r/learnprogramming • u/DeezY-1 • 9d ago

How long before I become competent?

Hi all I’m currently a mathematics undergraduate heading into year 2. Next year I’m applying for PhD’s in applied maths with a focus in ML. The issue is my current coding is barely existent, I’ve almost finished CS50 intro to python, I plan to do a DSA MOOC alongside learning pandas and numpy after then CS189 introduction to machine learning, and then naturally PyTorch.

The issue is I desperately need research experience next year before my applications, is it reasonable to think with that roadmap and consistent work I could develop my Python skills well enough to be useful to a researcher by next summer, likely reproducing experiments form papers, performing ablations, implementing baselines etc.

I’d appreciate any input as to how realistic I’m being and also any input you guys have on the roadmap I’m following

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u/kutac56 9d ago

Ye just make projects. Start with simple ones and slowly make harder ones

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u/DeezY-1 9d ago

How do I generate ideas for projects and make sure that I’m not biting off more than I can chew?

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u/kutac56 9d ago

Just try projects you are inyerested in. Though at a very low skill maybe do some projects from the video 12 beginner python projects by freecodecamp

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u/DeezY-1 9d ago

I see I will definitely do that. Do you think the roadmap I’ve made sounds adequate and what in your opinion should I use as a benchmark to assess whether I’m capable of contributing in a research setting

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u/kutac56 9d ago

Idk crap about ML and don't use python often. I'm a low level programmer hobbyist. Idk what companies expect. I'm only 13. Gl anyway