4 answers
Tenzin
Student
Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India
1
Question
Asked
1853 views
How should I start my passion project if I want to pursue CS major in college?
I am a 16 year old Tibetan refuge living in India and currently in 11 grade. I am also interested in astronomy and a beginner in coding.
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4 answers
Tania Rodríguez Sánchez
Software Product Manager & Digital Strategy Expert
5
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Tania’s Answer
Hi, Tenzin!
It's very important that you mention the word 'passion'. The key to growing and succeeding in any professional development is passion, continuous work, and persistence.
The field of Computer Science is vast and offers many career paths, such as programmer, data scientist, cybersecurity specialist, or software product manager.
To get started in development, I recommend creating a web or mobile application project from scratch—with it, solve something that truly excites and motivates you. This way, you'll go through all the phases: theory, design, development, and application/use.
There are global competitions for STEM girls that can help you in your journey of creating a tech. solution from scratch, such as Technovation and Hour of Code. Additionally, I'll share free courses provided by HP that can help you explore different topics.
For programming languages, you can start with Python, HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
Wishing you lots of encouragement on your journey—never stop making passion a requirement for your professional motivation! 🚀
Visit the TECHNOVATION Girls site (Girls for a Change): https://technovationchallenge.org/
Visit the Hour of Code site: https://code.org/
Explore the 'HP LIFE' free courses website: https://www.life-global.org/
Explore the 'Digital Business Skills' section: https://www.life-global.org/categorylist/7-digital-business-skills
Start your learning with 'AI for Beginners': https://www.life-global.org/course/391-ai-for-beginners
It's very important that you mention the word 'passion'. The key to growing and succeeding in any professional development is passion, continuous work, and persistence.
The field of Computer Science is vast and offers many career paths, such as programmer, data scientist, cybersecurity specialist, or software product manager.
To get started in development, I recommend creating a web or mobile application project from scratch—with it, solve something that truly excites and motivates you. This way, you'll go through all the phases: theory, design, development, and application/use.
There are global competitions for STEM girls that can help you in your journey of creating a tech. solution from scratch, such as Technovation and Hour of Code. Additionally, I'll share free courses provided by HP that can help you explore different topics.
For programming languages, you can start with Python, HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
Wishing you lots of encouragement on your journey—never stop making passion a requirement for your professional motivation! 🚀
Tania recommends the following next steps:
Moumita Banerjee
Package Solution Consultant
3
Answers
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Updated
Moumita’s Answer
Astronomy Coding Project Roadmap for Aspiring Computer Scientists
1. Learn Python Programming
- Start with Python as your primary programming language
- Use free online resources like:
* Codecademy
* freeCodeCamp
* Python's official tutorial
- Focus on fundamental programming concepts:
* Variables and data types
* Control structures (if/else, loops)
* Functions
* Basic data structures
2. Explore Astronomy Data Projects
Beginner Level Projects
- Create a simple star catalog viewer
- Develop a planetary motion simulation
- Build a solar system visualization tool
Intermediate Projects
- Analyze exoplanet data from NASA repositories
- Create a telescope coordinate tracking system
- Develop a light curve analysis tool for variable stars
3. Learn Essential Libraries
- Matplotlib (data visualization)
- NumPy (numerical computing)
- Pandas (data manipulation)
- SciPy (scientific computing)
- Astropy (astronomy-specific library)
4. Online Learning Resources
- Coursera's "Python for Everybody" specialization
- edX astronomy and computer science courses
- YouTube channels: Crash Course Computer Science, NASA's educational content
5. Project Development Strategy
1. Start small and gradually increase complexity
2. Document your learning journey
3. Share your projects on GitHub
4. Seek feedback from online communities
5. Participate in coding challenges and hackathons
6. Additional Skill Building
- Learn basic web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
- Understand version control with Git
- Practice problem-solving on platforms like HackerRank
- Join coding forums and astronomy discussion groups
7. College Preparation
- Maintain a strong academic record in mathematics and science
- Develop a portfolio of coding projects
- Research scholarship opportunities for STEM students
- Consider summer coding camps or online internships
1. Learn Python Programming
- Start with Python as your primary programming language
- Use free online resources like:
* Codecademy
* freeCodeCamp
* Python's official tutorial
- Focus on fundamental programming concepts:
* Variables and data types
* Control structures (if/else, loops)
* Functions
* Basic data structures
2. Explore Astronomy Data Projects
Beginner Level Projects
- Create a simple star catalog viewer
- Develop a planetary motion simulation
- Build a solar system visualization tool
Intermediate Projects
- Analyze exoplanet data from NASA repositories
- Create a telescope coordinate tracking system
- Develop a light curve analysis tool for variable stars
3. Learn Essential Libraries
- Matplotlib (data visualization)
- NumPy (numerical computing)
- Pandas (data manipulation)
- SciPy (scientific computing)
- Astropy (astronomy-specific library)
4. Online Learning Resources
- Coursera's "Python for Everybody" specialization
- edX astronomy and computer science courses
- YouTube channels: Crash Course Computer Science, NASA's educational content
5. Project Development Strategy
1. Start small and gradually increase complexity
2. Document your learning journey
3. Share your projects on GitHub
4. Seek feedback from online communities
5. Participate in coding challenges and hackathons
6. Additional Skill Building
- Learn basic web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
- Understand version control with Git
- Practice problem-solving on platforms like HackerRank
- Join coding forums and astronomy discussion groups
7. College Preparation
- Maintain a strong academic record in mathematics and science
- Develop a portfolio of coding projects
- Research scholarship opportunities for STEM students
- Consider summer coding camps or online internships
Caroline Tomey
Senior Associate, Digital Transformation Consulting
15
Answers
Asheville, North Carolina
Updated
Caroline’s Answer
That's amazing! You already have a strong foundation by knowing your interests. Start by thinking of a small project that combines your passions. Use free resources like Khan Academy, freeCodeCamp, or CS50 to build your coding skills, and don't be afraid to start small., The most important thing is to begin - you'll learn so much by just doing!
