Computer Science Mentorship › Learning Paths

Incoming Students

You're about to start college for CS/IT. This path sets honest expectations, gets your first environment working, and gives you the mindset that separates students who thrive from those who just get by.

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Absolute beginner2-3 hours4 stops

Start here before your first semester. The goal isn't to learn to code overnight — it's to arrive with a realistic picture of what the next four years are actually about, a working setup, and habits that compound.

1 What Computer Science Actually Is (and What It Isn't) Guide · beginner
An honest picture of what a computer science degree really is before you start — problem-solving over memorization, why it's not just 'learning to code', and how to set the right expectations for four years.
2 Setting Up Your First Development Environment Lab · beginner
A from-scratch lab to get your first coding environment working — editor, a language runtime, the terminal, and Git — so setup friction never blocks your learning again.
3 How to Think About Your College Years Career Advice · beginner
A mental model for the four years ahead — what actually compounds, why comparison is a trap, and how to spend your time so you graduate genuinely capable rather than just credentialed.
4 Asking for Technical Help Effectively Career Advice · beginner
How to ask a senior colleague for help in a way that gets you a fast, useful answer instead of a frustrated one — what to include, what to try first, and why 'it doesn't work' is the least useful sentence in tech.

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