Advice for someone struggling in "Data Structures and Algorithms"
<p>I hope this is a relevant question, I've been struggling in my Data Structures and Algorithms class now for the past few weeks. I spend about 20 hours a week reading my professors power points, highlighting the textbook, and doing lab programming projects.</p>

<p>It's starting to seem like the only way to get by this class is by doubling the time I spent with java every week. Which is impossible because contrary to my professors belief her class is not the center of my universe, I have two other very time consuming CSC classes and two liberal arts classes. Do I have to devote my time into Data Structures into the point of becoming a recluse?</p>

<p>We're doing linked lists right now for my lab, and my big issue is instead of writing programs from scratch we modify what code the teacher has already given us. Are all professors this anti-creative? </p>

<p>I have to do EXACTLY as her lab directions specify, yet some of her instructions are useless because she has already done them on her mess of code she provides us so I stress over analyzing EVERYTHING to verify that the professor did indeed make a mistake but this is the least of my problems.</p>

<p>It's much more difficult to interpret what it is she wants us to specifically do, so if my program performs its purpose accurately and returns the desired output, I'll get points off for using too much code or just because I didn't write the code HER way. But I NEED to use a lot of code because of the complex things we have to do with arraylists, linkedlists, etc...</p>

<p>What tips does everyone have for me so I don't fail this course?</p>

<p>I have loved computers since I was six. In my future, computers will prevent me from sleeping under the freeway.</p>

<p>Has anyone else felt this way about a programming class? This is overwhelming.</p>
