294 lines
13 KiB
PHP
Executable File
294 lines
13 KiB
PHP
Executable File
<?php include 'global_colors.php'; ?>
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<style>
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.getting-help-selected {
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background-color: var(--sidebar-highlight-color);
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font-weight: bold;
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color: #000000;
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}
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.getting-help-selected .icon-title {
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background-color: var(--sidebar-highlight-color);
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font-weight: bold;
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color: #000000;
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}
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</style>
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<?php include 'template_before.php'; ?>
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<table>
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<tr>
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<td class="left-sidebox">
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<h1>Advice from Spring 2014 Students</h1>
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</td>
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<td class="right-sidebox">
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<div id="side-nav-buttons" class="my_sidebox">
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<ul class="sidebox">
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<li><a href="getting_help.php" class="nav-row">Getting Help: Online Discussion, Office Hours, & Tutoring</a></li>
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<li><a href="references.php" class="nav-row">References: Textbooks & Web Resources</a></li>
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<li><a href="advice_S14.php" class="nav-row getting-help-selected sidebox">Advice from Spring 2014 Data Structures Students</a></li>
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<li><a href="advice_F11.php" class="nav-row">Advice from Fall 2011 Data Structures Students</a></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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</td>
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</table>
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<h2>Prior programming experience, knowing C++</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"CSCI 1100 was definitely helpful coming into this! But other than
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that, I had no computer experience and I learned a lot!"</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I was not familiar with C++ beforehand and did fine, though taking
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CS1 first rather than skipping it and going directly to Data
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Structures was a good choice."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"You don't need any prior experience with C++ programming (I
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certainly didn't have any). But at the same time, if you don't have
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any, don't expect to cruise through this class."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Experience in Java is helpful, as the syntax between Java and C++
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is very similar."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Familiarize yourself with C++ before the class."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"There are many online tutorials that can help teach you the basics
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of C++. Even just learning the syntax and the process of compiling
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will go a long way."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Who should take this course</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I would say that anyone who has taken Computer Science I and
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enjoyed it should take this course."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I would definitely recommend that EVERYBODY I know take this
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course. I don't think I've ever learned more from a class and I am
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a senior graduating with two majors so that's not for lack of taking
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courses. No prerequisites are necessary in my opinion, just spare
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time and some self-driven motivation."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Make sure you have a keen interest in computer science before
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taking this course."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't take it if it's not a requirement for your major or you're
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not interested in programming."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"If you're interested in stuff this advanced, you're probably
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already a CS major."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Time commitment</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Be prepared to spend 10-12 hours a week on homework. If you know
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what you're doing, it will take significantly less time than that."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Take the course. As an engineer the workload is pretty
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typical. Everyone complains about it, but that is mostly because
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they aren't used to RPI workload yet."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"This course is a big step up from CSCI 1100."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't be involved with too many social activities."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't take Intro to Bio at the same time. They don't mix."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I strongly suggest taking 16 credits or less when taking Data
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Structures."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Allocate a ton of time for homework. You really don't need anything
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prior to taking this class, but the less experience you have, the
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more time you should allow for working on homework."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Do not underestimate the amount of time assignments will
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take. Start reading the as soon as they are posted. Do not assume
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you will not run into issues even when you think you are almost
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done."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Make sure that you put the necessary amount of time into the class
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and do not be afraid to ask for help from any of the different
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resources. The concepts take time to understand and the homeworks
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take a lot of time to do, so allot your weekly time wisely."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Do the work and put in the time and you'll be fine."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>General advice</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Find a study group."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Make friends in the class, make friends with people who have taken
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the class before. You cannot do this class by yourself."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Be committed to learning."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Create good study habits."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Be consistent with your programming practice. I was successful
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through continual hard work in the course along with a desire to
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learn and a refusal to fail."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"One of the most important keys to success in this course is your
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own determination. Even if you did not get an A in CS1, you have
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to believe that you are capable of doing well in this course."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Look at the first homework, and if you think you could do it using
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C++ or any other language, you're probably good to go."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Do not be discouraged by the first test/hw."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Keep physically and mentally healthy."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Lecture advice</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"You have to go to all the lectures if you want to understand -- do
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not miss any!"</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"No laptops in class."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Take notes and participate in class to finish the in-class exercises."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Go to lectures and try your best to pay attention. Also answer
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questions and write down every example... you don't know when those
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will come in handy."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Lab advice</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Start the lab checkpoints before lab, that way you can get full
