I found the course to be incredibly educational and rewarding. The problems were quite challenging, and the homework assignments required a significant amount of time and effort. I often spent hours researching C++ concepts on platforms like Stack Overflow and even GitHub. While demanding, this process greatly deepened my understanding of the material.
Personally, I am stronger in mathematics than in computer programming. The math in this course was very manageable — in my opinion, anyone with a solid grasp of arithmetic and algebra would be well-prepared. The greater challenge lies in the programming. I recommend having a good foundation in C++ before starting, as the professor moves through the material quickly. He is extremely knowledgeable, though the online lecture format can make it harder to ask clarifying questions in real time. The discussion forum is helpful, but I also suggest reading the recommended books if you don’t have prior experience with C or C++.
Students who already have a strong base in C++ — or who are comfortable seeking out additional resources independently — will thrive in this course and likely find it easier to build upon their skills.
The applications to quantitative finance were particularly fascinating and easily my favorite part of the class. I initially enrolled in this course because I plan to pursue graduate studies in quantitative finance. Several universities, including Carnegie Mellon, specifically recommended this course for students without prior C++ or object-oriented programming experience. I wanted to strengthen my programming background, knowing that C++ is fundamental to quantitative finance due to its speed and flexibility.
Overall, this course pushed me to grow, challenged me to improve, and humbled me in the best way possible. It not only improved my technical skills but also reinforced the importance of perseverance. The TA was incredibly supportive and made the learning experience much more approachable.
