what it’s REALLY like being a computer science major (& the grades I got)

not many people talk about what really goes on behind the scenes of being a computer science major. you hear it's hard, but how hard? and the GRADES. oh my gosh grades are SO taboo. it's taken me a couple years to feel comfortable sharing this publicly, but let's do it, let's talk about the truth about being a computer science major.
follow the cs masters & product management journey here -
instagram: @evelynshares - / evelynshares
who am I?
I'm a 23 year old product manager working in tech, based out of SF. I grew up in Orange County and recently graduated across the Bay over at uc berkeley (go bEARS!) and started this channel to share more about the product management opportunity for new grads. Over time, this channel has evolved into a place for me to "share" a look into my life holistically - so you can expect tons of vlogs, trader joe's food reviews, travel content, etc.
business inquires only:
[e-mail]
music:
Earth Bound - Slynk
00:00 - preview
00:21 - intro to video
1:19 - intro to me (hi!)
1:41 - freshman year: intro to cs
3:04 - sophomore year: loving cs
5:46 - junior year: struggling w/cs
7:30 - senior year: ijustwannagraduate
8:25 - advice + goodbyes!
2814

[@TheRiverNyle]

I am a CS and Maths student at the University of Toronto, currently going through the same issues you did: feeling I am not good enough for CS, struggling in Theory of Computation, etc. Unfortunately I don't have any friends who major in CS, which most probably was what caused this problem to continue, but now that I have a much more open mind, I'm truly very grateful. I can't thank you enough for how much this video has helped me! :)

[@SweatySockGaming]

Did u make cs post out of stream?

[@TheRiverNyle]

@@SweatySockGaming Yes I did, but only for the major, as I only applied for the major

[@SweatySockGaming]

@@TheRiverNyle what were your marks in 148 and 165

[@teamhop]

Hey guys I’ve got some really great news to share with you, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on a cross and resurrected on the third day so you may all have eternal life. If you believe and repent of your sins and put your faith and trust in Him as you would a parachute jumping off a plane at 25000 feet up in the air, He will give you eternal life in heaven as a free gift and I promise you, He will change your life forever as He did mine. He is the ONLY way to heaven and He loves you all. Please think deeply about this with urgency because this is your eternal life and soul, you don’t know when you could die, meaning you could die at any moment, so please consider this with all your heart. If anyone tells you that Jesus isn’t the only way, they are lying to you and they don’t care about your future. Thx for reading.

[@noomade]

Surely the Maths is the harder part ...?

[@evelynshares]

really wish more people who struggled with CS shared about their experiences, people who are vocal about it then tell you they’re getting like Bs so you’re just like ok cool me and my F are just gonna not say a thing. SO I HOPE THIS HELPS ANY OF Y’ALL OUT THERE STRUGGLIN 🥲 but if u are a genius and acing everything that’s cool too you are still loved ☺️

[@teamhop]

Hey I’ve got some really great news to share with you, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on a cross and resurrected on the third day so you may all have eternal life. If you believe and repent of your sins and put your faith and trust in Him as you would a parachute jumping off a plane at 25000 feet up in the air, He will give you eternal life in heaven as a free gift and I promise you, He will change your life forever as He did mine. He is the ONLY way to heaven and He loves you all. Please think deeply about this with urgency because this is your eternal life and soul, you don’t know when you could die, meaning you could die at any moment, so please consider this with all your heart. If anyone tells you that Jesus isn’t the only way, they are lying to you and they don’t care about your future. Thx for reading.

[@chill4r585]

do you think being a cs graduate contributes alot to where you are now as a product manager?

[@MichaelSmith-jx3uf]

Cs especially in university will never not be stressful because there will never not be more to learn and it’s always piled on the prior concepts you are taught very quickly and often in different programming languages.

[@Addcn1]

thanks for sharing ev :') love the honesty !

[@evelynshares]

np my little CS genius

[@andrewson1012]

This is such a reassuring video :') Thank you for sharing this because like you said, not enough people talk about these struggles.

[@evelynshares]

omg thank you I’m so glad the intention got through 💕

[@obeytweety]

this is really amazing. much love from houston, tx !

[@sabrinaxiao821]

This really resonated with me as I went through the same thoughts and experiences you had studying cs and transitioning out of software engineering! I'm currently still plowing through my junior year with a love hate relationship with cs but I'm hoping it gets better 🥲 I also really enjoy the sit down and chat videos!

[@evelynshares]

you got this!! 💕 IT’LL GET BETTER!!

