NUS: Year 1, Semester 2

Navigating the Overload: Y1S2

As I continue my journey at NUS, I’m excited to share the ups and downs of my second semester. This time, I’ve taken on an ambitious 31 MCs, a testament to my commitment to pushing boundaries.

Surprisingly, the semester unfolded more smoothly than expected. The CFG1002 course could be effortlessly completed within a day. Meanwhile, CS1010R, a 1 MC course, offers a unique approach to earning credits—simply by amassing enough experience points from CS1101S. You just need to opt-in when prompted by the CS1101S professor at the end of the previous semester. With this, my actual academic load was effectively reduced to 28 MCs.

The real challenge lay in CS2030S and CS2040S. I would not recommend the “holy trinity” of CS2030S, CS2040S, and CS2100 (probably less than 2% of the cohort actually does this). For most, a balanced workload of six 4 MCs courses is ideal. It’s a solid strategy to assess one’s limits without overcommitting—especially when considering the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option as a fallback.

Remember, the S/U option is a safety net, not a first resort. It’s there to safeguard your GPA, not to be used indiscriminately for course completion. Overloading with the intent to S/U can backfire. Instead, reserve it for those moments when you truly need it, ensuring you maintain a strong academic standing, crucial for opportunities like student exchange programs.

CS2030S: Programming Methodology II

Transition from CS1101S

CS2030S marks a departure from the foundational course CS1101S, introducing a different pedagogical approach. This course provides fewer past year papers (PYPs) for practice, and its curriculum significantly diverges from that of CS2030, particularly for Business Analytics (BZA) and Information Systems (IS) students. The content of the course remains largely consistent, yet there is a substantial variation in the nature of examination questions and evaluation techniques.

Personal Preference

I have a preference for CS2030S due to its emphasis on theoretical clarity, which offers a more digestible experience for those inclined towards conceptual learning. Conversely, CS2030 leans heavily towards practical application, even in final examinations that are typically theory-oriented. While the content and teaching methods applied in CS2030 may seem unconventional, but it’s important not to be discouraged if you find it challenging to excel in this course.

Challenges Faced

A key challenge in CS2030S is the heavy reliance on computational thinking. It’s clear that students who aren’t well-versed in this area may struggle. This was evident as most people scored similarly in both CS1101S and CS2030S. An incident that particularly highlighted the challenges I faced with the practical components occurred when we experienced a server malfunction during our practical examination. This resulted in a significant delay exceeding one hour.

Grades

• Expected: A-
• Actual: B+

CS2040S: Data Structures and Algorithms

Tips

For students enrolled in CS2040S with Seth, I suggest exploring the materials from MIT’s 6.006 Introduction To Algorithms on MIT OpenCourseWare, which align closely with our data structures and algorithms curriculum. The exams crafted by Seth mirror the complexity of MIT’s assessments, offering a robust challenge that surpasses what you might encounter at NUS. These materials are a valuable asset and are easily found online. In fact, I would say close to 70% of my finals appeared in MIT assignments before.

Additionally, for mastering recurrence relations, Abdul Bari’s YouTube channel is an invaluable resource. Understanding recurrence relations can significantly boost your midterm scores, and familiarizing yourself with the Master Theorem could be particularly beneficial.

Graph Theory: The most demanding topic in CS2040S is likely graph theory. I’ve discovered that only through tackling a broad spectrum of problems can you develop the intuition needed to select the appropriate algorithm for each question, akin to the practice provided by Leetcode. Therefore, when organizing your notes, particularly for the algorithms section, consider categorizing them by types of algorithms or solutions. This approach will streamline your revision process, allowing you to quickly identify the relevant algorithm for various question types.

Performance

I believe my performance placed me within the top 10% for both the midterm and final examinations. The precise distribution of grades across the various components—midterms, finals, and continuous assessments (CAs)—remains undisclosed by Seth. Achieving the set benchmark in Coursemology secures full CA credits. Consequently, the exams emerge as the primary differentiators in grading, given that the majority of students are likely to secure full marks for the CAs.

Grades

• Expected: A/A+
• Actual: A

ES2660: Communicating in the Information Age

Course Review

I secured this course after the final round in CourseReg through an appeal. I highly recommend it for Year 1 students, particularly for those in Computer Science who may struggle with the necessary speaking and presentation skills. Securing a spot in this course is relatively straightforward post-bidding rounds, as appeals are typically handled on a first-come, first-served basis. I opted for the 8 AM slot and was enrolled shortly thereafter.

The SU Option

Many students choose to S/U this course, but I advise putting in some effort and see how it goes. Effective communication is an essential skill, and a lack of presentation abilities shouldn’t be a point of pride. Give it your best shot, and you might be surprised by the grade you receive. Consider the S/U option only if the grade falls below your expectations.

