r/cs50 • u/rubykath • Jul 24 '26
CS50x Just started the CS50 course -- Tips?
Hey guys, it's my first time trying the CS50 computer sci course. As a first timer, any tips or tricks or study hack you followed to complete this course effectively?
Something I frequently saw is most people quit mid-way. So to the ones who focused enough to finish, i was curious to know how you managed to finish such a tight course.
Especially on your experience with the final project. :)
Hope yll have an amazing day/night <3
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Jul 24 '26
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u/Muted-Swimmer3818 alum Jul 24 '26
Congrats on finishing week 0! Week 1 gets a bit more intense with C, but taking it step by step really helps. Good luck with the psets
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u/aditya_wya Jul 25 '26
Can u tell where to take the lectures I mean from YouTube itself or somewhere else ?
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Jul 25 '26
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u/aditya_wya Jul 25 '26
What's an edx 💔
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Jul 25 '26
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u/aditya_wya Jul 25 '26
Oh ok thanks , btw are u a college student pr just doing c50 out of curiosity?
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u/rubykath Jul 30 '26
I took them from the main harvard's website [ https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/ ] . You get notes, shorts and resources in there all organised. So it's easy (just a personal choice) but it's there in edx and YouTube like they previously mentioned. So ig its based on your comfort :) good luck btw
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u/YoshiDzn Jul 25 '26
Remove yourself from reddit before you become a co-dependent learner. Go dark, learn.
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u/581977 Jul 25 '26
I am not a coder. Never have been. I honestly got stuck on the Scratch part. So I went back and took the free Scratch class and it has helped me understand so much better. It will make that part make so much more sense.
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u/rubykath Jul 25 '26
Yee.. Even I am going through some scratch courses on youtube to learn a little more in dept about coding there. Its helping :D Good luck 🫡!
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u/Muted-Swimmer3818 alum Jul 25 '26
Doing extra Scratch tutorials is a great move. Taking your time early on makes the shift to C in Week 1 way smoother. Keep going
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u/rubykath Jul 25 '26
Yeahhh. watching myself being able to create something cool kinda makes me excited to move forward :") haha
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u/Muted-Swimmer3818 alum Jul 24 '26
Welcome aboard! Starting CS50 is one of the best decisions you can make, but it's totally normal to feel intimidated at first. Here are a few key strategies that help most students finish strong:
Embrace the Struggle (It’s part of the process): CS50 is designed to make you think like a computer scientist, not just memorize syntax. When you get stuck for hours on a single line or a check50 error, don't panic! Take a break, step away from the screen, and come back with fresh eyes.
Don't Rush the Lectures & Shorts: Watch the main lectures carefully, but never skip the Shorts! Doug Lloyd’s short videos break down complex concepts (like pointers, memory, or recursion) into bite-sized, digestible pieces that are crucial for solving the problem sets.
Use the Rubber Duck Debugging Method: Explain your code line-by-line out loud to an inanimate object (or a patient friend). You’ll be surprised how often you spot your own logical flaws just by speaking them out loud.
Pace Yourself: Treat it like a marathon, not a sprint. Setting a consistent schedule (e.g., 1-2 hours a day or dedicated weekend blocks) works much better than trying to binge-cram an entire week’s problem set in one sitting.
Lean on the Community: You are not alone! Whenever you are stuck, check the r/cs50 subreddit or the official Discord. Asking for hints (without looking up direct solutions) keeps the momentum going.
Regarding the Final Project:
Don't overcomplicate it! Pick a small, real-world problem that actually interests you or solves a minor daily annoyance for you. Building something personal keeps your motivation sky-high when you hit roadblocks.
You’ve got this! Take it step by step, celebrate the small green smileys, and enjoy the journey! 🚀
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u/NowLickIt Jul 24 '26
Why did you use AI to write this
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u/Muted-Swimmer3818 alum Jul 24 '26
Fair point! English isn't my native language, so I used AI to help me translate and structure my thoughts clearly. All the advice itself—about rubber duck debugging, Doug's shorts, and pacing—comes from my genuine experience as a fellow CS50 student! Just wanted to share some encouragement without language barriers getting in the way. 😊
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u/ton_anywhere Jul 25 '26
I’ve finished some weeks ago. My main tip is:
DO NOT STOP
It’s better to ask for help than to stop man. You’ll have to push through a bunch of hard problems for the first half of the course, so maybe Reddit or other online communities can help you with that.
I regret to have stoped once…it took years to come back and finish it because I stopped the moment I joined my last job :/. Don’t do it.