Re:Ask HN: CS students/graduates, Did you struggle with Math?
by kasey_junk on Wednesday March 14, 2018 @01:18PM
(#16586442)
Computer Science often attracts people who have been told they are good at math from a very early age and often people who aren't that are intimidated away from pursuing it.
I was decidedly not one of those people who was told I was good at math and it caused me a lot stress before I started studying CS and early on in my studies.
But it turns out, a lot of what makes people get the reputation for being 'good at math' is about a very specific subset of math that is taught to young students. That very specific subset is important for CS study, but its a very small part of the maths breadth that you need. For instance, I'm terrible at Calculus but found an aptitude for logic only after I began studying CS.
TLDR: Yes, you can study CS while also struggling with math. You have to do things to make up for those struggles such as engage with the professors/TAs more aggressively, get outside tutoring/help & work harder than your peers in those classes.
I was decidedly not one of those people who was told I was good at math and it caused me a lot stress before I started studying CS and early on in my studies.
But it turns out, a lot of what makes people get the reputation for being 'good at math' is about a very specific subset of math that is taught to young students. That very specific subset is important for CS study, but its a very small part of the maths breadth that you need. For instance, I'm terrible at Calculus but found an aptitude for logic only after I began studying CS.
TLDR: Yes, you can study CS while also struggling with math. You have to do things to make up for those struggles such as engage with the professors/TAs more aggressively, get outside tutoring/help & work harder than your peers in those classes.