Note
CS Degree Day 100
What I learned
The obvious thing: computer science. Algorithms, data structures, systems, theory. The curriculum.
The less obvious thing: that sustained effort on a single goal, held long enough against the friction of ordinary life, produces a kind of compound return that short sprints cannot. I have learned more in 100 days than in the two years prior. Not because I am smarter in September than I was in June. Because I was consistent.
The even less obvious thing: I learned the limits & wonders of self study. I have no one to argue with. No one to catch my misconceptions in real time. No professor to ask a question that reframes the problem. On the other hand, I can set my own schedule & pace. I can push harder on some days and rest on others. Such practice also inculcates self-reliability and mindset of achievement with minimal resources.
What next
I do not intend to stop, but rather progress at a manageable pace. The databases course left me wanting to implement one. The algorithms course made me want to read CLRS cover to cover. I will be following up on that.
Exam summary
| Subject | Score |
|---|---|
| Calculus I (18.01) | 179/200 (final), 89/100 (exam 1) |
| Calculus II (18.02) | Multiple exams completed |
| Mathematics for CS (6.1200J) | 81/100 |
| Intro to CS (6.1000) | 88/100 |
| Fundamentals of Programming (6.1010) | 84/100 |
| Software Construction (6.1020) | 79/100 |
| Intro to Algorithms (6.1210) | 82/100 |
| Design of Algorithms (6.1220) | 78/100 |
| C & Assembly (6.1903) | 75/100 |
| Computation Structures (6.1910) | 80/100 |
| Linear Algebra & Optimization (6.C06) | 77/100 |
| Database Systems (6.5831) | 85/100 |
| Networks (6.3260J) | - |
| Artificial Intelligence (6.4200) | - |
| Neuroscience (9.01) | 88/100 |
Thank you for reading. I hope it was worth something to you. It was everything to me.