Flashes of Panic

I’m signing up for a second summer course. But not really.

I have an extraordinarily weak math background for a CS student. If I’d been an undergrad major, I would’ve been required to take Calculus I and II, Discrete Math, and something else “numbered XX or greater.” I’m not sure what that would’ve been; I didn’t get far enough to figure it out, stopped cold at Calc I. (Old math joke: Look both ways, lean in close, and whisper, “I’m taking Discreet Math.”)

I’ve cleared up my calculus issues (four years ago, so it’s hardly fresh,) but I haven’t had the chance to take anything more. What I’m missing appears to depend on who I talk to. Everyone agrees I need Discrete; after that, there’s Probability and Statistics (distinct courses taught in consecutive semesters, here,) and maybe Linear Algebra and/or Differential Equations, depending on what I’m concentrating on.

I can’t get graduate credit for Discrete; it’s numbered too low. So I’m registering to audit it this summer. This might be a mistake; I might be signing away any hope of free time this summer. But it might put me on my way to understanding more of the theory sections of my classes, and let’s face it, the only reason I don’t like theory is that I don’t understand it. I’m not bad at math—I just haven’t learned enough of it.

Now stop whispering, “Old dog: new tricks,” will you?

Now Playing: Solitaire from The Fine Art Of Self Destruction by Jesse Malin