I did bad in introductory level computer programming, does it hurt?

[xr_z]

Hi family,

Time flies by and it's time for me to apply to grad schools!

I'm targeting the top 10 schools based on the 2020 rankings, I currently have a 3.7/4 cGPA and my major GPA is even better.

During my 1st year, I'm really stupid for not paying attention in two courses like introduction to computer programming. They show up as two "C" in my transcript.

Do this get me out of the admission officer's table? I have other higher level programming courses such as algorithm and data structures (I got A+) and many machine learning courses with A or A+. Will this make them think that I'm a viable candidate?

Thanks very much for all your answers!

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Forget the past.
I would say, do the QN C++ course. It's best investment you will make, ever.

C++ Programming for Financial Engineering

The premier C++ course tailored for individuals pursuing quantitative masters degrees, covering essential topics and applications in quantitative finance. - Recommended by admission officers from top MFE programs

quantnet.com

I originated this course

 

[bigbadwolf]

During my 1st year, I'm really stupid for not paying attention in two courses like introduction to computer programming. They show up as two "C" in my transcript.

These intro programming courses are almost invariably vacuous and mind-numbing horseshit, with a focus on syntax and brainless coding projects. The problem is that if you do well on them, it doesn't mean much of anything but if you do poorly, it raises eyebrows. Find a non-trivial programming course, for example one involving numerical analysis.

 

[xr_z]

Forget the past.
I would say, do the QN C++ course. It's best investment you will make, ever.

C++ Programming for Financial Engineering

The premier C++ course tailored for individuals pursuing quantitative masters degrees, covering essential topics and applications in quantitative finance. - Recommended by admission officers from top MFE programs

quantnet.com

I originated this course

Thank you Daniel. Yes, will consider it. Will I get a certificate or something to proof that I completed this course?

 

[xr_z]

These intro programming courses are almost invariably vacuous and mind-numbing horseshit, with a focus on syntax and brainless coding projects. The problem is that if you do well on them, it doesn't mean much of anything but if you do poorly, it raises eyebrows. Find a non-trivial programming course, for example one involving numerical analysis.

Thanks so much. I'm in my 4th year now and I don't really have too much time left to complete another programming course. Do you consider some 3-level AI & ML courses offered by computer science department non-trivial?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Thank you Daniel. Yes, will consider it. Will I get a certificate or something to proof that I completed this course?

Yes, you will get a certificate of completion.

 

[bigbadwolf]

Thanks so much. I'm in my 4th year now and I don't really have too much time left to complete another programming course. Do you consider some 3-level AI & ML courses offered by computer science department non-trivial?

Probably not since AFAIK, they typically don't involve intense coding. What I would really like is some course on programming to involve creating a rudimentary chess engine. This is not as difficult as it sounds but it seems that neither authors nor publishers are interested in putting out a book on this topic. Instead we face a glut, a plethora, of introductory books on syntax and/or trivial coding projects.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Probably not since AFAIK, they typically don't involve intense coding. What I would really like is some course on programming to involve creating a rudimentary chess engine. This is not as difficult as it sounds but it seems that neither authors nor publishers are interested in putting out a book on this topic. Instead we face a glut, a plethora, of introductory books on syntax and/or trivial coding projects.

Chess is a niche; not to everyone's taste, perhaps. But it would be a crisp example of how to use OOP.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

How about an Abacus in C++

Abacus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org