[@coopergates9680]

C and Java FTW. Is it the common problem of curricula being so broad and shallow, or asking you to do stuff that has been written for decades, like linear linked lists and binary trees?

[@ayubhaji2441]

First time seeing your channel, as someone who going into their second year into CS, your talk with failure something I already developed long ago in high school( was among the average). Some even doubted I could even go to university and it happened, so when I come across failure it affects me for few days but after that I just brush it off. I recently took a course on Data structures and algorithms this past spring and seeing BTS question give me memories XD, but never heard splay tree until now( which reminds me that every DS@Algorithms class is different to what they expose you to). Since I was doing this in a fast-paced spring class, the labs were rough and some times I couldn't finished them on time(cried some nights XD), there were times when I felt like I was very dumb for not getting how make certain algorithms work, or how to write a specific recursion function. My grades starting slipping and I was going to drop out to try again but some of my good friends told me just push through it and pass the class. I do believe I learnt quite alot but chose a bad time frame to do the course(never knew how fast time flew by before exams). Passed the class but failed the final, I tend to feel like this degree isn't for me but good friends and grounding yourself to your goals is what pushes me to go on.

[@skeletondude045]

I feel this a lot

[@asiandallas]

oh boy I’m currently in your situation where I’ve gotten As in my lower division CS and feels good about it. I’m ready for this to go downhill soon haha

[@etherealwarfare]

wow i really needed this. i'm currently a freshman majoring in IT, but i have to take an introduction to c class along with cs and engineering majors and i am struggling with grades and trying to keep up since i am not the best programmer. the support i had in the beginning of the semester i don't have anymore since they don't go to class or message me unfortunately. the only person i still talk to is super smart and gets A's on every assignment, so it's difficult to try and not compare my journey to theirs. i like your mindset that bad grades are ok as long as you keep trying and learning, and i'll definitely keep that in mind as i move through college. great video :)

[@evelynshares]

I completely feel you on the comparisons, definitely incredibly hard to avoid! regardless, rooting for you, hang in there!

[@o.o995]

I’m a CS major and I just finished my first semester of freshman year. It was very intense and I know it’ll only get harder. This makes me feel better, knowing that others are struggling too but are still getting good grades and still ending up with a job they like while using their knowledge from CS. Thank you for this video!! ❤

[@evelynshares]

congrats on finishing the first semester!! you got this you got this you got this 🤩 hope you get to enjoy a little break now!

[@o.o995]

@@evelynshares Thank you! And I wish you the best with all that you’re doing!!

[@user-ij3qr1bo7k]

it may get harder academically but as the years go on, you start adapting to everything. studying, how the exams’ questions are like, how to search for extra materials, which personally i consider it getting easier

[@kaylenemoye]

This video really means so much too me. ❤ I actually don’t feel alone now. I’m in my junior year

[@priscila5370]

omg me too.. i was a Psych major and switched to CS this year

[@evelynshares]

💕 makes me so happy to hear!! YOU'VE GOT THIS!

[@dukepham4191]

I'm glad I've graduated, my experience in CS was about the same

[@mrcello5399]

Thank you for sharing this evelyn, greetings from Vancouver.

[@evelynshares]

hello to Vancouver!! have a timbit for me, I miss those so much…

[@mrcello5399]

@@evelynshares no problem. Come by sometime

[@alababa01]

​@@mrcello5399 hello, I'll be getting into Canada next year but I'm scared of math especially discrete math. What do you think i should do and go about it. I'm willing to learn.

[@crazyzombie9720]

As a senior, I feel the same way. I just want to finish my CS degree and get out! I’m tired of being a student.

[@daytown]

Same

[@natgenesis5038]

Me too

[@lucasteo5015]

I just graduated recently, for me I love diving deep into topics like the math and deep down logic behind something like the assembly memory kinda thing that you showed, but I just straight up hating UI/UX kinda stuff which is big part of the job market right now... Idk I just don't feel I'm prepared enough to do what I want to do and be able to avoid what I don't wanna do. Maybe only time will tell after I get my first job. I'm thinking of continuing this mad journey to get myself a master's degree in ML but yeah dk if that's gonna be the ideal route (uni is a scam in terms of price)... hope all the best for all of us...

[@krishkumar4081]

I completely feel you. I took CS61A this spring as a freshman and I did so bad on the first midterm that I got discouraged and dropped it. However, I don’t want to give up, so I’m taking it now in the summer. Hopefully it goes well! I really want to major in cs and go into product as well!!!

