A Guide for Freshmen Launching a Career in Tech
It’s fall, which means it’s the start of a new semester and a campus buzzing with fresh, unfamiliar faces.
Starting your first year of university, whether it’s in a tech program or not, can be a daunting experience, but it’s comforting to know that many others are in the same boat.
University is completely different from highschool. What worked for you in school and allowed you to excel will likely not work in university, because the curriculums are very different.
But that’s not a bad thing — there are many strategies to help you thrive in your tech journey at university. In this post, we’ll share a few tips to ease you into the upcoming semester!
Master the basics
When you’re starting to learn programming, it’s a common mistake for beginners to skip the fundamentals and jump straight into more advanced concepts. This tends to backfire when they solve assignments, and eventually, they’re forced to backtrack and learn those basics.
To make your learning journey smoother, invest time in mastering the fundamentals first. They include concepts like data structures, variables, control structures, syntax and debugging.
Stick to one programming language as you learn those fundamentals and get comfortable with it by playing around with code, making changes to see different outcomes and trying out various solutions.
Once you are certain you grasped a set of fundamentals, continue to the next chunk. This approach saves you both time and energy, because it ensures you’re building your programming skills steadily and sustainably.
Leverage university resources
Your time at university is a unique time, where people — aka your professors and teaching assistants — are literally paid to help you succeed. Use this to your advantage!
Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Attend their office hours to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. They can also become valuable connections, helping you expand your professional network and reach your goals.
Look into the resources your university has available for you like computer labs, free softwares, and additional learning resources your professors might include on their course’s site. These resources can be incredibly helpful during your academic journey.
Explore extracurriculars
Extracurriculars like hackathons and tech clubs (like WITS+!!!) are a great way to enhance your university experience. These communities provide opportunities to connect with fellow students and exchange ideas, seek help, and collaborate on projects.
Not only that, but they also expose you to a wealth of knowledge and resources that can boost your understanding of tech.
As for hackathons, they’ll give you hands-on experience in various aspects of the tech field, allowing you to figure out what aspects you enjoy working on and what you don’t.
Take care of yourself
Lastly, prioritizing self care is so important to succeed!
While rushing towards your goals can consume most of your time, don’t forget to make time for things that fill your cup and recharge your energy.
Every mistake you make in university is a valuable learning experience, so don’t stress excessively. The more problems you solve and more mistakes you make, the better you will be the next time you start programming. So, just relax and enjoy the process of learning.
Author: Laila El attar