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
946
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Tenzin, to start your passion project and effectively prepare for a Computer Science (CS) major in college, it's important to focus on building foundational skills in coding while integrating your interest in astronomy. Given that you're currently in 11th grade and are a beginner in coding, the first step should be to gain a solid understanding of programming concepts. One of the best ways to do this is by learning Python, a versatile and beginner-friendly language that is widely used in both CS and scientific fields, including astronomy. Websites like Codecademy (www.codecademy.com), freeCodeCamp (www.freecodecamp.org), and Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) offer interactive tutorials that will teach you programming fundamentals such as variables, loops, and functions.
Tenzin, as you build your coding skills, it’s important to start applying them to real-world problems. Since you’re passionate about astronomy, one effective approach would be to combine coding with your interest in space. You could start by working on small projects related to astronomy, such as creating a program that visualizes the night sky or analyzing data from telescopes. Platforms like AstroPy (www.astropy.org) and AstroML (www.astroml.org) are excellent libraries and tools for astronomy data analysis in Python, which could help you dive deeper into the intersection of coding and astronomy. You could also explore NASA’s APIs (https://api.nasa.gov), which provide access to various datasets and images from space missions, allowing you to experiment with coding projects that retrieve and display real-time data from space.
Additionally, participating in coding competitions or open-source projects can be an excellent way to challenge yourself. Websites like GitHub (www.github.com) offer a platform to collaborate on open-source projects, and Kaggle (www.kaggle.com) provides challenges where you can analyze large datasets, including those related to astronomy and space exploration. These platforms will not only help you develop your technical skills but will also allow you to engage with a global community of developers, providing networking opportunities and exposure to advanced problem-solving techniques.
Tenzin. as you progress, it’s essential to stay consistent and curious. Dedicate a set amount of time each week to learning, experimenting, and building your projects. By integrating your passion for astronomy with your coding skills, you’ll create a unique and compelling portfolio that will not only prepare you for a CS major but also set you apart when applying to universities and internships. By the time you apply to college, you’ll have a strong foundation in both programming and astronomy, as well as a proven track record of self-driven learning and project development.
Tenzin, as you build your coding skills, it’s important to start applying them to real-world problems. Since you’re passionate about astronomy, one effective approach would be to combine coding with your interest in space. You could start by working on small projects related to astronomy, such as creating a program that visualizes the night sky or analyzing data from telescopes. Platforms like AstroPy (www.astropy.org) and AstroML (www.astroml.org) are excellent libraries and tools for astronomy data analysis in Python, which could help you dive deeper into the intersection of coding and astronomy. You could also explore NASA’s APIs (https://api.nasa.gov), which provide access to various datasets and images from space missions, allowing you to experiment with coding projects that retrieve and display real-time data from space.
Additionally, participating in coding competitions or open-source projects can be an excellent way to challenge yourself. Websites like GitHub (www.github.com) offer a platform to collaborate on open-source projects, and Kaggle (www.kaggle.com) provides challenges where you can analyze large datasets, including those related to astronomy and space exploration. These platforms will not only help you develop your technical skills but will also allow you to engage with a global community of developers, providing networking opportunities and exposure to advanced problem-solving techniques.
Tenzin. as you progress, it’s essential to stay consistent and curious. Dedicate a set amount of time each week to learning, experimenting, and building your projects. By integrating your passion for astronomy with your coding skills, you’ll create a unique and compelling portfolio that will not only prepare you for a CS major but also set you apart when applying to universities and internships. By the time you apply to college, you’ll have a strong foundation in both programming and astronomy, as well as a proven track record of self-driven learning and project development.