the year. But at the end of the day, with the right amount of consistency, time management, leisure, and motivation, you are soon in control of everything and things are no more overwhelming as before.

Being a Computer Science student myself, in my freshman year, I was all pretty tied up as I steered along my way submitting assignments last minute, going for extracurriculars, and moving around campus. Let’s look at some of the hacks to make the most out of your time at IBA, particularly as a CS freshman.

Learn from day one

It’s completely normal to stay slow in the beginning, you have just started, but be steady in building your skillset from the start. Don’t leave the stuff to be done a week before the exam because calculus and programming are not a thing of a day but need weeks-long practice.

Access courses on sites such as Coursera, Datacamp, and NetAcad, practice problems on Leetcode, learn from open source codes and attend live boot camps. If you take out some time, even as little as an hour every day, you will soon have a firm grip on the fundamentals and won’t be stressed out later.

Be smart with student clubs and societies

Gear up for the energizing society launches you will be having during your freshman year at the campus! Once you start sitting for interviews for the student societies, list out your main preferences and join those societies. Try to keep it low and work your way up in your later years. It’s never smart to join every society you like. Talk to seniors, quick-search the social media handles, and join ones that align with your unique skill set, personal interest, and career goals.

Think of programming as a game

This might sound strange, but if you want to be a good programmer, just know how to enjoy doing it. If you feel the logic working, the satisfaction that coding gives when you modify your commands and observe the changes taking place here and there is just amazing. Stick to one language and soon the codes will be on your tips. Time and again you will realize it’s fun experimenting with different problems and experiencing fulfillment after solving them.

Know your direction

Computer Science is not just a program, it’s a plethora of numerous disciplines that branch out of it. As a top priority, keep researching these disciplines and explore the ones that best fit you. A lot of these interconnect in fascinating ways, hence you don’t need to limit yourself to just one. Knowing your direction would immensely help you in securing internships and working on valuable projects in the next three years.

It ranges from hardcore software engineering, web development, mobile app development, Operating Systems, Cybersecurity, and Computer Architecture to AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, Business Intelligence, and Human-Computer Interaction. Reflect on what provokes your curiosity and passion and build a strong foundation in that area.

Last but not least, do not forget to enjoy yourself and make memories while you are a freshman. Connect with people. Engage in a sport you like. Plan evenings out with friends and whatever else brings you happiness. Remember that it is the beginning of one of the most transformative experiences of your life!

Have a great year ahead!