[@evelynshares]

ahh so glad you’re taking it again!! definitely worth a second try if it’s something you’re interested in. you got this ☺️

[@lololoololdudusoejdhdjswkk347]

What was the midterm on? I’m also taking it in the summer, and basically in 2 days lol

[@garion7433]

Thank you! These CS classes and all the math I have to take as requirements are tough and just cause you do bad in some doesn’t mean your not cut out for the degree.

[@evelynshares]

tough means it’s challenging which means we’re learning! you got this 😤

[@therighttriangle2038]

I really appreciate your message. Really helps👍

[@evelynshares]

🥹🥹 so great to hear

[@chatisthisreal.]

It’s so refreshing to hear that there are other jobs out there in the computer science world other than a software engineer

[@Sisyphus_Green]

I'm literally crying while watching this video. Life of an EECS transfer student is so miserable especially surrounded by all kinds of talented people. Thank you for sharing this! You have no idea how much this video supported me for this moment!

[@temle7489]

future transfer applicant for EECS. Any advice? From DVC

[@Toxxiccc]

To anyone who sees this comment. I just started college and just began to learn Java. We are learning the basics and I’m already feeling far behind and we are learning everything through the textbook. I feel like I’m not cut out to make it. Has anyone else started coding in college and still made it?!

[@abrahammustafa6706]

you’ll make it bro. good things are not easy

[@tgon954]

I started coding in college and it was really rough for me my freshman year. In my senior year now and you just gotta trust the process that college is gonna prepare you for tech/CS roles in the real world

[@gavingonzalez7174]

@@tgon954how are you doing now?

[@tgon954]

@@gavingonzalez7174 Doing alright now! I’m graduated and got a job as a software engineer out of college while doing my masters in cybersecurity.

[@izzyy9901]

Hey how are you doing in College? Is it still hard?

[@alphonse8144]

thanks for this

[@lacielight1855]

Wow ! Currently going through this right now ! Programming two midterm averages ~ 38% out of 100+ students! Majority of the class failed.

[@felippealmeida8075]

Brazilian here, studied at public university UNESP. I am "anti-college", the disciplines dont prepare you to market at all, and the professors are horrible and dont teach the classes, so you will be a "self taught" with or withou a college. I just dont see any sense in colleges.

[@LiSA-lg5lx]

Respected, I really love how you explained each years. I plan to opt CS degree next year, but im still uncertain considering AI and getting my jobs replaced. As an Asian, its either be a doctor or an engineer so I went with CS but i was still feeling uneasy. Thank you for this, it has reassured me and I hope im making my right decision by taking a CS degree

[@evelynshares]

glad it could help, you got this!!

[@LiSA-lg5lx]

@@evelynshares thank you!!

[@deodarhill]

love that thumbnail lol you know what you are doing

[@caseyoumissedtv2915]

Thanks you this video really help out a lot ❤ because I start in fall and I didn’t take any class during my high school year just how interesting after graduating not good a math but I really want to give it a tried what should I start learning to get ready

[@jqthebest1]

What I learned majoring in Electrical engineering, in the actual major classes, it comes down to you vs the class average for exams

[@TravisGarnett]

❤️ Thank-you, #evelynshares. #BeenThereSis ❤️

[@chubbyduumpling]

This video helped me! I plan on majoring in CS in the fall. I dont appear to be fascinated in it according to my parents. I am just hesitant to mess up my future because I never took a computer class in high school.

[@evelynshares]

can't hurt to try a course! I never saw myself studying CS!

[@chubbyduumpling]

@@evelynshares i recently started a course by harvard! you’re videos really motivated me!

[@ahmedmaa4380]

Summary: it makes you cry!

[@simsationelle]

i am i n year on and this is the moment i realised project managememnt is what i want to do its what im good at.. watching this video was exactly what i needed to see cause i just failed a quiz the other day and cried so bad.. I wanted to give up

[@evelynshares]

sorry to hear about the quiz 😢 keep it up though, don't let it get you down!

[@hannaah2]

I am currently in high school and I am looking to get into CS engineering..You've really done a great job explaining.. But i am not sure if I should take it coz I am no prodigy in math and dont have a great level of abstract reasoning(found out doing tests online with patterns and stuff..hehe) Hence i am not sure if I should get into this especially since i didn't take CS in high school..would you recommend taking CS considering future options as well?

[@carlhopkinson]

When I was a CS Major in the 80s in the MS Program CompSci DePaul U, you better get a lot of 100 percents on your tests if you wanted an A. Grade Inflation did not exist.

