An Analysis of Algorithm's exam 2

The feeling with which everyone left the hall after today's exam seem to suggest that they are satisfied with their performance. There is not full clarity on the reason behind that satisfaction. My impression is this : Relatively, it was easier exam, involved less of complex terminologies of asymptotic complexities, and was suitable for human brain. What I mean by last factor is that human brain processes logic readily than complexity math functions. In addition to these, given that the first exam marks were extremely poor, the only way one could actually move is northward. Hence, a tinge of happiness after the exam.

This happiness doesn't really mean that one would actually get a commensurate score when results are declared. I really don't think they will; simply because such algorithmic design questions demands(and deserves) rigorous reasoning/explanations. This is what is expected by professor about which he emphasized again and again in the class. Hence, marks will still go downwards because of the inability to cater to the needs of the problem, despite having filled all the pages in the answer sheet. But, whatever be the case, marks or no marks, the criteria for finding happiness can not be just numerical numbers or an alphabet.

Indeed, there are other factors to evaluate oneself : slope of your performance graph with time(instead of exact numbers), amount of enjoyment you are having while studying, your readiness to apply for intern/job interviews, number of challenging problems you are solving on your own, level of emotional intelligence showed in run up to exam, and so on. List is long and we can go on. In the end, what is to be realized that even if the marks go up, there is not much to gain from it, if you are failing on other equally(or more) important factors. Having a clarity that these factors exist and then working to improve each of them requires broader conception of why you are here.

Now, after this gyaan, I should move to some personal commentary. My exam was better than before. I expect to improve marks from the low bar I set last time. I was more consistent than before. I kept my plan simple(understand lectures many-many times) and stuck to it till the end. In this second phase, I actually enjoyed the course - because I spent more time on the subject than last time. I also made my baby steps towards engagement with experienced peers on the subject - asking questions from them. One biggest gain was that I started studying at library! I hope to continue this now (and spend more time in solitude!). Another big change I have made during this period is to physically/mentally distance myself from not-so-encouraging/ transparent set of people and gravitating towards those with amiable persona.

Looking forward, plate seems full. There is impending DOS submission in a weeks' time. Thereafter, there is another AoA exam. And so on. More importantly, I need to start studying parallelly and build myself up for future interviews. Giving these interviews a try is all I can do, without expecting much from them in return. Again, like I emphasized last time, I should start coding - being a computer science student without knowing how to code is like a batsman who doesn't know how to handle bat. Some Java will help bring future Mava. And algorithms...I think I am loving it more every passing day. Just that I need to do it regularly now and do it in a way(serene joy) I used to once study History & (popular)Economics.

Bye-Bye! (Time is up :-P)