Grades

• Expected: A-/B+
• Actual: A-

IS1103: Ethics in Computing

Shifts in Academic Requirements: As part of the School of Computing’s class of 2021/2022 and before, IS1103 fulfilled our Computing Ethics. However, for the subsequent cohort, the course underwent a transformation and is now known as IS1108: Digital Ethics and Data Privacy.

Course Review

The course spanned 10 weeks, featuring a weekly set of 10 multiple-choice questions. While some queries were clear-cut, others presented a challenge, often blurring the lines between right and wrong. As my friend liked to say, ‘Ethics is a social construct,’ it seemed that for questions with no clear-cut answers, the professor chose the most popular option. Whether this is true, we will never know.

Previously mired in controversy, the course has been revamped. Despite being a senior, I find that IS1108 still lacks seriousness, with the primary difference being its increased demand on one’s time. On a brighter note, the IS1103 textbook was an engaging read.

Performance

I achieved a score of 91 out of 100. During my term, this was the cutoff for an A+, with A being at 90.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A+

ACC1701X: Accounting for Decision Makers

Instructor: Charles Shi

Course Review

The ‘X’ variant of ACC1701X is tailored for non-business students. I highly recommend this course to all students, regardless of their major, as it’s both useful and beginner-friendly. However, be aware that it’s one of those courses where you either grasp the concepts quickly or you don’t. If you find yourself struggling, be prepared to invest additional effort. It was one of the courses where I maintained the most consistency outside of my Computer Science curriculum, as the content from each week builds upon the previous one. However, the workload for this course is comparatively lighter, making it an excellent option for computing students in search of a quantitative UE that won’t overburden their schedule.

For the School of Computing cohort of 2022/2023 and beyond, this course satisfies the Cross-Disciplinary (CD) Courses requirement and has become quite popular. Given its recent surge in popularity, the grading curve for the ‘X’ variant might be even more competitive than the standard variant. This is because business students typically don’t have a distinct advantage over other majors in their first year. Thus, those who are comfortable with logical reasoning and have strong math skills tend to perform well.

Performance

The final exam was pivotal, constituting 45% of the total grade. It’s likely that most students secured nearly full marks in the other components. I estimate my score to be around 80 and the average to be around 60+ for the finals.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A

GEA1000: Quantitative Reasoning with Data

Course Review

This course is generally straightforward, especially for STEM majors. Computer Science students may find it particularly manageable, as the topics are likely familiar. Minimal effort is required, but consistency in watching the lectures and attempting the quizzes can be beneficial. For the group project, it’s advisable to schedule a consultation with your TA to review your report before submission. Make sure to practice as much as possible, as the midterms and finals are graded on a steep curve, making every point vital.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A

GESS1037: Gender and Sexuality: A Singaporean History

Instructor: Sharon Low, Seng Guo Quan

Course Review

This course was undoubtedly one of the most interesting I’ve taken at NUS. It offered a deep dive into diverse topics such as religion, marriage, non-binary histories—including Asian queer tradition, Section 377A, and transgender history in Singapore—campus sexual misconduct, and state moralities. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a passion for ethics and history. The workload is quite manageable, and the assignments are engaging. The first assignment involved writing a short report based on an interview, the second required creating a PowerPoint presentation, and the third was to devise 10 tweets and a brief report. I enrolled in this course during its inaugural semester and found the low word count for each assignment appealing, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience with a lighter workload.

Performance

Achieved a B+ for assignment 1 (15%) and A both for assignments 2 (25%) and 3 (30%). With tutorial attendance and participation accounting for 30% of the course, the five sessions offered a clear path to full credit. This was further facilitated by a TA who nurtured a conducive environment for open dialogue.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A+

CFG1002: Career Catalyst

Course Review

This is a 2 MC course that can be swiftly completed in just one day. It’s particularly beneficial for its practicality and ideal for newcomers unfamiliar with crafting resumes, as the course utilizes VMock to enhance interview and resume-building skills. Keep in mind, though, it’s theoretical knowledge—so don’t expect miraculous transformations.

Grades

• Expected: CS
• Actual: CS

CS1010R: Programming Methodology

Course Review

To enroll in this course, your performance in Source Academy needs to surpass a specific level. The grade range that qualifies you for this course starts at B+ and goes up to A+. Once the CS1101S professors release the grade boundaries, you can then decide if you would like to join based on your grades. This course is worth 1 MC.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A

Academic Summary

Grade Distribution

Grade	Number of Subjects
A+	2
A	4 (including the 1MC of CS1010R)
A-	1
B+	1
CS	1

GPA Analysis

• Semester GPA: 4.79
• Cumulative GPA: 4.73

I chose not to utilize the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (SU) option for any of my courses this semester. My advice would be to consider using the SU option for grades of B+ or lower. It’s common for students to maintain a GPA above 4.0, and having a higher GPA, even if slightly inflated, can be advantageous. It not only aids in securing internships during the early stages of your university journey but also provides a competitive edge when applying for Student Exchange Programs.