[@i.t9390]

Do you think taking Econ 1 as a freshman fall would be a bad idea. My schedule would look like Math 1a, CS10, COLWRIT R4A, and Econ 1

[@r4jivaim]

Hey, I'm currently choosing between going the L&S CS route at Berkeley and declared CS at Georgia Tech and UCLA. The main reason I'm not too keen on Berkeley is because I've heard it's really hard to declare CS, and it's only going to get progressively harder because they want to limit the number of L&S CS students. What do you recommend I choose? Is declaring CS manageable at Berkeley or should I go the safer route?

[@r4jivaim]

@Donda 3 I chose gtech!

[@r4jivaim]

@Donda 3 yep, been great so far

[@Steve-sz4bh]

To be honest, I would take a risk and go to Berkeley. Berkeley is one of the top-rated CS programs in the world, and it is in close proximity to SV. Not to mention, living in the south sounds horrible. Living in the Bay Area is fantastic, and the energy and innovation in the area will likely give you a stronger sense of motivation to succeed in CS. That’s just my two cents, though. All three are great schools.

[@ramonpaolomaran2253]

Hello Evelyn, I need make some questions for you(sorry English) I actually, work in TI(I'm Software Engineer at here in Brazil), but, I want do CS I have 19 years old I can still working(44h week) when I do CS or you think that is a problem for me? (Again, sorry my poor English)

[@igetbucketz]

Watching your experience i think i could do it too

[@evelynshares]

YOU CAN!! ROOTING FOR YA

[@shengliangjin9251]

Yeah, thank you, I know you did this for me haha. But in order to be a PM, can I minor in CS and major in Business. Or just majoring in Business is Okay?

[@evelynshares]

ahahaa just looking out for you! honestly I’ve seen people of all backgrounds as PMs. I would say that the new grad PM programs seem to either ask that you have a technical background or are completely catered to those who don’t have any sort of technical background like Facebook’s RPM program. If you enjoy CS and it fits with your schedule, I would say minor in it!

[@shengliangjin9251]

@@evelynshares Are there more PMs programs like that that I need to look out to. So I can be prepared early ha🙂

[@michaeln.2383]

I think at other universities like Cal State ones, a 37% on exam that the class averages 50% on is a C-.

[@good-tn9sr]

bro this is not true for normal colleges 💀. I go to PennState, had 27 kids start out in my intro to algo class and ended with 9. They barely curve here and at the end you’re basically at God at CS topics. Every switches majors from CS within the 3rd year 😭

[@pritamkumar6454]

Does fund crises have any impact on eecs course at UC Berkeley?

[@alvarobazan7683]

Thin im going to get a D in my CS302 class, really sad but i messed up taking algorithms and the hardest class my school offers in CS at the same time. will not do that again

[@user-vg4vj1xv1v]

I know the feeling.😢

[@CaptainMaderik]

I am on my final year of bachelor of CS at Baku State University and i can state that such subjects like Probability theory and mathematical statistics, Theory of Computation, Calculus, Network, Linear algebra, Analytic geometry, Programming technology, Differential equations, Operating Systems, Optimization, Database, Coding theory, Dynamic programming, Information security, Discrete Systems are probably the easiest subjects to learn and even -9 months old (not born yet) child can learn all of these!!!

[@caseyoumissedtv2915]

Hey I start computer science bs this fall what should I start learning please help !

[@CaptainMaderik]

@@caseyoumissedtv2915 I struggled a little with math at the university. I will recommend you to start learning: calculus, linear algebra -> differential equations -> Probability Theory and statistics -> Numerical methods. You have 2-3 months, so you can find some books about calculus, linear algebra and study them before you go to the university. Btw, calculus is the subject of CS that is taught almost in every university all across the globe. Good luck with your studies)

[@alababa01]

​@@CaptainMaderik Hey, I'm scared of math but I'm willing to learn. How do you suggest i go about all math courses in CS

[@CaptainMaderik]

@@alababa01 It is better to study everything from the sources that you are comfortable with. For me Udemy, Brilliant were the best sources to find material and study them

[@zelven6109]

Another reason why you should learn what you love and not what gains

[@BillFu]

Go Bears!!!

[@evelynshares]

🐻 🥲

[@Cristian_30]

uh oh, I think I am in the sophomore phase lol. I am determined though, I am really enjoying it so far

[@smashing_data4292]

For me my toughest class was Algorithm Analysis. It was the known upper level weed out class at the VCU CS department. I dropped out of the class 4 weeks in and retook it the next semester. That was also the same semester I began work on my Computer Engineering minor. It wasn't the hardest class that semester for two reasons. The CE class was harder and the professor for Algorithm Analysis that semester had actual industry experience. The CE professor also had over 30 years of industry experience and he made his class interesting and engaging. Professors with actual industry experience actually make college classes so much better despite the difficulty.

