Resources

Scroll down if you are thinking:

• I’d like some extra practice programming outside of class, or to sharpen / review my skillset.

• I’m struggling with a class or computing in general and would like to explore the resources available to me.

• I’m worried I don’t belong in computer science and am having second thoughts about my academic journey.

The following links have some excellent practice content, some language-specific, others language-agnostic – great for interview practice or just general review!

• CodingBat

• LeetCode

• Codewars

• HackerRank

• Topcoder

• Coderbyte

• Project Euler

• Reddit Daily Programmer

• Cracking the Code Interview

• Miscellaneous JavaScript/Web and Python Fun

UC Berkeley has an amazing Self-Paced Center for its CS9 course with some excellent resources you can work through, you guessed it, at your own pace. Visit that site and follow the links for the various versions of that course. It's a gold mine of information, with links to fantastic online texts such as Think Python and Composing Programs.

For JavaScript, Haverbecke's book is good as is the MDN JavaScript section

And please do not forget LinkedIn Learning. LMU pays for an institutional subscription. Talk to your advisor or professor to recommend some short courses on that platform.

Want some extra assistance with course topics, assignments, or anything related to computing? Here are some resources to help with that, given in a suggested order:

• Self-Empowerment Protocol: It’s important to remember that your time in college is just 4 short years, after which any problems will be yours alone to solve! As such, your future self will thank you now if you “learn to learn” – start by Googling your problem, reading web resources, and chances are good you’ll “unstick yourself” all by yourself! If that doesn’t work (if not now, it will soon!), read on.

• Keck Lab and Teaching Assistants: Stop by the LMU Keck Lab and ask for a teaching assistant to help out! All of our TAs are happy to help and knowledgeable in most questions you might have. See the Keck Lab TA roster near the front entrance (posted on the metal cupboards) to see who’s available. Taking online classes or otherwise can't make it to the lab? Don't worry: the entire TA schedule along with pictures and bios and specialities of all our TAs is available online. The TA site also has additional resources for maximizing your learning outside of the classroom.

• Ask your instructor via Email or Slack or Discord: We’re happy to help give hints to get you unstuck, or provide some more specific resources. Make sure to make a good effort before reaching out so that you can practice self-sufficiency!

• Obtain outside tutoring: Past students have reported success using apps such as Wyzant and Chegg to find tutors to help them through some topics – great idea if you want more focused, individual assistance especially after hours. Be mindful to follow all applicable honor codes: you are responsible for doing your own work and never passing off anyone else's work as your own. Ever.

Wondering how to best use AI tools like ChatGPT? This video may help. TL;DR for those with a lot of experience, use it for everything; if you are a beginner, be careful, use it a little, as a tutor, to explain things.

Are you a new graduate student? Read this page for dozens of helpful tips and articles.

There is so much to say on this point, but in summary: if you want to study computing, you belong in computing. If you’re feeling trepidatious, we highly recommend you talk to your academic advisor to sort things out. You can also browse a few of the following resources.

• My Experiences in Tech: Death by 1000 Paper Cuts (Gender, Intersectionality)

• Silent Tech Privilege (Race, Gender)

• My White Boss Talked About Race in America and This is What Happened (Race)

• A Guide for White Allies in Confronting Racial Injustice (Race)

• Talent is Everywhere, Opportunity is Not (Tech Privilege)

• On Technical Entitlement (Tech Elitism)

• Some Garbage I Used to Believe About Equality (Race, Gender, Allyship)

• Breaking Barriers: a First-Generation College Student in CS (Class, First-Gen)

• The Real Problem When It Comes to Diversity and Asian Americans  (Model-Minority Myth)

• Epistemological Pluralism (Gender)

• 5 Ways Society Sabotages Girls’ Interest In Science And Math (Gender)

Consider joining a group! Our internal "club" is known as ACM and the e-board and members are friendly and welcoming and put on a number of events both social and career/academic focused. One external group worth joining is PyLadies. There are a number of LMUCS faculty and students in the Los Angeles Chapter.

You may find some of LMU's identity-focused student services of interest as well, including:

• LGBT Student Services (Loyolan Article)