4 ms·

I’d be surprised that it would be because of the math - I’d think some math would be expected, I’d guess it’s because you have to think for yourself and problem

I’d be surprised that it would be because of the math - I’d think some math would be expected, I’d guess it’s because you have to think for yourself and problem solve basically immediately. Pretty much every other class just has you follow rote steps until you get to upper classman years or even graduate school. Some form of recognize the problem type and then implement the procedure of explicitly taught steps for that problem. In computer science introductory classes you get introduced to programming languages as tools, but you have to figure out the procedures largely on your own. I think this is the first time a lot of students have had to actually think for themselves when solving a problem, and I suspect the transition is too much for a lot of them and they drop out.

WheelsAtLarge 7y ago
That's a good point. If you can't figure out how to solve a problem, then it's very hard to move forward in CS so dropping out is the only option.
OGWhales 7y ago
All of my friends who dropped out did so because of the math. The actual computer science courses were enjoyable. Discrete math was particularly challenging on purpose and so was our specific calculus classes we had to take. This was just to weed people out I heard. I would have guessed your reason too as that’s why people didn’t like AP computer science when I took that, but in my experience it seemed like math is what gets people and honestly that’s what I struggled the most with too. It was just an absurd amount of work on top of my other classes and it wasn’t enjoyable work either.
- fossuser 7y ago
  That’s interesting - I would expect CS drop out rates to not be significantly different than engineering/STEM in general if that’s the case since any of those are likely to have similar levels of math. If CS rates are higher then I’d expect something unique to CS, if they’re not then CS isn’t really unique among more difficult degrees anyway. If the person is comparing engineering degrees/dropout percentage to liberal arts degrees, well - there’s a reason the liberal arts stereotype exists. Those classes are way easier.
  - dodobirdlord 7y ago
    > That’s interesting - I would expect CS drop out rates to not be significantly different than engineering/STEM in general if that’s the case since any of those are likely to have similar levels of math. The level of math in most engineering fields stays within the bounds of applying techniques from calculus, and rarely involves proving much if anything. Most engineering degrees don't require any math courses beyond calculus and statistics. CS is one of a small number of degree programs where undergrads are likely to be exposed to a significant amount of proof theory, along with topics like algebra and graphs.

WheelsAtLarge 7y ago

That's a good point. If you can't figure out how to solve a problem, then it's very hard to move forward in CS so dropping out is the only option.

OGWhales 7y ago

All of my friends who dropped out did so because of the math. The actual computer science courses were enjoyable. Discrete math was particularly challenging on purpose and so was our specific calculus classes we had to take. This was just to weed people out I heard. I would have guessed your reason too as that’s why people didn’t like AP computer science when I took that, but in my experience it seemed like math is what gets people and honestly that’s what I struggled the most with too. It was just an absurd amount of work on top of my other classes and it wasn’t enjoyable work either.

fossuser 7y ago
That’s interesting - I would expect CS drop out rates to not be significantly different than engineering/STEM in general if that’s the case since any of those are likely to have similar levels of math. If CS rates are higher then I’d expect something unique to CS, if they’re not then CS isn’t really unique among more difficult degrees anyway. If the person is comparing engineering degrees/dropout percentage to liberal arts degrees, well - there’s a reason the liberal arts stereotype exists. Those classes are way easier.
- dodobirdlord 7y ago
  > That’s interesting - I would expect CS drop out rates to not be significantly different than engineering/STEM in general if that’s the case since any of those are likely to have similar levels of math. The level of math in most engineering fields stays within the bounds of applying techniques from calculus, and rarely involves proving much if anything. Most engineering degrees don't require any math courses beyond calculus and statistics. CS is one of a small number of degree programs where undergrads are likely to be exposed to a significant amount of proof theory, along with topics like algebra and graphs.