Why you don’t have to be a genius to do computer science

When computer science is mentioned, the first thing that is likely to come to mind is computer coding, complicated technology and of course someone who is super smart that delivers it. But what if we told you that you don’t need to be the smartest person in the room to be successful within computer science. 

In this blog we have put together some of the main reasons that justify why you don’t need to have extensive knowledge prior to starting a journey in that sector.  

#1. You pick up skills from your smartphone 

If you weren’t already aware, the actual definition of the smartphones that we use on a day-to-day basis is a ‘portable computer device’ meaning that in theory you are using computer systems daily. You may be thinking “how does this relate to my ability to do computer science?”  well, over time the use of a smartphone becomes natural to you, and you are able to quickly adapt to the changes that come with software updates as well as gain the ability to navigate through new applications. Although this might not seem major to you, the skill to adapt to changes quickly is a necessity in computer science as technology is constantly changing! 

#2. If you have the right mindset, you will be successful 

With most things in life, your mindset is more important than the knowledge you have. If you can bring passion, determination and eagerness to the table when learning then you are destined for success. Of course, you need to be able to take on board everything that you are learning and apply it in order to progress, but if you do not have the mindset of putting effort into your computer science studies or work then you won’t get very far, no matter how smart you are. 

#3. Majority of the work is problem-solving 

Don’t be fooled by the name computer science, you do not need to have strong science skills to be successful. Instead, having the ability to think of solutions rapidly and face challenges is a skill that is widely needed and one that will progress as your career does. Computer science is more about the skillset you can supply rather than the knowledge your brain has stored, but of course having prior knowledge is also useful! 

#4. It’s like riding a bike 

Computer science is based around development, application of software and hardware, programming, and design. So yes, you will come across complex areas that may take a while to get the grasp of. However, learning anything new in life is never going to be easy; it’s just like riding a bike because you gradually improve over time. The most important thing to remember is that with things get better over time, think of the saying ‘you can’t rush greatness’ if you are ever doubting yourself.  

#5. You will never be a computer science genius anyway! 

This may seem a bit harsh, but it is completely true. There is no one in this world who can claim they know everything about computer science since it is constantly and rapidly evolving. Sure, you can be talented in a certain area but the skills you learn today may not apply tomorrow which is why you need to be able to keep up with the changes otherwise losing market value is inevitable. 

Just like every subject, you will be stronger at some parts of computer science than others, but you should never let this dishearten you or stop you from chasing your dreams. Like we mentioned earlier, if you are passionate and willing to learn you will get there. 

At the University of Bolton, we offer multiple computing courses that will enable you to gain all the skills and knowledge you need to start your computer science journey the right way. With one-to-one support from start to finish you will never be made to feel as if you’re alone during your learning experience! To take a look at the amazing courses we offer, just follow the link here.  

For any further information, contact us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call us on 01204 903903.