Ask HN: How do you focus your studies?

11 points by gfr 15y ago ↗ HN

I think many of you out there are like me in that I am a super curious person. I love to learn about how things work and why they are so. Specifically, many areas of computer science greatly interest me. The downside to this is that I end up spending equal time on many different areas and am left being "decent" at a couple things but not "great" at anything, which makes me feel like I don't have a lot of value. I have the capability and the drive to be really good at something if I could just decide on a single path worth pursuing.

If you are/were like me, I want to hear your personal experiences in how you picked something to focus on and if you would do it the same way if you had to start over.

If it makes any difference, I am 21 years old majoring in CS. I have made it a point to try out CS classes in several different areas throughout my stay here. Also, I do not plan on going the PhD or large company route: I like the idea of startups.

2 comments

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Ernestas 15y ago ↗

I'm interested in many areas as well, so I don't try to spend too much time in every one of them. In other words I do not try to become expert in one them, I'll study specific area as long as I understand specifics and how it functions, then as much as it interests me at the time.

After you understand how things work, only practice will make you better. So before you find out what really excites you, try to explore as many areas as you can.

I'm still in college (cs & it), one year left. Still interested in many areas, but now see that I spend more and more time in web. Social aspect of it makes it interesting. There are still many ways to incorporate social interactions on the web.

vineet7kumar 15y ago ↗

Pick up a project based on your area of interest. Learn by getting your hands dirty. This will be interesting and hence you will definitely focus more. Also in the long run such projects will help in your startup path.