So I just spent about 6 hours on Problem set 3. On the plus side I'm getting better at managing tuples, looping through elements in a tuple, dealing with the None object, and calling functions.

However, if this took me 6 hours, I dread to think how long the Monte Carlo simulation will take me. Out of interest, how many of these subjects does a typical undergrad student at MIT take at any one time?

Question

So I just spent about 6 hours on Problem set 3.  On the plus side I'm getting better at managing tuples, looping through elements in a tuple, dealing with the None object, and calling functions.

However, if this took me 6 hours, I dread to think how long the Monte Carlo simulation will take me.  Out of interest, how many of these subjects does a typical undergrad student at MIT take at any one time?

anonymous · Answer

Don't do it!  Don't compare yourself to that.  They get recitations which we don't get.  They get to ask questions in lectures which we also can't do.  Learning to program takes practice and time, there are no shortcuts.

anonymous · Answer

That's good advice.  

I remember in the first lecture the prof mentioned that once you learn your first programming language, it's very easy and quick to learn another.  So I'd like to think that the learning curve is steepest at the beginning.

anonymous · Answer

I've felt similar frustrations at how long it takes me to solve what seem to be relatively simple problems. As JulieNewbie said though, we don't have all the same resources that MIT students do. Also, I'm not a full time student and have lots of other things in my life that I have to devote time to. I