As a politics-philosophy major, I’m not afraid to say that STEM is not my strong suit. Ask me to write a paper and I can have it done by the end of the day, but give me a problem set or a coding lab, and I’m immediately flustered. However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t useful skills to the profession of law to be had within the, say, Economics or Computer Science departments. Predicting this issue, I’ve found that Oberlin provides a really great support system for taking hard classes out of students' comfort zones.
Last semester, I took an intro to Economics. For many people, this is a breeze, but I found myself just hitting a wall (figuratively). Luckily, with enough trips to office hours and support from fellow students, I got the grade I wanted without having to resort to pass-fail. I’m in a similar situation now with introductory Computer Science, maybe to an even greater degree. This may or may not be my fourth total introductory Comp Sci class (though my first at Oberlin), and sometimes I feel like it’s just a language I’ll never be able to learn. Luckily, the support system I find myself accessing is more than I could have imagined.
Peer Tutors
I cannot speak more highly of the peer tutor system we have in place. In a class of thirty, it can feel overwhelming to ask basic questions when it feels like the answer could be obvious to everyone else. Though every teacher says this isn’t true, it’s really comforting to have weekly one-on-one sessions where I can ask all the basic questions I want without feeling self-conscious. It’s also been really helpful for labs and revisiting early class slides to have a (well-coded) friend by my side. Though I’ve only ever requested one for this class, peer tutors are not limited to the computer science department, and I would recommend everyone try the system out.
Lab Helper Hours
Lab helper hours are another great resource to help guarantee success in the class. Almost every day of the week, we have access to the computer lab and three helpers who can go around the room and answer questions as needed. While I like to attend these alongside peer tutoring, lab helper hours are a great resource for people who may have questions but don’t feel the need to schedule tutoring sessions.
Office Hours
Lastly, but most importantly, come office hours. For any incoming freshman, I cannot stress the importance of office hours for feeling comfortable and excited about a class. Not only can your professor directly tell you exactly what they want for the grade you’re aiming for, but it’s also great to introduce yourself and build relationships with professors. When I have an issue in a class, and I can go speak to my professor, it really feels like I have them on my team.