[@Vriappiopoi]

In college, grades are on a curve. Tests are made intentionally hard so they can determine who the top students are.

[@luizfernandobuenorosa2529]

I can't get an internship tho because i don't have 60% of the course complete. And my coordinator threatened me that he wouldn't allow any internships if i got bad grades. SO yaeh, it's not the end of the world if you get good grades, except it is, for me, who's gonna end up JOBLESS because i can't get an internship! HORAAAY

[@crazyzombie9720]

I’m a senior and I still can’t get one.

[@luizfernandobuenorosa2529]

@@crazyzombie9720 sorry for the negativity, i was going trough some rough patches. But it's all right, I actually managed to get a freelancer gig and now I'm doing all right lol There's always hope! You just gotta spoil the shit out of yourself cause you're a wonderful human being and deserves the best in the world ✨✨ Cheers! And good luck in your job hunt ❤

[@R.Jaaaay]

Im currently earning my Bachelor of computer science at Colorado technical university

[@lyndonyang1269]

CS is hard, that’s why it’s fun

[@ramisaa2322]

I'm a junior doing intro cs 😭

[@evelynshares]

YOU GOT THIS I BELIEVE IN YOUUU

[@normantas3940]

Imagine beeing allowed to get an F. We have to get at least 5/10 in every lab, test etc. If you fail any of the graded work you need to retake the course the next year. At least we have retakes but a bullshit work with retake is still bullshit.

[@niakaproductions2020ukus]

30th March 10016 (recorded)

[@RobertLeeAtYT]

Hmmm.. Seems workload has decreased significantly. The third course, cs30 was the weed-out class. I still remember, the project was to write an OS in assembly. This is the whole shebang: multi-tasking scheduler, I/O, file system, etc. The class started with maybe 120 kids. Maybe 50 stayed to the end. To make the final turn in, I went into the lab Friday night and didn’t come back out till Sunday evening. It was brutal. And you know what, the later upper division courses really weren’t any easier or less demanding. Fundamentally, if you don’t innately love the material - you won’t make it.

[@sunoo_sun2162]

Them: biggest class on campus Us: smallest class on campus

[@carlhopkinson]

Do they even give Compiler Design any more....that course will kick your ass.

[@rasheedlewis1]

Depends on what you focus on. I went to Georgia Tech, but you’d only take a compilers course if you choose “Systems & Architecture” as one of your concentrations.

[@zeeunveil1324]

I went from watching a video about failing medical school to watching computer science... I need to go to sleep lmao

[@galaxygkm4696]

I don’t even know what to major in anymore bc I was looking into both those fields only to hear people say they got burnt out from it 😭

[@LIT1017]

I got 40 in a midterm and I dropped the class, in the end, any one got above 30 got a B in the course ☺️ so bad I had to take the class again

[@evelynshares]

yeah it's hard to know what grade you'll really end up with, I definitely can understand why you dropped the class, I've been in similar situations before 😕

[@helloworld2054]

Struggling in discrete math and theory of computation 😢

[@evelynshares]

rootin for you from afar!! 💫

[@rave400v6]

It's all fine until you're literally hanging on by a thread of being kicked out of school for falling below a certain gpa.

[@anthonyryu6128]

How was CS 70?

[@evelynshares]

I liked it! it's required, so really had no choice there ahaha - but better than 61c! harder than 61a and b in my opinion

[@anthonyryu6128]

@@evelynshares Thank you so much for the reply:) I will take CS70 this fall. Is that hard to get A??

[@wrong1029]

Gets Fs in classes, still gets a internship. cs is such a joke

[@reyvengamale9486]

me who has little to non support system going through CS 🙃

[@evelynshares]

ROOTING FOR YOU!!!

[@reyvengamale9486]

@@evelynshares THANK YOU❤❤

[@Aaron-nj5ez]

I have a 4.0 and can't get an internship, I think I might be cooked lmao

[@romanqc]

at the end of the day haha

[@ninersnation3298]

Are you serious?? my child was 1th grade in high school last year. Yes, he is gifted. He took CS 400 senior (AI/Pattern Recognition) level in college. 2nd assignment, he did a 2000 lines phyton program for the Bayesian A/B analysis on one weekend about 23 hours. He kicked out his college senior teammate because that guy was so bad in everything. YOU GOT TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOLVING MATH PROBLEMS TO ENJOY CS.

[@carlhopkinson]

You could make someone a nice wife.