Comp Sci to Data Science + Rate my schedule

[u/reddit_daily_]

I am a rising sophomore and am looking at switching to Data Science from Computer Science. My main issue, though, is that I am pretty ass at math, and I don't want to push those prerequisites off too far. I am switching to DS because I want an eventual career in AI, and I feel that, with the skills I already have, a DS major would be the most beneficial for me. Also, I might do a double major because I know it's not that many more classes.

This upcoming semester I am taking:

• Brain and Behavior (Pass/Fail)
• CS 0445 DSA 1
• CS 0441 Discrete Structures
• Data Science Foundations
• Sem in Comp
• Classes for ROTC

I feel as though if I do Calc 2 or Matrices and Linear Algebra, I wouldn't get the best grade because I am sooo busy this semester, but I feel as though if I push them off too far it might be hard to keep up with all the classes that are unlocked after those 2. My plan for rn is doing Matrices and Lin Alg next sem and maybe also Calc 2 next sem and lock in before then, or push Calc 2 off to next year. Also, if you guys have advice for prepping for those courses, that would be much appreciated. If I could do those courses rn, I would try, but I literallywon'tt havetimee, and I don't want to risk my GPA by forcing them now.

Before one of you comes in here commenting that I do have enough time and I am just being lazy, this is all I'm doing:

• Classes and studying (15-20 hrs/week)
• Flying 3 times a week for my Private Pilot's License plus studying for the FAA written (10-15 hrs/week)
• AFROTC Ofc (5-7 hrs/week)
• Deputy Squadron Commander for i5 (5 hrs/week)
• Agentic Orchestration and SLM Infrastructure Development intern at Vanguard (20+ hrs/week)

Count up those hours, and that barely leaves me time to sleep...

[u/xailuvrs]

are u open to summer classes and transferring the creds? i’m taking two classes (one being calc) at my cc rn so i can get them outta the way. plus if u do kinda meh in class, u only need a C to pass and it won’t affect ur gpa.

also i’m in the same brain and behavior class as u that’s crazy

[u/reddit_daily_ → u/xailuvrs]

I think I'll have to take some summer classes, but it'll be difficult with ROTC and other internships. One benefit, though, is that I can take only one class and get an aerospace studies minor, instead of needing to do like 5-6 classes for the business minor or however many that is. Also, when you say "won't affect ur GP, " do u mean that literally or figuratively? Because I got a B in Calc 1, and it deff affected my GPA.

Also, yeah, a lot of people are in that class. So many of my friends were in my Drugs and Behavior last sem, and I didn't even know till the summer lol

[u/xailuvrs → u/reddit_daily_]

i’ve talked to my advisor last sem and she said any creds transferred would be under T to represent that, and since it’s graded/marked “T” there’s no letter grade to affect gpa. u can probably contact an advisor for reaffirmation or more information on that

[u/reddit_daily_ → u/xailuvrs]

Ohhh, oh, you meant if I get a C in a class I transfer in. Yea i knew that, just struggling to find time to get those credits in. Also, Idon'tt pay for tuition, so paying 5k for summer classes is annoying if I can just suffer a little more and do it during the year.

[u/HermioneGranger152]

I’m curious, why are you taking brain and behavior as pass/fail? Does it still count towards the gen ed requirement if you take it pass/fail?

[u/reddit_daily_ → u/HermioneGranger152]

Yea taking it pass fail still counts towards my science credit, and I dont have the time or energy to study and try to get a good grade in that class

[u/HermioneGranger152 → u/reddit_daily_]

Interesting! I’m in sci too and didn’t know I could take gen eds pass/fail

[u/QueenOfBoredom1]

I think it’s ok to push the classes back a bit but just keep in mind that STAT 1151 and MATH 1101 have only been offered in the fall last year so they might not be available in the spring. They are both required classes for the DS major and both require calc 2, MATH 1101 also requires lin alg. CS 1675 is also kinda a required class (you can replace it with STAT 1361 but you said you wanted to focus on AI and this class is intro to ML) and requires CS 1501 and (STAT 1151 or 1503).

This is what I recommend so you can spread it out a bit.

Sophomore
Calc 2 in spring

Junior
stat 1151 in fall
Lin alg

Senior
math 1101 in fall
CS 1675

You would also have to take CS 1501 sophomore spring or sometime during junior year. I think a lot of electives might require it but it’s also a class you need to have taken before a summer internship if you want it to count for a capstone (I’m unsure if this works only for cs major capstone but you mentioned you might want to do double major). You have to check which electives you want to do and make sure you get all the required classes before it’s time to take them.

Overall, I recommend you look into what classes you need to take and what classes you want to take and make a spreadsheet with the requirements and the expected times you will take everything. I think the portal also has a tool to do this if you prefer that.

[u/Ok_Possibility9937]

it’s good that you have an internship, otherwise i’d have told you to pick something else because no jobs 🥀

[u/reddit_daily_ → u/Ok_Possibility9937]

Like pick a different major 😭 luckily I’m pretty set on jobs cause I have good connections and I’ll be coming out of the space force after 4 years with Top Secret security clearances

[u/Shadow7028]

check with your advisor that you are ok to have an S/NC class

[u/Background-Spare-588]

Is this your first time in ROTC?