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credit for the labs"</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Take full advantage of labs to get your questions answered."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Homework advice, starting early</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Start the homework early, at least by Sunday."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"My advice would be to not procrastinate homework."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Start the homeworks the weekend they are assigned so you are at
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least thinking about them the entire week."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Start the HW on Thursday. YES, I am talking about the second you
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submit the previous HW."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Always start it at least four days in advance, and do not be
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afraid to go to office hours if you're stuck."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Start the homework a week before it is due. Don't panic."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I would start it on Monday and still have trouble getting it done
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ahead of time."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Start the homeworks on Saturday. Call it Data-rday, get a group of
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friends together, get snacks, celebrate it, and then come in with
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questions on Monday for the TAs because Office Hours on any day
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besides Monday are horrendous."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't push your homework to the last day it is due."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I would recommend doing the programming assignments over a longer
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period of time, not in one or two nights, so you have adequate
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opportunity to ask questions if need be."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Homework advice, late days</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Late days should only be used in emergencies or on particularly
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difficult homework."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't anticipate using a late day."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't use your late days early in the semester."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't blow all your late days on the first few assignments."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>General homework advice</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"You will learn alot if you do all the homeworks."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Writing pseudocode or breaking down an assignment into little notes
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can help."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Don't be discouraged if the solution to the assignment does not
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come instantly. These assignments are designed to make you think
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hard about a problem."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Drawing a visual of the data structure helps immensely."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Watch for corner cases."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"If you feel homework is too easy, then work on improving the time
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efficiency of algorithm."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Be prepared for late nights and frustratingly hard work."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Think happy thoughts and stay positive when debugging. Don't
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let those mountains of errors get the best of you!"</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Office hours/ALAC</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Go to ALAC, tutors are much nicer than TAs/Mentors, more patience
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and more helpful."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I would also advise them to never be afraid of going to ALAC or to
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TA Office Hours for help."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"You will not know everything. Ask for help."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Go to office hours."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"If you go to office hours, go early and often. They were almost
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always overcrowded."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"I know it is cold out, and windy, and it is late and it is far
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away...but go to ALAC. Go to office hours. It will save you so much
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strife. And go early, go on Monday and you will have a happy
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Thursday."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"The biggest advice I would give is to attend as many office hours
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as you can. Even if you understand the assignment, office hours is
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a great place to get your homework done, and if you do end up
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getting stuck, you can immediately resolve your problem as opposed
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to spending hours debugging."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Go to TA office hours, ALAC tutoring, and never give up. Use online
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resources to figure out syntax and don't be afraid to ask questions
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in lab."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Have patience with the office hours help queue."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Go to office hours if you have problems, the TA's are great."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>Test preparation</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Do more small problems, handwritten, than you are given. That way
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you'll be faster in solving and writing out test problems."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Be a very fast and neat writer."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"You'll have a very hard time on the test if you don't get a good
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amount of practice writing code on paper."</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>"Write down the lecture exercises, they're great for reference on
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the page of notes allowed for tests."</p>
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</ul>
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<h2>What resources did you find most helpful in learning the course material? (130 total responses)</h2>
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<ul class=DS_UL>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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online resources, e.g., stackoverflow.com, cplusplus.com, and google (53)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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TAs / TA office hours (50)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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lectures and/or lecture notes (29)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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labs (24)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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ALAC (24)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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LMS (17)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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students from prior term (17)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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current data structures students (16)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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homework (7)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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instructor office hours (4)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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textbook (3)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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practicing coding (2)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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back tests (2)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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posted homework solutions (1)
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</p>
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<li class=DS_LI><p class=DS_P>
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private tutor (1)
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</p>
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</ul>
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<p class=DS_P> </p>
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<p class=DS_P>
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See also:<br>
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<a href="advice_F11.php">
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Advice from Fall 2011 CSCI 1200 Data Structures students</a>
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</p>
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<?php include 'template_after.php'; ?>
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