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MIT Missing Semester 2026

(missing.csail.mit.edu)
91 points vismit2000 | 1 comments | 15 Dec 25 12:45 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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ghaff ◴[15 Dec 25 15:25 UTC] No.46275685[source]▶
There's definitely a tension at top STEM schools (probably especially in CS) between assuming students have some baseline knowledge of whatever field and just tossing them into the deep end of the pool and figuring out the practicalities on their own.

I did take one of the MIT intro CS MOOCs at one point for kicks. Very good. But it was more or less learn Python on your own if you don't already know it (or how to program more broadly). That doesn't really happen in a lot of other disciplines other than some areas of the arts.

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hearsathought ◴[15 Dec 25 19:14 UTC] No.46278968[source]▶
> There's definitely a tension at top STEM schools (probably especially in CS) between assuming students have some baseline knowledge of whatever field and just tossing them into the deep end of the pool and figuring out the practicalities on their own.

Pretty sure most college CS programs have an optional class for those new to programming ( Introduction to Java or C or Python ). But after that, you are expected to learn new languages/tools on your own mostly.

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ghaff ◴[15 Dec 25 20:26 UTC] No.46280089[source]▶
Most? Probably.

Not sure how common at what are considered top schools without looking at course catalogs. I expect if you're really new to programming, jumping into a CS program at an elite school could be a bumpy ride given 90% of the class will have a fair bit of experience and the class will be pitched to that level.

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1. hearsathought ◴[16 Dec 25 17:58 UTC] No.46291816[source]▶
> Not sure how common at what are considered top schools without looking at course catalogs.

I am fairly certain 100% of the top CS programs ( and 99% that every CS program ) in the country have an intro to programming class for incoming freshman with no background in programming - usually Python, Java or C. MIT does. Besides, there are tons of material online to learn programming on your own.

> I expect if you're really new to programming, jumping into a CS program at an elite school could be a bumpy ride given 90% of the class will have a fair bit of experience and the class will be pitched to that level.

Agreed. But the challenge isn't insurmountable.