What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Computer Science in College

So you’re starting college as a computer science major? Congrats. You’re about to be very confused, very overwhelmed, and very caffeinated.

And that’s okay.

I’ve been in the industry for over a decade now, and looking back, there are some things I really wish someone had told me before I opened my first IDE and pretended to understand recursion.

Let me save you a little suffering.

1. You’re Not Supposed to Know Everything

Seriously. You are not expected to memorize the syntax of every language you touch. Not Python. Not Java. Not C++. Not the weird subset of JavaScript that shows up on Stack Overflow.

Your professors might act like you should know it all. Ignore that.

Real devs Google stuff. All the time.

You are here to learn how to learn, not to become a walking syntax manual.

2. Learning to Code Is Not the Same as Becoming a Developer

Anyone can write code.

But becoming a software developer? That’s about more than printing “Hello, World.”

You need to understand:

How systems fit together

How to solve problems with code, not just write it

How to work with others (yes, even the ones who don’t write code)

How to debug, test, iterate, and refactor

How to ask for help without shame

Writing code is just one tool in the toolbox. Software development is about solving problems, building solutions, and doing it in a way that other people can actually maintain.

3. Bad Code Will Teach You More Than No Code

Don’t be afraid to write something awful.
Because you know what’s worse than writing bad code?

Not writing anything at all.

Bad code forces you to think. To ask questions. To learn how to fix it. And that’s where the real education lives. You’ll remember the pain of debugging a nested for-loop that broke your brain long after you’ve forgotten whatever chapter 6 was about.

So stop waiting to “get it perfect.” Get it written. Then get it better.

4. Debugging Is an Underrated Superpower

Debugging is not just some annoying step after coding. It’s a skill. A mindset. A blood sport.

Being good at debugging means:

You understand how your code works (or doesn’t)

You know how to test assumptions

You stay calm when things break

You think like a detective, not just a mechanic

Want to become a better developer? Learn to debug. Learn to use breakpoints, print statements, logs, IDE tools, whatever works. Build that muscle. It’ll save your life more than any syntax trivia.

5. Learn the Fundamentals. They’re Forever.

Programming languages come and go. Paradigms evolve. Frameworks trend and die.

But understanding how computers work, how logic flows, how data structures operate, that stuff sticks.

Learn:

Loops

Conditionals

Data structures

Algorithms (don’t panic, just the basics)

How to read code, not just write it

Get those fundamentals down, and switching between languages becomes like switching accents, you still know what you’re saying.

6. You Are Not Alone

It will feel like everyone else is smarter. Faster. Better.

Spoiler: they’re not.

They’re just better at pretending they’re not struggling.
Or they’ve already failed once and learned from it.
Or they’re cheating (yes, it happens).

The point is: don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outside. Ask questions. Find your people. Support each other.

7. Learn Your Tools, They’re Part of Your Power

Your IDE isn’t just a place to type code. It’s your sword, your shield, your sidekick.

Want to level up faster than your classmates? Learn to actually use:

Your IDE (VS Code, IntelliJ, Eclipse, whatever they throw at you)

The debugger (yes, the scary part that breaks on purpose, master it)

The terminal (it’s not just for hackers in movies)

Version control (Git is your friend, once it stops making you cry)

The compiler or interpreter messages (they’re trying to help, even if they sound mean)

Most students just fumble around in these tools like they’re trying to find the light switch in a dark basement. Don’t be that person. Take time to explore the features, the shortcuts, the tricks.

Your tools are part of your brain. Learn them, master them, and use them well. They'll make everything else less painful, and make you look like a wizard to everyone still copy-pasting code into Notepad++.

Final Thought: Build the Developer, Not Just the Code

You’re not here to crank out lines of syntax for the rest of your life. You’re here to become a developer, someone who solves real problems, works with teams, communicates ideas, and keeps learning forever.

So take the pressure off.
Write the bad code.
Learn to fix it.
Stay curious.
Be kind to yourself when it doesn’t click right away.

The code will come. The understanding will come. You just have to keep going.

You’ve got this.