Taking advantage of this moment, I’ve decided to write an article. Drawing from my own experiences as well as those of my friends who study computer science, I want to offer ten hard-earned pieces of advice for those in the field. I hope these suggestions can help more people who aspire to enter this industry avoid unnecessary detours. For those already studying computer science, after reading this article, you might reflect on whether, given another chance to start over with these insights, you could have done better.
Suggestions for Studying Computer Science
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Choose Wisely Many still flock to computer science because of the promise of high salaries, which was reasonable a few years ago. However, the reality today is different. While the field isn’t completely saturated, competition for jobs has increased significantly. Don’t naively assume that studying computer science guarantees a monthly salary of tens of thousands or an annual income of hundreds of thousands. Instead, consider whether you truly enjoy and are suited to this field. If you’ve never touched a computer before, I would advise against pursuing computer science. Most universities start teaching programming languages in the first year. If you struggle with basic tasks like installing software or typing, you’ll already be lagging behind your peers. While hard work can compensate for some shortcomings, it does require a certain level of talent and genuine passion. For example, my college roommate was very diligent, but he only started using computers in college. He initially typed with one finger, and although he could grasp theoretical knowledge, his programming speed was slow, and I saw the struggles he faced. You can try learning online with free tutorials. If you find that you’re not interested in computers or find it very difficult to learn, then consider switching majors. Computer science also has a strong connection with mathematics. Students with average logical thinking skills may find it very challenging to learn the basics and underlying principles of computer science.
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Clarify Your Goals and Plan Ahead It’s crucial to figure out early on what you want to do in the future: pursue postgraduate studies, find a job, get a recommendation for postgraduate admission, or study abroad? Different goals require different paths. I’ve seen many posts online about failures in postgraduate exams, civil service exams, or job changes. Part of the reason is lack of preparation and indecision among various options. Once you set a goal, plan accordingly. For example, if you plan to find a job directly after graduation, you should quickly master a programming language and development framework. Starting from your freshman year, you can join programming clubs, senior students’ development studios, or teachers’ labs. Continuously work on projects, participate in competitions, prepare your resume, and look for internships to gain experience and build your resume. Some say that backend developers should start looking for internships in the second semester of their junior year, but I’ve seen many students with lower academic qualifications get into big companies by starting to look for internships during the summer of their sophomore year (I did the same). The earlier you start learning, the better. Opportunities are for those who are prepared; don’t wait until graduation to realize how fast time flies. If you plan to take postgraduate exams, you can start researching in your freshman and sophomore years, as the exam policies change every year. Understanding the institutions and policies will help you clarify your goals. For a more stable postgraduate exam preparation, you can start learning English early, but other core subjects will require at least a year of focused preparation. If you aim for a recommendation for postgraduate admission, you should start understanding your school’s policies from your freshman year. Ask seniors and counselors which courses are good for GPA improvement and which competitions can earn you extra points. Focus on excelling in your major courses. Especially in your freshman year, if your initial GPA is too low, you’ll likely miss out on the recommendation. My initial GPA in my freshman year was 3.7 (out of 5), which wasn’t very high. After several years of hard work and competition bonuses, I managed to raise it to around 4.1 and secured a recommendation for postgraduate admission.
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Choosing Your Major and Career Effort is important, but making the right choice is even more critical. When it comes to choosing a major and direction, be cautious. If you’re not sure what kind of company you want to join or what language and direction you want to pursue, opt for Computer Science and Technology or Software Engineering. These majors offer a broader range of employment opportunities and are advantageous for further studies. When considering employment, take into account company size, industry, and personal interests. If your goal is to become a civil servant, join a top state-owned enterprise, or work for a leading tech company, pursuing a master’s degree is highly recommended. Of course, it’s not impossible to get into big companies without a master’s degree, but the opportunities are fewer. Many small private companies have less stringent requirements for academic qualifications. Let’s talk about industries. Most computer science students end up in development roles, so industries driven primarily by computer technology, such as the internet, telecommunications, gaming, and software companies, are ideal. There are also industries where computer technology is a major supporting force, like robotics, new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and the Internet of Things, which are also friendly to development positions. Besides development, computer science students have many other job options, such as algorithm research, technical operations, product management, and project management. These positions often interact with development teams, and having a background in computer science can significantly increase your chances of getting hired.
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Self-directed Practice Remember this: “Relying solely on school education to learn computer science will most likely not land you a job.” Computer science is a field where both theory and practice are extremely important. For most students who are not pursuing research, practice is even more crucial than theory. Even if you don’t know many algorithms, being able to write code can still get the job done. Therefore, self-motivation is key. Make sure to utilize online resources for self-study instead of assuming that attending classes on schedule will secure you a job. Not all school courses are necessary for finding a computer-related job. For example, some cultural quality courses or physics lab classes may not be helpful at all. I learned this the hard way. Initially, I followed the school’s PPTs to study, but after realizing the gap between myself and students from other schools, I started self-studying intensively. I skipped as many irrelevant classes as possible and focused on writing code. Some students might wonder: Won’t this affect your GPA and credits? Don’t worry, it won’t! Honestly, if you study well using online resources and then revisit some of the school’s professional courses, you’ll find them quite easy. For example, in our junior year, we had a front-end web development course. Since I had already been working on front-end development for two years, I never attended this class. However, during the final exam, I finished and submitted my paper in about five minutes and scored 98 points. Come on, compared to the interview questions in companies, the exam questions are not even a fraction as challenging! In addition to self-study, as mentioned earlier, you should also actively participate in projects, competitions, join studios, and contribute to open-source projects to gain practical experience. I joined the school’s website construction studio in my freshman year and became the leader in my sophomore year. This experience was a significant plus when I was job hunting and also laid the foundation for my later team leadership and entrepreneurship.
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Continuous Learning When studying computer science, avoid the habit of studying sporadically. You must study every day and persist. Especially when you’re starting to learn a programming language, most students haven’t yet shifted their learning mode from high school, where they might still be used to memorizing textbooks. This can easily lead to a cycle of learning and forgetting. So even if you take just a one-day break, you’ll need to spend more time revisiting what you’ve learned. The same applies to working on projects. After a week or two, you might forget the code you wrote yourself. Therefore, it’s better to engage in continuous practice and learning for higher efficiency. Also, cherish this opportunity. University is one of the few places where you can focus on studying. Don’t slack off and make sure you have something productive to do every day. Honestly, I really miss those days when I studied in the teaching building, library, and lab, without having to deal with various messages or the fear of the future.
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Choose the Right Circle and People Reject meaningless social interactions and instead align yourself with excellent people, seeking mutual support and encouragement. For example, you can ask seniors for advice on studying and job hunting, find teammates to participate in competitions, or seek project resources from teachers. Of course, dating is also important, but don’t force it. When you become better, you naturally attract more outstanding partners. I’ve seen many students who didn’t choose the right circle and were influenced by negative emotions. For example, if everyone in your dormitory plays games all the time, it’s hard to resist the temptation and avoid slacking off. My roommates often played games and watched TV late at night. To avoid being influenced by them, I stayed in the lab until after 11 p.m. and only then returned to the dormitory. This helped me achieve what I have today. Nowadays, the internet is filled with anxiety-inducing information. In such times, it’s even more important to find positive and motivated peers to learn and progress with. Never give up on yourself. When necessary, don’t hesitate to invest
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